The American Cinematheque Podcast

On this episode, we’re joined by actor and podcaster Mike Mitchell (from the Doughboys podcast, THE NAPA BOYS, TWISTED METAL) to create a film festival where you’re gonna have a lot of fun watching anything from SOUTH PARK: BIGGER, LONGER & UNCUT to…EYES WIDE SHUT? We’re talking a love of John Candy, secret movie theater hot dogs, real life guys from Boston who sound like the guys in THE DEPAR...

John Early (MADDIE’S SECRET, SEARCH PARTY) joins us on this episode of the podcast to talk about his directorial debut and the movies that shaped him! From unexpected tragedy surrounding a Christmas watch of YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN, seeing TEA WITH MUSSOLINI and realizing Cher was a genius, to life changing viewings of MURIEL’S WEDDING and DEATH OF A CHEERLEADER, we’re talking queer cinema, TV movies,...

On this episode, we’re joined by Sean Fennessey: writer, host of The Big Picture, and head of content at The Ringer! We’re talking about growing up in the birthplace of Walt Whitman, and everything from hooting and hollering at the JACKASS movies to falling in love with ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST as a teen. To watch this episode, head to our YouTube . The American Cinematheque operates the Aero,...

Actor, comedian, and movie lover Patton Oswalt (RATATOUILLE, YOUNG ADULT, I LOVE MY DAD, GOAT) joins us on the podcast! We’re talking about everything from 70s low budget genre films to CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND and PEE-WEE’S BIG ADVENTURE, from multiplexes in Virginia to the pre-Tarantino days at the New Beverly Cinema in Los Angeles. To watch this episode, head to our YouTube . The Amer...

Actor Diego Calva (BABYLON, CLUB KID, HER PRIVATE HELL, THE NIGHT MANAGER, ON SWIFT HORSES) joins the podcast to tell us about his life at the movies! From growing up seeing movies at the Cineteca in Mexico City to accidentally becoming an actor, he tells us all about the films that shaped and inspired his career. We’re talking about everything from rapturous applause at a screening of AKIRA to th...

The American Cinematheque’s annual festival celebrating the cinema of despair is back for its fifth year and GLOBAL for the first time! Chris Lemaire, director of programming at the American Cinematheque, joins the podcast to talk about the festival’s history, formative screenings, and highlights and special events coming to an independent cinema near you. Head to the Bleak Week landing page at th...

Filmmaker Karyn Kusama (JENNIFER’S BODY, YELLOWJACKETS, DESTROYER, THE INVITATION, GIRLFIGHT) joins the podcast! Her life at the movies includes everything from odd jobs before her first Sundance premiere to interviewing William Friedkin for cinematic car chase secrets. From ERASERHEAD and SATANTANGO to VALLEY GIRL, she shares stories about the films and experiences that shaped her and her work. T...

Acclaimed film editor, sound editor and director Walter Murch (RETURN TO OZ, THE GODFATHER, APOCALYPSE NOW, AMERICAN GRAFFITI, THE CONVERSATION, THE TALENTED MR. RIPLEY) joins us on the podcast to talk about his life at the movies. From DUMBO to LAWRENCE OF ARABIA, he shares stories about the films and movie-going experiences that shaped him, and ultimately shaped cinema as we know it. To watch th...

Actress of stage and screen Tatiana Maslany (ORPHAN BLACK, DESTROYER, SHE-HULK, THE MONKEY, MAXIMUM PLEASURE GUARANTEED) joins the podcast! We’re talking about going to the drive-in in Saskatchewan, private noir screenings in Toronto, working on horror movies as a kid, and everything in the world of film from the sound design of UNDER THE SKIN to the practical effects in SOCIETY and the Marx Broth...

Filmmaker Lee Cronin (THE HOLE IN THE GROUND, EVIL DEAD RISE, LEE CRONIN’S THE MUMMY) joins us on the show to chat comedy, horror, Ireland, historic theaters, and the sound design that haunted him as a child as we talk through his life at the movies. We’re talking everything from PLANES, TRAINS, AND AUTOMOBILES to BUG and THE EXORCIST. What do TERMINATOR 2 and THE COMMITMENTS have in common? Let’s...

Filmmaker Sophy Romvari (BLUE HERON) joins us on the podcast to discuss her stunning debut feature, working at movie theaters, and the delight of dogs in movies. She programs the film festival of her life featuring everything from A.I. to THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT MARY. What do JEANNE DIELMAN and BRIGADOON have in common? How many Canadian filmmakers can our host name? Let’s find out. BLUE HERON — t...

Writer/director David Lowery (AIN’T THEM BODIES SAINTS, A GHOST STORY, PETE’S DRAGON, THE GREEN KNIGHT, MOTHER MARY) powers through laryngitis to join the podcast and program the film festival of his life. From getting hit by a car while lost in thought after seeing INTERVIEW WITH A VAMPIRE and falling in love at a screening of PINOCCHIO, we’re talking goth phases, getting fired from movie theater...

Filmmaker Daniel Goldhaber (CAM, HOW TO BLOW UP A PIPELINE) joins the podcast to talk about his new film, FACES OF DEATH, and program the film festival of his life. From the importance of local critics and programmers to seeing screens on film, we’re talking about movies like UNFRIENDED, WHIPLASH, and SHOWGIRLS. What do THE DARK KNIGHT and THIEF have in common? What’s one of the most important fil...

Writer/director BenDavid Grabinski (MIKE & NICK & NICK & ALICE, SCOTT PILGRIM TAKES OFF, HAPPILY, ARE YOU AFRAID OF THE DARK?) joins us on the podcast to program the film festival of his favorite movie-going experiences and talk about his love for 4DX screenings, action comedies like MIDNIGHT RUN, the earnest love story of MIAMI VICE, and left-turn sequels like BATMAN RETURNS. What do...

Director Edgar Wright (HOT FUZZ, SHAUN OF THE DEAD, SCOTT PILGRIM VS THE WORLD, THE WORLD’S END, BABY DRIVER, LAST NIGHT IN SOHO, THE RUNNING MAN) joins us for the first episode of this podcast and programs the film festival of his favorite and formative movies across his life, from STAR WARS to the obscure RIKI-OH: THE STORY OF RICKY to a double-feature pairing GOODFELLAS and DELICATESSEN. Does s...

Director, writer and actor Mary Bronstein (IF I HAD LEGS I’D KICK YOU, YEAST) joins us on today’s episode to walk us through her life at the movies and program the highlights as her personal film festival, from WELCOME TO THE DOLLHOUSE to I LOVE LUCY, with a side quest into TRAINSPOTTING, SCREAM and REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE. Does her journey to the Paris Theater in NYC to see THE AGE OF INNOCENCE mak...

What movies would make it into the film festival of your life? The American Cinematheque has operated since 1985 as a year-round film festival. In our new podcast, we're asking friends and filmmakers - like Edgar Wright, Karyn Kusama, Mary Bronstein, Larry Karaszewski, and so many more - to program their own personal film festivals! They'll talk about their favorite films and most formative movie-...