Film Forward

This month, Film Forward is highlighting filmmakers from the 2020 Los Angeles Diversity Film Festival. In this episode, we interview Sasha Pasternak , the director of the gripping short film Make Me The Tennessee . Logline: In 1983, when the vengeful Kathy Morris attempts to poison the Tennessee cop who aided and abetted in the death of her sister, she gets cold feet. After all, the cop is her hus...

This month, Film Forward is highlighting filmmakers from the 2020 Los Angeles Diversity Film Festival.   In this episode, we interview Hanna Mathis , the director of the documentary Wheels of Madness as well as the subject of the film Gal Mizrachi .   Wheels of Madness follows Gal to his favorite music festival, Sziget in Hungary, where he shows that everyone has the ability to find their passion...

This month, Film Forward is highlighting filmmakers from the 2020 Los Angeles Diversity Film Festival. In this episode, we interview Adriana Barbosa and Thiago Zanato, the directors of the mind-blowing short film La Flaca .     La Flaca follows Arely Vazquez, a transgender woman and leader of the Santa Muerte (Saint Death) Cult in Queens, New York. During her yearly celebration to the Bony Lady ("...

This month, Film Forward is highlighting filmmakers from the 2020 Los Angeles Diversity Film Festival . In this episode, we interview Justin Andrew Davis, the writer/director and star of the thriller You Look Great . You Look Great follows Peter. After secretly struggling with his weight for years, his body shame forces him to go further than before in pursuit of complete control. The film is base...

This month, Film Forward is highlighting filmmakers from the 2020 Los Angeles Diversity Film Festival. In this episode, we interview Michelle Gritzer, director of the wonderful comedy Do You Have A…? Do You have A…? Tells the story of Amy, a timid people-pleaser who unexpectedly gets her period at her new job, she must learn to let go of her past and stand up for herself in order to obtain a tampo...

This month, Film Forward is highlighting filmmakers from the 2020 Los Angeles Diversity Film Festival.     In this episode, we interview Emil Gallardo, director of the gripping short film 1, 2, 3 All Eyes On Me.     1, 2, 3 All Eyes On Me follows a passionate teacher doing her best to manage her challenging class, suddenly finds herself trapped in a crisis that engulfs her elementary school campus...

This month, Film Forward is highlighting filmmakers from the 2020 Los Angeles Diversity Film Festival.   In this episode, we interview Symone Baptiste, director of the hilarious short film, Sixteen Thousand Dollars.     Sixteen Thousand Dollars imagines a world in which reparations are given to African-Americans in the form of a check, which ultimately doesn't amount to much. Symone and Nicholas d...

In our first episode highlighting 2020 LADFF Filmmakers, we interview Jay Snow . He is the writer/director and star of the short film Flawd .     Flawd is a romantic comedy based on Jay's personal experiences with Sickle Cell Anemia. In this episode, we discuss why it took for Jay this long to write about his history with the disease. We also discuss the challenges and triumphs with simultaneously...

Crip Camp is The Audience Award Winner at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival . We were honored to be joined by the film's co-directors, Jim Lebrecht and Nicole Newnham. The two filmmakers walk us through a detailed history of how the documentary was made and what it was like to premiere at Sundance. They also fill us in on some really fun behind the scenes stories. Crip Camp is available to stream on...

The Wretched has found a happy home playing at Drive-In movie theaters all across the country. It has been the #1 movie three weeks in a row. The Pierce Brothers discuss what it's like to release The Wretched smack dab in the middle of a global pandemic. We also do a deep dive of their impressive creature and their amazing practical effects. If you are into horror movies or the wonders of indie-fi...

Deniese Davis is an accomplished television producers who's shows include Insecure & The Black Lady Sketch Show . The two of us dissect the rise of HBO's hit comedy and explore how they've been able to keep their show consistent for four years and counting. And as always, our guest hooks us up with a great Gimme Three in the final segment of the show. New episodes of Insecure air Sunday nights on...

