The Maine Pod Week

hi everyone! Did you miss us?? We missed you. So we came back to do another episode because of the uproarious reaction from several missed weeks of publishing. It’s now Heavy Hitter Movie Season and things are IN THEATERS. If you need to get in the spirit, this week we’re talking about: * Chinese robots * the Best of the Fest * Nate’s roommate Abby * popcorn economics * Nate showing off his theate...

Carolina Valencia González came onto The Maine Pod Week to chat about her new hybrid documentary, How to Clean a House in 10 Easy Steps . What’s a hybrid documentary? Carolina blends fact and fiction to create a playful atmosphere where she and her mother can explore their pasts and relationships. In this interview, she described this approach as a way to get “honesty over truth”— which was the pe...

Nick and Cash Cassidy are a delightful duo. They truly embody the spirit of independent film and they position their films to be collective cultural experiences, expanding beyond the limiting box so many indie films get stuck in. Their new film, Saving Black Bear , has a premise so enticing to us that we had to hear all about it: In small-town Maine, misfit movie theater employees confront their f...

We are proud to be the Official New Media Partner of the Camden International Film Festival for the second year! We’ll be posting previews of films in the weeks leading up to the festival. Let’s kick things off with an interview with Elise McCave, Executive Director of the Points North Institute and CIFF . Listen to the interview here or wherever you get podcasts! CIFF 2026 films mentioned in the...

I really thought my interview with legendary producer Christine Vachon would take longer. Going into it, I was nervous— Vachon is the most famous (or fame-adjacent) person The Maine Playweek has interviewed, with the possible exception of Alex Ross Perry. I listened to her old interviews, rewatched her films ( Safe , Far From Heaven , Past Lives ), and crafted what I thought were a handful of in-d...

Last month we interviewed filmmakers whose films were showing at the 29th Maine International Film Festival. We’ve got a handful to share over the next week or so, and this episode we’ve got two great interviews: * Ricky Leighton, director of Downeast Hardcore: Stories from the Kave * Matty Wishnow, director of The Last Critic Learn more about Downeast Hardcore : thekavefilm.com Get tickets to the...

MIFF and MOFF are behind us and CIFF is looming—in the meantime, is there even anything to talk about? Any major cinematic blockbusters been making headlines lately? Let’s think……This week, we’re talking about: * pets * science * birds * Pedantry 101 * some guy from Greece And so much more. As always, check out showtimes.themaineplayweek.com and let us know what you think. And don’t forget to foll...

HAPPY FESTIVAL SEASON! There’s tons to cover in the world of Maine film right now, but this week, we’re talking about: * Tourmaline Prize winners * Maine’s summer film festival landscape * time loops * bespoke merch and self promotion * the cinematic equivalent of leaping from an airplane * the movie viewer’s imax forgiveness PSA As always, check out showtimes.themaineplayweek.com and let us know...

Check out The Maine Pod Week’s interview with Nick Callanan , director of the Maine Outdoor Film Festival ! The Maine Outdoor Film Festival (MOFF) is an international film festival featuring outdoor adventure and environmental documentary films about the beauty, vastness, interactivity and volatility of our planet; and how its power influences human experience. Connect with the Maine Outdoor Film...

Nate came back from China and Julia went to Boston—what are these crazy kids gonna do next?? probably, talk about: * petty school rivalries * movies for mom and movies for dad * upcoming festival and drive-in plans (and the Maine Playweek publications in which you can find them :)) * canine critics to name but a few things—enjoy! check out showtimes.themaineplayweek.com and let us know what you th...

Join Charlie and Julia for a recap conversation about the Bates Film Festival in Lewiston and Portland this past week. Stay tuned for the next festival at batesfilmfestival.com . Follow all our Maine film festival coverage this summer at themaineplayweek.com . Find movie showtimes at themaineplayweek.com/showtimes. If you like our work, consider making a one-time contribution or becoming a paid su...

Nate interviewed his fellow Batesies about their film fest! Tune in for a great conversation about: - How film can inspire social change - Special guests with Maine connections - All-time favorites that kick-started the students’ passion for film Every two years Jon Cavallero and a group of students organize this film festival not just for the Bates community, but for everyone. All the events are...

