Ep 353: Will Allen, Vera Cheiffo & Philippe Coquet • Samantha “Princess Shaw” Montgomery, Ido Haar & Kutiman

Ep 353: Will Allen, Vera Cheiffo & Philippe Coquet • Samantha “Princess Shaw” Montgomery, Ido Haar & Kutiman

In this episode of the podcast we meet with the teams of two outstanding documentaries. Up first, Holy Hell which had its New York premiere at Rooftop Films a few days ago and which hits theaters on Friday, May 27th. For a full list of screenings and theatricals, visit their website. Guests include filmmaker & former cult member Will Allen along with two other former members Philippe Coquet and Vera Cheiffo. In 1985, Will Allen became a member of The Buddhafield, a Los Angeles area spiritual group. A recent film school graduate, Allen began to chronicle the group’s activities that centered on their leader, a mysterious individual they called The Teacher, or Michel. Over time, the group’s dark side began to surface, until finally, a shocking allegation against The Teacher tore the group apart – all in front of Allen’s camera.

Then we welcome the team behind the new festival hit documentary Presenting Princess Shaw (Magnolia Pictures) including the film’s subjects Samantha “Princess Shaw” Montgomery and musical genius, Kutiman, as well as director Ido Haar. The true story of the incredible Princess Shaw and the enigmatic composer Kutiman, who discovers her from the other side of the world. By day, Samantha Montgomery cares for the elderly in one of New Orleans’s toughest neighborhoods. By night, she writes and sings her own songs as Princess Shaw on her confessional YouTube channel. Raw and vulnerable, her voice is a diamond in the rough. Across the globe, Ophir Kutiel creates video mash ups of amateur YouTube performers. Known as Kutiman, he is a composer, a musician, and a pioneering video artist embraced by the world of fine art. Two strangers, almost 7,000 miles apart, begin to build a song. Presenting Princes Shaw opens theatrically on May 27th as well.

Ep 352: Filmwax Radio Live with Chris Hegedus & D.A. Pennebaker

Ep 352: Filmwax Radio Live with Chris Hegedus & D.A. Pennebaker

Filmwax Radio Live presented by DCTV. Special guests are the documentary filmmaking team of Chris Hegedus & D.A. Pennebaker (The War Room, Kings of Pastries). Their latest film, Unlocking the Cage, follows the story of animal rights lawyer Stephen Wise and his quest to obtain persons’ rights for particular species of animals including chimps, whales and elephants. This film follows Wise through a period of legal battles. The conversation at DCTV was recorded live in front of an audience and included the film’s trailer and a clip from the film. We did not screen the film as it is about to enjoy a theatrical premiere at Film Forum on Wednesday, May 25th.

I Watch Films, You Can Too: Summer Music

I Watch Films, You Can Too: Summer Music

Check out some of the awesome audio landscapes we’ll explore this summer.

Ep 351: Onur Tukel, Berndt Mader & Opal Hope Bennett

Ep 351: Onur Tukel, Berndt Mader & Opal Hope Bennett

From the Montclair Film Festival in Montclair, NJ, an interview with Berndt Mader the Austin-based director of the new dramatic feature, Booger Red. Also returning to the podcast is the lead actor in the film, Onur Tukel (dir. of Summer of Blood & the upcoming Cat Fight). Sitting in for a portion of the interview is Montclair Film Festival programmer Opal Hope Bennett. Filmwax Radio is part of the ShowBriz Podcast Network and presented by Rooftop Films.

I Watch Films, You Can Too: Home Video and Found Footage Edition

I Watch Films, You Can Too: Home Video and Found Footage Edition

A weekly blog post guiding readers to paths and themes in our films and events from Rooftop’s Film Programmer.

Ep 350: Rebecca Miller • Terence Davies

Ep 350: Rebecca Miller • Terence Davies

Film directors Rebecca Miller (Maggie’s Plan) and Terence Davies (Sunset Song) are the guests. The music on this episode is by Jim’s Big Ego from their album Stay. Filmwax Radio is part of the ShowBriz Studios podcast network and presented by Rooftop Films.

2016: A Season of Can’t Miss Shorts at Rooftop Films

2016: A Season of Can’t Miss Shorts at Rooftop Films

Shorts and Rooftop Films go together like apple pie and vanilla ice cream: they’re a match made in heaven.

Ep. 349: Whit Stillman • Dave Itzkoff • Dion Baia & J. Blake

Ep. 349: Whit Stillman • Dave Itzkoff • Dion Baia & J. Blake

Guests include brilliant filmmaker Whit Stillman (Metropolitan, Barcelona) whose new film Love & Friendship opens in select theaters on Friday, May 13; New York Times culture writer Dave Itzkoff discusses his book, Mad As Hell: The Making of Network and the Fateful Vision of the Angriest Man in Movies, published by Picador; and the hosts of the podcast Saturday Night Movie Sleepovers, Dion Baia & J. Blake.

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