Author Tom Roston discusses his recently released book I Lost it at the Video Store: A Filmmakers’ Oral History of a Vanished Era published by the Critical Press; and Carlos Gutierrez discusses the upcoming Cinema Tropical Festival to be held at the Museum of the Moving Image on February 26th through the 28th. This episode is sponsored by the Vermont College of Fine Arts MFA Film Program. Visit vcfa.edu/film for more information.

On this episode of the podcast I’m joined by actor, director, writer & composer Tom Noonan. Tom Noonan’s voice may be currently heard playing many roles in the new Charlie Kaufman film, Anomalisa. Otherwise, he has acted in dozens of films and television roles over the past few decades including Michael Mann’s Manhunter where he immortalized the role of Francis Dolarhyde, worked with such filmmakers as John Cassavettes (Gloria), Jim Jarmusch (Mystery Train), David Gordon Green (Snow Angels) and countless others. He has also adapted several of his plays to the big screen including 1994’s What Happened Was, 1995’s The Wife, and most recently 2014’s The Shape of Something Squashed. Additionally, Noonan founded the Paradise Factory Theater in 1983 located in Manhattan’s East Village where he remains the Artistic Director to this day. This is the first of a planned two part conversation.

Kartemquin is celebrating 50 years this year and joining me to discuss this and more is Director of Communications & Distribution, Tim Horsburgh. Then I’m joined by the programmer of the film screening series Kinoscope Pawel Wieszczecinski & two filmmakers Reinaldo Green & Christopher Bell.

Documentary filmmaker Manny Kirchheimer is on the show. In this episode Manny discusses his life as a filmmaker and a teacher. His seminal 1981 film Stations of the Elevated was recently restored & released by Oscilloscope Labs. This episode is sponsored by Hell’s Half Mile Film & Music Festival. Music appears courtesy of Father John Misty and his recent album I Love You, Honeybear.

In this episode dedicated to the memory of Haskell Wexler & David Bowie, guests include actor/director Ross Partridge discussing his new film, Lamb, now in theaters & on Amazon; also filmmaker Alison Bagnall who discusses her dramedy, Funny Bunny, now available on iTunes.

The creative team behind the film Carol are among the guests, including producer Christine Vachon, screenwriter Phyllis Nagy, and director Todd Haynes. The film which stars Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara and which is being distributed by The Weinstein Company is currently playing at a theater near you.

The guests on the final episode of 2015 include indieWire senior editor, Eric Kohn, back for his 3rd visit; married experimental filmmakers Lynne Sachs & Mark Street; and the cinematographer Tim Orr (Our Brand is Crisis, Z for Zacharia).

The New York Times’ carpetbagger Cara Buckley discusses award season, working at the Times, and more; Simon Kilmurry talks about his work at POV and his recent transition to the IDA; and Thelma Adams on a career in writing about film & a new book coming out in 2016.

Guests include the outspoken Henry Rollins who is the star of a new indie film, He Never Died which opens Friday; director Takeshi Fukunaga & writer/producer Donari Braxton’s feature film, Out of My Hand, has the distinction of being the first film distributed by Ava DuVernay’s new company Array; Vanessa Block’s short film, The Testimony, has been shortlisted for an Oscar.

And the 2015 Rooftop Filmmakers Fund Grantees are: