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PODCAST

Past Present Feature with Marcus Mizelle

Past Present Feature is a film appreciation podcast hosted by Emmy-winning director Marcus Mizelle, showcasing today’s filmmakers, their latest release, and the past cinema that inspired them.

tv & film film interviews

All Episodes

47:02

E42 • The Subtle Art of Portraiture • BRIAN CASSIDY &...

Past Present Feature with Marcus Mizelle ·

2025/03/04

Montreal-based Directors Brian Cassidy and Melanie Shatzky delve into the making of their Rotterdam documentary “A Man Imagined”, which focuses on the life of Lloyd, a homeless man with schizophrenia surviving amidst urban detritus and decay. Past inspo includes "Dog Days" by Austrian director Ulrich Seidl.They discuss their unique approach to storytelling, challenges in finding and capturing Lloyd's essence, and their collaborative relationship with him throughout the filming process

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44:05

E41 • Embrace The Unforeseen • AARON ROOKUS, dir. of...

Past Present Feature with Marcus Mizelle ·

2025/02/25

Netherlands-based director Aaron Rookus explores themes of self-acceptance, mortality, and the quest for fulfillment through the lens of filmmaking ahead of his Rotterdam Film Festival premiere of “Idyllic”. Past inspirations include Tom Tykwer’s “Run Lola Run” and the films of Charlie Kaufman.Aaron speaks on the impact of personal experiences, such as illness and loss, on creative expression and the importance of humor in addressing serious topics. The conversation also delves into the dynamics of

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47:46

E40 • Dreaming Your Sub-Concious Film Into Reality • ...

Past Present Feature with Marcus Mizelle ·

2025/02/18

Colombian filmmaker Gala Del Sol discusses her debut feature film, “Rains Over Babel”, which just screened at this years Sundance and Rotterdam Film Festivals. Careful not to borrow too heavily, her cinema influences include Serbian filmmaker Emir Kusturica, who directed “Black Cat, White Cat”, and her favorite film of all time - “Children of Paradise”, from French director Marcel Carné.Exploring a unique blend of magical realism, punk aesthetics, eclectic score and vibrant sound design, Gala shares

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47:44

E39 • The Burden and Privilege of Legacy • TAD...

Past Present Feature with Marcus Mizelle ·

2025/02/11

Tad Nakamura, the director of Sundance-bound "Third Act," reflects on his latest documentary, which centers on his father Robert Nakamura, a distinguished filmmaker frequently recognized as a trailblazer in Asian American media. Tad drew inspiration from his father’s 1974 short doc “Wataridori: Birds of Passage”.Tad shares the unique experience of growing up in a filmmaking family, the pressures of legacy, and the profound emotional connections that arise from documenting family stories

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51:27

E38 • Meta Absurdism Explored Through Docu-Fiction • ...

Past Present Feature with Marcus Mizelle ·

2025/01/28

Co-directors Pasqual Gutierrez & Ben Mullinkosson blur the lines between fiction and non-fiction with their latest film “Serious People”, which just had its World Premiere at the Sundance Film Festival.Ben discusses his filmmaking journey from Chicago to Shanghai and Pasqual shares the inspiration behind their film, which stemmed from a vivid dream he had, as well as real life - and also from the past works of Roy Andersson (“A Pigeon Sat on a Branch”) and Ruben Östlund (“Triangle of Sadness”)

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55:41

E37 • Finding Humanity in Diverse Perspectives •...

Past Present Feature with Marcus Mizelle ·

2025/01/14

Italian filmmaker Gianluca Matarrese discusses his documentary project “GEN_”, which is premiering at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. Past inspo includes the films of Frederick Wiseman.Gianluca delves into the complexities of his filmmaking philosophy, exploring the therapeutic nature of his creative process, and the importance of community and validation in the industry. He reflects on his journey as a filmmaker, the influences that shaped his work, and the significance of finding humanity in

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67:04

E36 • Story First, Jokes Second • DELANEY BUFFETT,...

