Reel Mental with Dr. Marcia Sirota

Shane Conto (he/him) is an educator by day and a full blown cinephile who dabbles in all types of film circles the rest of the time. YouTuber, writer, and podcaster, Shane highlights his love for film amongst other hobbies (from TV, books, music, sports, and video games) through reviews, podcasts, and a variety of written projects. Running a tutoring center and teaching statistics does not stop Sh...

JOSH LOEB – Director, Writer, Producer   Josh Loeb’s two professional passions are film and food. After majoring in English and Film at UC Berkeley and working in his early twenties as a script reader and magazine editor, Josh came to the realization that he was not quite ready to write screenplays with the depth of character that he loved in the films he grew up on. Josh took a detour into his ot...

Lacey Schwartz Delgado is an Emmy-nominated producer, writer, director, and outreach strategist whose interdisciplinary work spans documentary and fiction across 40 countries. She is best known for writing, directing, and producing Little White Lie — a personal documentary about identity that premiered on PBS' Independent Lens in 2015 to the highest ratings of the season and is now available on iT...

WRITER, DIRECTOR & PRODUCER SAI KARAN TALWAR Sai Karan Talwar is an award-winning writer and director. Sai is currently a BAFTA Connect Member, a 2025 alumnus of the BBC Writers room - Writers’ Access Group, and 2023 Disability Belongs Entertainment Lab. His upcoming short film ‘ I AM THE PRIZE ’ stars Russell Tovey, it is based on the spec script he wrote with the BBC during the BBC Writers R...

Shane Conto (he/him) is an educator by day and a full blown cinephile who dabbles in all types of film circles the rest of the time. YouTuber, writer, and podcaster, Shane highlights his love for film amongst other hobbies (from TV, books, music, sports, and video games) through reviews, podcasts, and a variety of written projects. Running a tutoring center and teaching statistics does not stop Sh...

Director Rowan Haber is an aesthetically-driven writer and director of narrative, documentary and commercial content. An MFA graduate of NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, Rowan's work has earned recognition as a Sundance Momentum Fellow, as well as a Sundance New Frontier Lab and Art of Practice Fellow. They've also been selected for the Universal Pictures Directing Lab, AFI's Directing Workshop, Fi...

Brian Eggert is a Tomatometer-Approved critic who celebrates the movies you love and the hidden gems you have yet to discover. Brian writes about classic, independent, and mainstream cinema. If you're looking for new release recommendations or an appreciation of a longtime favorite, check out his in-depth essays, histories, and critical analyses on his website, Deep Focus Review. https://letterbox...

Brian Eggert is a Tomatometer-Approved critic who celebrates the movies you love and the hidden gems you have yet to discover. Brian writes about classic, independent, and mainstream cinema. If you're looking for new release recommendations or an appreciation of a longtime favorite, check out his in-depth essays, histories, and critical analyses on his website, Deep Focus Review. https://letterbox...

Alex Burunova grew up painting before finding her voice in filmmaking. A Los Angeles-based USC Film School alum with a background in directing theater, she's also directed award-winning shorts, episodics, and a Netflix special. Her debut feature, "Satisfaction" -shot across Greece and London-was nearly a decade in the making and premiered at SXSW. Alex's work blends bold visuals with emotionally i...

WRITER/DIRECTOR – DANIEL PERSITZ  Daniel has sold numerous scripts to studios and production companies including Lionsgate, eOne, Hasbro Studios, Dark Horse and Dimension. Three of his screenplays have been voted onto the prestigious Hollywood Black List, including the feature version of Key of Genius, co-written with David Seidler, the Oscar-winning writer of The King’s Speech.  Daniel is also an...

In the latest episode of the Reel Mental Podcast I discuss the film "The Sun Rises On Us All" with writer-director Cai Shangjun and screenwriter Han Nianjin at The Toronto International Film Festival®. With special thanks to our interpreter Erika Li. CAI SHANGJUN | DIRECTOR Director, screenwriter and producer, Cai Shangjun graduated from China Central Academy of Drama in 1992. Cai’s screenplays in...

Matteo Salvatore is a Toronto-based film critic and writer. What began as a casual writing hobby has evolved into a dedicated passion for film analysis and criticism, spanning more than four years across multiple platforms. Through a mix of thoughtful written essays and engaging video content, Matteo has steadily grown his online following and presence in the film community. Substack: https://unde...

Brian Eggert is a national award-winning film critic and scholar. He is Tomatometer-Approved and belongs to several critical and scholarly associations, including: the Society For Cinema and Media Studies, Minnesota Film Critics Association, Online Film & Television Association, International Film Society Critics, National Coalition of Independent Scholars, and the Large Association of Movie B...

