Directors UK Podcast

Alicia Macdonald sits down with Mike Leigh to speak about making her feature film debut with Finding Emily. Alicia shares her creative process, and how she gave a fresh spin on the romantic comedy in this love-letter to one of the coolest cities in the UK.

Hikari speaks with Will Sharpe on her latest film Rental Family. They discuss the nuances of cross-cultural directing, collaborating through improvisation, filming on location, and casting Brendan Fraser.

Kaouther Ben Hania joins Soudade Kaadan to discuss The Voice of Hind Rajab. Kaouther reflects on what it was like working with such challenging subject matter, how staying focused on the importance of the story helped her and her crew remain motivated, and the power of telling a story that truly resonates.

Kate Winslet joins Francis Lee to discuss the work that went into making her emotional directorial debut, Goodbye June. Kate shares insights from her experience working with some of the industry’s most accomplished directors, and her approach to assembling a cast and crew that collaborate effectively.

Lindsay Utz sits down with Lottie Gammon to discuss her latest documentary, Prime Minister (co-directed with Michelle Walshe), which chronicles Jacinda Ardern’s tenure as Prime Minister of New Zealand. Lindsay reflects on how the team secured such extraordinary access, her approach to shaping a compelling narrative from extensive raw footage, and how she and Michelle worked together throughout the...

Joy Gharoro-Akpojotor speaks with Christiana Ebohon-Green on her latest film Dreamers which tells the story of Nigerian migrant Isio, who finds hope in an unexpected love that gives her the strength to fight a broken system. Joy discusses her the work that went into directing this tremendous feature debut, why she thought it was important to add colour to this story of struggle, and more. 

Shih-Ching Tsou speaks with Rhianna Dhillon on her latest film Left-Handed Girl. In their conversation Shih-Ching discusses techniques and strategies for shooting in busy public locations, her approach to working with young non-professional actors, and how she had to stand firm on telling her story her own way.

Kleber Mendonça Filho speaks with Walter Salles on his latest film The Secret Agent. Kleber discusses the work that went into crafting such a complex layered film, how he and his editor captured the rhythm of life, and more.

Kirk Jones joins Alex Godfrey for an in-depth discussion on the work that went into directing I Swear, an account of the life of John Davidson, a Tourette syndrome campaigner who grew up with the condition in 1980s Scotland, at a time when it was little known and misunderstood.

Academy Award-winning director Chloé Zhao joins Joe Wright to discuss the creative processes that shaped her latest film, and her approach to directing.

Nia DaCosta sits down with Afua Hirsch to discuss the work that went into directing Hedda, and her approach to the craft.

In the latest episode of the Directors UK Podcast, Mona Fastvold speaks with Wendy Mitchell about her latest film The Testament of Ann Lee. The two explore her bold directorial vision and the creative journey behind her daring new film.

Paul Thomas Anderson speaks to critic Danny Leigh about his distinctive approach to directing and the creative process behind his latest film, One Battle After Another.

Akinola Davies Jr sits down with Chiwetel Ejiofor to discuss the making of his powerful feature directorial debut My Father's Shadow. Akinola shares insights from the development process, taking inspiration from the archive, and his process collaborating with cast and crew.

Elizabeth Lo joins Jeanie Finlay to discuss her latest documentary, Mistress Dispeller. In China, a discreet new industry has emerged to help couples preserve their marriages in the face of infidelity. So-called “mistress dispellers” are hired to protect marital bonds — and dismantle affairs — by any means necessary. With remarkable intimacy, Mistress Dispeller follows an unfolding family drama fr...

Ryan Coogler speaks with Destin Daniel Cretton on his latest film Sinners. Ryan shares his creative journey as a director, what it was like shooting in 70mm, and his unique, genre-bending approach to the craft.

Nadia Latif joins fellow director George Amponsah for an in-depth conversation about her film directorial debut, The Man In My Basement. Nadia shares what her extensive experience directing for theatre prepared her for director for film, how she the opportunity to adapt Walter Mosley's book came to her, and the creative decisions that went into making this film.

Daisy-May Hudson joins fellow director Alex Kalymnios for an in-depth conversation about the making of her fiction feature debut, Lollipop. Daisy-May shares her unconventional route into filmmaking, the moment she realised that directing was for her, why film is such a powerful medium to tell stories that matter. The conversation delves into the creative and practical challenges of crafting Lollip...

Recorded live at our exclusive Directors UK member event, Academy Award-winning director Guillermo del Toro sits down with friend and fellow Oscar-winning director Alfonso Cuarón for a fascinating deep dive into his creative process, and the making of his haunting new film, Frankenstein.

In the latest episode of the Directors UK Podcast, recorded live at our exclusive Directors UK member event, Academy Award-winning director Kathryn Bigelow speaks with fellow director Peter Straughan on her approach to directing, and the work that went into directing her explosive new film A House Of Dynamite.

Olaide Sadiq’s directorial debut Grenfell: Uncovered examines the disturbing chain of events that led to the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017, giving survivors, bereaved families and firefighters a platform to share their story. In the latest episode of the Directors UK Podcast, recorded live at our exclusive member event last month, Olaide sits down with fellow documentary director Toby Trackman, to d...

Recorded live at a Directors UK members event, in partnership with Illuminatrix and FOMO House, director Shannon Murphy and DoP Annika Summerson explore their recent collaboration on BBC drama Dope Girls, in a live discussion moderated by DoP Susanne Salavati. Shannon and Annika share how their creative partnership evolved during filming. Image Credit: BBC/Bad Wolf/Grant Royce

Get a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the casting process behind Channel 4 series, Queenie, in the latest episode of the Directors UK Podcast. Recorded live at our career development masterclass last Autumn, Director (episodes 1-4) Joelle Mae David, Casting Director Aisha Bywaters, and lead actor Dionne Brown, explore the show’s approach to casting. Director James Kent hosts their conversation. Lis...

Sean Baker is In Conversation with Ian Haydn Smith on directing Anora. Sean shares his experience casting and working with Mikey Madison, what it was like shooting on a tight budget, and how the story grew from the film's locations. Image credit: Christopher Andreou

John Crowley is on the Directors UK Podcast speaking to Anna Bogutskaya on what went into directing We Live In Time. John shares his experience in the edit, his approach to rehearsals, as well as what challenges come from working on a non-linear story.