Past Present Feature with Marcus Mizelle ·

2024/12/31

Delaney Buffett, recipient of the Golden Key Award at the Key West Film Festival and director of “Adult Best Friends” which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival, stresses that when creating comedy, the story comes first. Past films discussed include Mike Nichols’ “The Birdcage” and Paul Feig’s “Bridesmaids.She shares insights on developing her film with friends, the significance of real-life experiences in crafting relatable narratives, and the importance of emotional depth in storytelling,

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41:45

E35 • Expand Your Horizon, Stand With the Misfits •...

Past Present Feature with Marcus Mizelle ·

2024/12/17

Wannes Destoop, director of “Holy Rosita”, which just won the Best Film award at the Torino Film Festival, shares his affinity for misfits and the unique stories they embody. Past films discussed include Sean Baker’s “The Florida Project” and Martin McDonagh’s “In Bruges”.He reflects on his documentary roots, the importance of authenticity in storytelling, and the challenges of modern filmmaking. Wannes shares insights into his casting process, production choices, and the emotional rollercoaster of

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44:13

E34 • Directing Live-Action VFX: Story Comes First •...

Past Present Feature with Marcus Mizelle ·

2024/12/10

“Sonic The Hedgehog 3” director Jeff Fowler shares his filmmaking journey, focusing on his experiences with visual effects, animation, and storytelling, having been influenced at an early age by “Star Wars”, “T2”, and “Jurassic Park”.Jeff emphasizes the importance of hard work and passion in achieving success, recounting his time at Ringling College of Art and Design and then being hired by Tim Miller at Blur Studios. He discusses the evolution of visual effects and the path that led him to direct

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43:45

E33 • You Must Fight to Make Your Film • PIA MARAIS,...

Past Present Feature with Marcus Mizelle ·

2024/12/03

Pia Marais shares insights from her filmmaking journey, including the making of her atmospheric new film “Transamazonia,” which just screened at the New York Film Festival following a Locarno world premiere. Past inspirations include Werner Herzog’s “Wings of Hope” and Asif Kapadia’s “Amy”.Pia’s latest film explores themes of faith and family dynamics, and she discusses the complexities of casting, production, the importance of film festivals, and the ongoing challenges of securing distribution for

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44:19

E32 • Inspiring Action through Activist Filmmaking •...

Past Present Feature with Marcus Mizelle ·

2024/11/26

Ben Russell delves into the concept of observational cinema, sharing insights on his latest co-directing effort “Direct Action” (with Guillaume Cailleau), which portrays a radical activist community in France. It debuted at Berinale and just screened at the New York Film Festival. Past films discussed include Kirsten Johnson’s “Cameraperson” and the observational films of Frederick Wiseman and The Maysles Brothers.Ben shares his experience transitioning as a filmmaker from America to France,

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44:46

E31 • The Serious Business of Effective Comedy • EGIL...

Past Present Feature with Marcus Mizelle ·

2024/11/19

In this conversation, Egil Pedersen reflects on his experiences growing up in a small Norwegian village and how he transitioned from short films to his first feature film, “My Father's Daughter,” the first-ever Sámi-language premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. His cinema inspirations include David Lynch’s “Twin Peaks” and “Show Me Love” (orig title: Fucking Amal) directed by Lukas Moodysson. Egil touches on the challenges and opportunities in the Norwegian film industry, the

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47:10

E30 • Creating Controversial Characters • ERIK POPPE,...

Past Present Feature with Marcus Mizelle ·

2024/11/12

In this conversation, Erik Poppe - the director of “Quisling - The Final Days”, which just premiered at TIFF following the Norwegian Film Festival, discusses his journey from photojournalism to filmmaking, emphasizing the role of art in raising questions and engaging audiences. He reflects on his influences, including Francois Truffaut’s 1970 film ‘The Wild Child”, the importance of personal narratives, and the challenges of portraying controversial characters - how creating empathy for these

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33:39

E29 • Shoot First, Ask Questions Later • AFOLABI...