Jason Anderson is a film programmer, journalist and lecturer in Toronto. As a longtime programmer for the Toronto International Film Festival, he programs work from Canada, the Nordic countries and Benelux. He's also the programming director for the Kingston Canadian Film Festival and Aspen Shortsfest. He's a regular contributor to such publications as Uncut magazine, Sight & Sound and Broadvi...

Lauren Melinda is an award-winning filmmaker, artist and founder of SIMBELLE PRODUCTIONS. Her work explores issues of feminine identity and perception, while critiquing the forces of culture and circumstance that mold the roles assigned to women. As a mixed-media artist, Lauren’s video installations have been commissioned by galleries, museums, and private collectors in North America and the Middl...

*Trigger Warning: This episode mentions suicide. Please reach out to the Suicide Crisis Helpline at 9-8-8 (in Canada) if you need help.* SEAN KING O’GRADY is an award-winning filmmaker whose work spans narrative features, documentaries, and high-profile branded content. His films have screened at Sundance, Tribeca, Telluride, Berlin, Venice, TIFF, SXSW, Sitges, Fantastic Fest, and dozens of other...

In the latest episode of the Reel Mental Podcast I discuss the Toronto International Film Festival® short film, "Butterfly on a Wheel," with writer, director, and composer Trevor Morris. TREVOR MORRIS Writer, Director, Composer Trevor Morris is a writer, composer and director for Film & Television, a 5-time EMMY® nominee and 2x winner. Canadian-born and dual citizen of Great Britain, Trevor sp...

In the latest episode of the Reel Mental Podcast I discuss the film "The Condor Daughter" with writer-director Álvaro Olmos Torrico and star Marisol Vallejos Montaño at The Toronto International Film Festival®. Álvaro Olmos Torrico (Writer-director): Álvaro Olmos Torrico was born in Cochabamba, Bolivia. His debut feature, Wiñay (2019), was among the first Bolivian films to be released globally via...

Christy Lemire is a longtime film critic who writes for RogerEbert.com and co-hosts the Breakfast All Day YouTube channel and podcast. Breakfast All Day: https://www.youtube.com/@BreakfastAllDay/  Saturday Matinee newsletter: https://christylemire.beehiiv.com/

Nicole Cabrera is a Toronto-based film enjoyer with a passion for the eighties, horror, and deep diving their favourite actors' obscure filmography. When they're not watching movies, they're writing, crafting, cosplaying, going to concerts, working on their podcast ( Hollywood Deepdive ) and dreaming of traveling. Podcast : Hollywood Deepdive   Writing: films fatale  

*Trigger Warning: This episode mentions suicide. If you or anyone you know are struggling with thoughts of suicide please reach out to the Suicide Crisis Helpline at 9-8-8 (available anywhere in Canada).* Alex Billington is the founder and editor of  FirstShowing.net  - he is a die-hard film lover and film critic. Originally from Colorado, he is now based in Berlin, and is always planning his next...

Brian Eggert is the owner and film critic of Deep Focus Review, where he has written movie reviews, in-depth essays, and critical analyses since 2007. Brian also regularly appears on KARE 11, the NBC affiliate for the Twin Cities, to review and discuss movies. He belongs to the Society For Cinema and Media Studies, Minnesota Film Critics Alliance, Online Film & Television Association, Internat...

*Trigger Warning: This episode mentions suicide. If you or anyone you know are struggling with thoughts of suicide please reach out to the Suicide Crisis Helpline at 9-8-8 (available anywhere in Canada).* Brian Eggert is the owner and film critic of Deep Focus Review, where he has written movie reviews, in-depth essays, and critical analyses since 2007. Brian also regularly appears on KARE 11, the...

In the latest episode of the Reel Mental Podcast I speak with writer, director, and producer, Russell Brown about his new film, Loren & Rose.  Filmmaker Russell Brown’s body of work includes five narrative features, two full-length documentaries and a number of well-regarded narrative and documentary shorts. His feature films have opened theatrically in select cities to stellar reviews after p...

In the latest episode of the Reel Mental Podcast I speak with writer, director, and producer, Corey Sherman about his new film Big Boys. Corey Sherman (Writer/Director/Producer) is a 29 year-old filmmaker living in Los Angeles. He grew up in Riverdale, a neighborhood in the north Bronx, just within New York City limits. He attended Horace Mann School, High School of American Studies at Lehman Coll...