This week's episode is a Re-Release of a episode we recorded back in October with filmmakers Elena Weinberg and Duncan Coe , they are co-directors of the film A Room Full of Nothing . We are really happy to announce that the film has since gotten distribution, and is available NOW on soooo many streaming platforms. A Room Full of Nothing explores isolationism, escapism and the complexities of mode...

Melissa Barrera stars in the award-winning television show, Vida and the upcoming Lin-Manuel Miranda produced film, In the Heights.   We discuss the upcoming third and final season of Vida which premieres April 26th on Starz.   Melissa also tells the amazing story of her long history with In the Heights, from super fandom of the broadway play to her incredible audition story, to working with the i...

Alison Wong is a staff writer for the hit show One Day at a Time which is currently in it's 4th season.   We chat with Ms. Wong about what it was like joining a writer's room in the fourth season of a show. We also discuss how their entire team has had to adjust to the Covid-19 pandemic.   This is a great episode for aspiring writers and lovers of three-camera sitcoms! I will also add that Alison...

In honor of Women's History Month , we bring you another Gimme Three episode. Each of us suggest 3 films we love directed by women.   Our guest of honor this week is LADFF Alumni Alle Hsu .   In the episode, Alle references her short film, Sophie  that was shot in Honk Kong. Here's the link to  Sophie . If you take any of our film suggestions, let us know what you think in the comments section - o...

We are honored to be joined by Award-Winning Filmmaker, creative partner and dear friend Ryan Lacen ( The Dust Storm, All The World Is Sleeping).   During these… "interesting" times of self-isolation and quarantining, the team at Film Forward wanted to help out by offering 3 amazing and poignant double features to check out while you are cooped up at home.   Enjoy the episode and let us know what...

For this episode of Film Forward, we decided to do something a little different. Each of our producers joins us as our guests as we all do a Gimme Three for 2019.   Check out this fun episode and listen to us discuss some of our favorites from last year, and if you choose to watch any of them (and we hope that you do), please let us know what you think by leaving a comment.   If you like this epis...

Kit Williamson is he co-creator, director, writer and star of the hit Netflix show - EastSiders .   Join us as we discuss the fascinating and inspiring backstory of this series. We do a deep dive on the show and it's themes and talk about the importance of diverse Queer content and representation.   As always, we finish the show with Gimme Three, Kit offers three EXCELLENT recommendations to our a...

In October, we sat down with Academy Award-Nominated Screenwriter Virgil Williams to discuss his film Mudbound and it's profound affect on audiences. Virgil invites us into his writing process, offering keen insight for upcoming screenwriters. We also discuss his upcoming project wth director Denzel Washington , A Journal for Jordan.

Elena and Duncan discuss how their personal experiences as artists inform their debut feature film "A Room Full of Nothing." 

Filmmaker Thiago Dadalt discusses his film Duke and what is was like adapting a true story into a narrative film. He also gives us three fantastic recommendations in our Gimme Three segment. Duke is playing August 24th at the Los Angeles Diversity Film Festival. Tickets are available at LADFF.com

Behold! The greatest interview with a Gay, Asian, Musical Comedian from Canada that you will hear today! Kevin Yee joins us to discuss his career and his new movie About A Short Film. Listen, laugh and enjoy! And if you dig this episode, come see Kevin's film at LADFF on August 24th. Tickets on sale now at LADFF.com

David & Marli discuss their film The Gospel of Combat and their relationship with it's subject, Sensai Ben Kiyaga. This short documentary was shot in Kenya and is a beautiful character study. We're thrilled to screen it in the Doc Block at this year's Los Angeles Diversity Film Festival. Tickets available at LADFF.com

Natalie Rodriguez discusses her feature film debut, The Extraordinary Ordinary which has it's World Premiere at the Los Angeles Diversity Film Festival on August 23rd.

Carly Usdin's latest short film Misdirection blends touches on unrequited love, obsessive compulsive disorder and... magic! The film sells itself but Carly does a pretty damn good job of selling it herself as well.  Join us as we talk about  Misdirection  and her comic book work.  Misdirection  will also be playing Opening Night at LADFF, August 22nd. Tickets available at LADFF.com