Past Present Feature with Marcus Mizelle ·

2024/11/05

In this episode, Afolabi Olalekan discusses the vibrant Nigerian film industry, dubbed Nollywood, and his latest film, Freedom Way, which premiered at the Toronto Int. Film Festival. His past inspirations include Cary Fukunaga’s ‘Beasts of No Nation’ and ‘The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind’, directed by Chiwetel Ejiofor.Afolabi shares the challenges he and his crew faced during production, such as police corruption and the need to swap out his lead actors halfway through filming. He also stresses the

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52:29

E28 • The Healing Power of Film • Subhadra Mahajan,...

Past Present Feature with Marcus Mizelle ·

2024/10/29

Mumbai-based director Subhadra Mahajan discusses her debut feature film ‘Second Chance’ which just had its Hollywood premiere at AFI, following a World premiere at Karlovy Vary earlier this year. Past inspirations include her love for the Iranian New Wave and Andrea Arnold’s ‘Fish Tank’.She speaks on her filmmaking journey, influenced by classic Hollywood films, and reflects on her storytelling process, character development, and the collaborative nature of filmmaking. The discussion also delves

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29:12

E27 • Navigating Cultural Sensitivity Through Magical...

Past Present Feature with Marcus Mizelle ·

2024/10/22

Today’s episode features Devon Delmar, Jason Jacobs, and their feature film, “Carissa”, which just enjoyed its premiere at the Venice International Film Festival and was nominated for the Venice Horizon’s Award for Best Film. They are also joined by Producer Deidré Jantjies. Past inspirations include Benh Zeitlin’s ’Beasts of the Southern Wild’. The conversation delves into themes of community, cultural representation, and the challenges of storytelling on a tight budget. The filmmakers discuss

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37:33

E26 • Leveraging Life’s Limitations • VOJTĚCH...

Past Present Feature with Marcus Mizelle ·

2024/10/15

Vojtĕch Strakatý, director of ‘After Party’, which just premiered at the Venice Film Festival, speaks on how real-life experiences can inspire unique storytelling. His past cinema inspirations include the Brazilian films ‘Neighboring Sounds’ and ‘Aquarius’, by Kleber Mendonça Filho. He discusses the emotional core of his film, inspired by real-life events, shares his excitement for blending genre and art house films, and how balancing technology and creativity is key to effective filmmaking. Vojtĕch

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28:28

E25 • The Right Way Is Usually The Hard Way • VALERIO...

Past Present Feature with Marcus Mizelle ·

2024/10/08

In this conversation, Valerio Mastandrea discusses his film 'Feeling Better', which premiered at the Venice Film Festival. The film thematically explores love, emotional awakening, and authenticity within the creative process. Past cinema inspirations include Sofia Coppola’s ‘Lost in Translation’.Valerio reflects on his transition from acting to directing, the need for bravery in choosing film roles, the significance of audience connection, and the communal experience of watching films

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33:33

E24 • Transforming Adversity into Powerful...

Past Present Feature with Marcus Mizelle ·

2024/10/01

In this conversation, Oscar-nominated Scandar Copti discusses his latest film 'Happy Holidays', which just won the Orizontti Award for Best Screenplay at the Venice Film Festival. His past inspiration includes Alexander Nanau’s 2014 Docu-drama ‘Toto and His Sisters’ and Brazilian doc ‘Bus 174’.Scandar shares the creative process behind his film and the unique approach he takes in filmmaking, such as casting non-professional actors, and filming chronologically, which allows actors to

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40:19

E23 • Documentary as Profound Poetry • PETER KEREKES,...

Past Present Feature with Marcus Mizelle ·

2024/09/24

In this conversation, Peter Kerekes, Slovakian director of the Venice-bound documentary ‘Wishing On a Star’, shares valuable insights and inspirations, including Ulrich Seidl’s ‘Losses to Be Expected’ and Italian comedies from the 1970s.Peter shares his journey into poetic documentary filmmaking, the influence of his filmmaker father's experiences, the importance of humor in his films, and the process of developing and editing documentaries. He emphasizes the significance of character

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63 results

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