Woodstock Film Festival LET'S TALK FILM! Podcast

In the first of our 2023 Woodstock Film Festival panel series, multiple Oscar, Emmy, and Peabody awards winner and a legend in her field, Sheila Nevins chats with two-time Academy Awards® winning filmmaker Barbara Kopple who leads the conversation.  The two talk about their legendary careers, the state of documentary filmmaking now, and their present and future film projects. Nevins is credited fo...

LET’S TALK FILM! Podcast Episode #10 In this episode, we chat with actor and producer Thomas Sadoski about SAG strikes, independent films, and his work with non-profit organization War Child USA. A 20+ year veteran of the theatre, Tom most recently starred in the award-winning and critically acclaimed revival of Alice Childress’ WEDDING BAND at Theatre For a New Audience and Suzan Lori-Parks’ WHIT...

LET’S TALK FILM! Podcast Episode #9  In this episode, we chat with filmmakers Alex Smith and Tsanavi Spoonhunter about this year's Woodstock Film Festival’s Filmmaker Residency and Tsanavi’s upcoming documentary feature HOLDER OF THE SKY. Alex is a filmmaker and educator and currently serves as the Creative Director for Woodstock’s Filmmaker Residency where he helped mentor Tsanavi this past...

LET'S TALK FILM! Podcast Episode #7 In this episode, the filmmakers discuss their documentary film THE QUIET EPIDEMIC's rallying cry for proper research on Lyme disease. We also highlight Keys’ experience with Lyme and the film's impact at festivals. The film was featured at the Woodstock Film Festival in September 2022. Aside from being the director, producer, and cinematographer o...

LET’S TALK FILM! Podcast Episode #8 This episode features Rick Rowley, an award-winning documentary filmmaker and journalist. He is best known for his films DIRTY WARS (2013), DOCUMENTING HATE (2018), and 16 SHOTS (2019). Rowley recently received a Peabody Award for FRONTLINE: Micheal Flynn's Holy War. Rowley’s films highlight his willingness to take risks in order to bring dark truths to lig...

LET'S TALK FILM! EPISODE #1 Meira Blaustein is the Co-Founder / Executive Director / Programmer of the Woodstock Film Festival. The Festival was launched in 2000 and has quickly become one of the most respected and influential regional film festivals in the US. Blaustein has been running it ever since. Submit your film to the Woodstock Film Festival on  FilmFreeway Connect with WFF on   Linkt...

LET'S TALK FILM! EPISODE #3 Adam Shartoff, founder of Filmwax Radio , musician, and armchair film historian, talks about the spirit of independence, the importance of deep cuts, and providing a platform for lesser-known artists, whether through film, music, or any creative medium. Filmwax Radio Podcast: Website Instagram Topics discussed: Shartoff’s history with the Woodstock Film Festival  W...

LET'S TALK FILM! EPISODE #4 Harris Doran is an award-winning independent film writer, actor, director, and producer. Some of his work includes BEAUTY MARK (2018), which won Best Ultra Indie Film Award at the Woodstock Film Festival, and the new award-winning film KOKOMO CITY (2023). He shares his experiences at festivals and how they have impacted his filmmaking career + more! Topics discusse...

LET'S TALK FILM! EPISODE #5 In this episode, Edwards-Beal and Youngelson talk about their recent film HERE. IS. BETTER. (2023) regarding cinematography, the special music created for the film, healing from PTSD, and working with veterans.  Jack Youngelson is a highly accomplished documentary filmmaker and writer. Sian Edwards-Beal is “an Emmy Award-winning producer, writer, and director who h...

LET’S TALK FILM! EPISODE #6   James Schamus serves on the negotiating committee of the Writers Guild of America, whose members are currently on strike. He talks about fake unions created by Hollywood, the history of the Writers' Strikes, provides insight into industry practices that prevent career stability for working writers + much more!  James Schamus is an award-winning screenwriter (The...

LET'S TALK FILM! EPISODE #2 Nancy Buirski, founder of Full Frame Documentary Film Festival, talks about her latest film, DESPERATE SOULS, DARK CITY, AND THE LEGEND OF MIDNIGHT COWBOY. We also get into her work as Director/Producer/Writer OF THE LOVING STORY (2011), the definitive account of Loving v. Virginia, the landmark 1967 Supreme Court decision that legalized interracial marriage, and P...