We got to go to the movies together!!! Much to discuss about people making movies in Maine this time!!! not only that, but we also get to talk about: * Julia Dunlavey, Journalist Extraordinaire (Julia’s interviews with Sam Dunning can be found here and here ) * the trouble with kayaks * Julia Dunlavey, Cultural Weathervane * our brand new showtimes page !!!! * Julia Dunlavey, Time Optimizer Enjoy!...

hi again :) enjoying our new regular output? you BETTER be!!! it’s good to talk to your friends about the stuff you see in movies that activates your lizard brain. it’s not ACTUALLY a scary episode, we had a lot of fun talking about: * new offerings! * fun shirts * Nate’s theater major (he only gets to use it so often, okay??) * scary technology * scary vacuums * the canine-cinematic conundrum enj...

Brunswick-born director Sam Dunning is back home to tour his canoeing mockumentary Canoe Dig It? all around Maine, and he stopped by the Pod Week to chat about: * bullying your friends into seeing his movie * DIY film distribution is just emails and spreadsheets * what makes the film work with a theatrical audience * favorite Letterboxd reviews See CANOE DIG IT? at your local cinema this month: Ap...

the oscars are over and DONE with! how was that for you? was it everything you dreamed of? was train dreams snubbed? this week we’ll talk about: * Conan * delicious puns * going to the movies * not going to the movies * trailers * the trouble with spidered men Get yourself a tee! and as always, follow @themaineplayweek on Instagram instead! Get full access to The Maine Playweek at themaineplayweek...

When Nate is away the mice will play! Or at least stumble through a solo recording and editing session. In this episode, Julia talks about a few films that got Academy Award nominations but that were short-lived or not-at-all-lived in theaters. And good news— some of these have special screenings coming up around town! Listen for more about: * when distributors prioritize certain films over others...

Happy 2026! how many movies did you see last year?that’s it?? cmon now. Maybe your resolution should be to go to the movies more. In this episode, we resolved to talk about: * playing catch up with the theatrical releases * Rockland based fashion trends * James Cameron’s obsessions * Tubi * sodium intake for those with a strong sense of free will * putting your phone away in the goddamn theater *...

Julia and Nate are back at it! and we’ve got some great new music to reel you in and some HARD FACTS AND DATA to make you think about: * Josh O’Connor * Austin Powers date nights * where you can see Train Dreams in theaters (nowhere right now I’m sorry everyone) * Josh O’Connor * our movie survey results (take it here ) * IMAX expansionism * Josh O’Connor Follow @themaineplayweek on Instagram ! Ge...

This week, Julia and Nate recorded remote for the first time! wow! hope it still sounds good please don’t be mad if it doesn’t xoxoxox :) instead of focusing on audio quality, focus instead on our chat about: * making the leap from radio to television * Richard Linklater’s busy schedule * the good folks at the Eveningstar * popcorn 101 * the joy of watching a movie at home * how good we are at kno...

Hello everyone we’ve got another hot ep for you. Somehow Nate managed to post within the same week of recording—what a concept! get those ears primed for blisteringly good discussions of: * battles, one after another * crossing state lines * how do you pronounce Haim? * messed up theater screens * region-locked media Follow @themaineplayweek on Instagram ! Get full access to The Maine Playweek at...

In preparation for the screening of Videoheaven at SPACE Gallery, we had the pleasure to chat with the film’s director Alex Ross Perry and editor Clyde Folley. We talk video stores, curation, the importance of horror films for video rental stores, and much more. Videoheaven is playing on October 27th at SPACE Gallery at 7pm. Want to win a pair of tickets to see Videoheaven at SPACE ? Comment below...

Our very own Charlie Beck designed a T-shirt that is a love letter to Maine cinemas past and present, using newspaper ads and clippings from local Maine publications. It’s a wonderfully complex design, so we had to have him on the podcast to talk about it! Take a closer look at the design and buy your TMPW T-shirt here -- they're comfy! The Maine Playweek: the way cinema should be. Follow us: Webs...

We sat down with Gaspard Hirschi, the director of I Am Night at Noonday , to discuss a wide variety of topics. In case you missed it, we wrote about the film prior to the festival and has stood out as one of our favorites. To check out more coverage of CIFF ‘25, check out themaineplayweek.com as well as our Instagram @themaineplayweek Get full access to The Maine Playweek at themaineplayweek.subst...

well everyone being the producer on these made my laptop explode. a month and a half and a bunch of data recovery later and I have our August 5th ep all edited. this one’s a fun one! hope you like: * being so back * film festival summaries and theatrical run predictions * old films * new films * proposals?!?!?!! Follow @themaineplayweek on Instagram ! thanks for listening xo Donate to Nate’s emoti...