Film Forward

StoryNosh is a digital storytelling competition served in delicious bite-sized pieces. Four themes are explored throughout this initial season, each featuring a handful of stories released weekly on YouTube.

The web series' Director Aysha Wax and producers/showrunners David Chiu and Daphna Shull join Film Forward to discuss their selection process and their adaptation and creative process.

You can check out the Web Series, presented by The Braid, at the-braid.org/storynosh.

The HBO Documentary, ICAHN: The Restless Billionaire, explores the fascinating contradictions at the heart of the famed financier Carl Icahn. He has amassed close to 20 billion dollars over the last half-century was at the forefront of some of the most legendary business deals of our time; the film dissects his legacy and the American system that helped create it. 

On this episode of Film Forward, we are joined by the film's writer/director, Bruce David Klein. Bruce discusses the film's long road and what it was like working with Icahn himself. 

As always, our guest gives us three excellent film recommendations in our Gimme Three segment. 

ICAHN: The Restless Billionaire is streaming now on HBO Max. Watch this riveting and informative documentary, and please let us know what you think.

2021 was a tremendous year for cinema. Not only were we treated to a beautiful array of stories, but it was also the year when we were able to return to the cinemas. 

In this episode of Film Forward, our producers Sonja Mereu, Anselm Kennedy, and Nicholas Ybarra each give three of their favorite films from the year that was 2021. 

Please give us a listen and let us know what your favorites from 2021 are in the comments.

We conclude our series on All The World Is Sleeping with one of the film's stars, Kristen Gutoskie. Kristen discusses the detailed work that created her character Nell, both from a physical and emotional standpoint.

In our Gimme Three segment, Kristen highlights some incredible performances that informed and inspired her work in All The World Is Sleeping.

All The World Is Sleeping follows Chama, a mother in New Mexico who’s fighting for her own life and the ones she loves. She sinks deeper into her addiction while struggling to surface for her daughter.

 

On this episode of Film Forward, we’re joined by All The World Is Sleeping writer and director Ryan Lacen. Ryan discusses the impactful backstory of the film, the importance of creating a familial feeling on set, and the collaboration with his fantastic cast and crew.

 

All The World Is Sleeping is screening for one night with LADFF on January 20th at the Laemmle NoHo7. Tickets are available now at LADFF.com.

Red Rocket is a new film by acclaimed writer/director Sean Baker. The film follows Mikey Saber, a washed-up porn star who returns to his small Texas hometown, not that anyone wants him back.

 

On this episode of Film Forward, we’re joined by Red Rocket’s cinematographer Drew Daniels. Drew discusses his creative collaboration with Sean Baker, working with a micro-sized crew, and the significance this project had on him.

 

Red Rocket is playing in theaters, and the film begs to be seen on the big screen. Check it out and let us know what you think.

"Juice WRLD: Into The Abyss" follows the meteoric rise of the late hip-hop artist. The powerful HBO documentary features archival footage of Juice WRLD performances, his artistic process, and his struggles.

Director Tommy Oliver joins us to discuss his exploration of the footage and his emotional connection to the incredible artist gone too soon.

DMX’s connection with his passionate fanbase is on full display in the riveting documentary, DMX: Don’t Try To Understand. This immersive film follows Earl “DMX” Simmons through one eventful year of his life. 

 

We are honored to be joined by the film’s director, Christopher Frierson, who discusses their odd first encounter, what it was like touring with the hip-hop legend, and stories about the man, Earl Simmons. 

 

The incredible documentary is available to stream now on HBO MAX. Check it out and let us know what you think. 

What do Ethan Hawke, Jim Carrey, Terry Gilliam, Fritz Lang, and Robin Wright have in common? Sci-Fi premonitions!

 

Film Forward returns with one of our patented Gimme Three episodes. The theme for this installment is Sci-Fi Premonitions. Host Nicholas Ybarra and guest David Chiu each recommend three amazing science-fiction films that accurately predict the future.

 

Enjoy this fun discussion, and let us know what you think of the films!

Film Forward is thrilled to be joined by award-winning actor and author Murisa Harba. Murisa discusses her insightful and eye-opening book Acting With Energy.

In Acting With Energy, Murisa outlines her signature CHAKRA APPROACH to performance. This episode is not only a must-listen for aspiring actors but also aspiring writers and directors.

 

Acting With Energy is available to purchase now on Amazon.

In this episode of Film Forward, the accomplished producers Daniela Alatorre and Elena Fortes discuss their brilliant and inventive documentary, A Cop Movie.

 

The Netflix doc, A Cop Movie, takes us deep into the Mexican police forces with the story of Teresa and Montoya, together known as ‘the love patrol.’ In this thoroughly original and unpredictable documentary, the filmmakers play with the boundaries of nonfiction and immerse the audience into the human experience of police work within a dysfunctional system.

 

A Cop Movie is available to stream right now on Netflix. Check it out, and let us know what you think! This genre-bending documentary is not to be missed.

Earlier this year, LADFF had the honor of screening a compelling and pertinent film, In The Dark of the Valley, which airs this Sunday, November 14th on MSNBC - 10 PM ET and 7 PM PST.

 

In the Dark of the Valley is a deep dive into the nuclear meltdown at Santa Suzana Field Lab and the persistent effort to hide the meltdown and its effects on the community.  More importantly - the film follows the people who are working tirelessly to get that site cleaned up and hold the responsible parties accountable.

 

In this edition of Film Forward, we revisit our discussion with the film’s director, Nicholas Mihm, and a mother who took it upon herself to fight for what is right - Melissa Bumstead.

On this episode of Film Forward, we are joined by the filmmakers of the wildly creative and raunchy short film 1-800-D-Direct.

While working a mundane job selling dishwashers in 1960’s Manhattan, Joyce and Frances secretly start a secret database of all the meant in New York City-based on sexual performance.

This jam-packed episode features director Clare Macdonald and writers/producers/stars Haley Bishop and Gemma Yates-Round.

You can see 1-800-D-Direct at LADFF’s REEL WOMEN showcase, screening October 15th at 8:00 pm. Tickets are available at LADFF.com.

The powerful and pertinent film Jane is set during the burgeoning women’s rights movement in the era before Roe v. Wade. Teresa and Josie are a part of an underground group that breaks the law and risks everything to help women access safe abortions. When their trusted doctor doesn’t show up, will they be forced to turn away women in need?

On this episode of Film Forward, we are honored to be joined by the film’s writer/director, Natalija Vekic.

Natalija discusses her research process for the film based on actual events, the collaboration with her incredible cast (Mishel Prada, Mekenna Melvin), and some of the challenges she and her team experienced when shooting their most crucial scene.

You can see Jane on the big screen at LADFF’s Reel Women Showcase at the Let Live Theatre in West Hollywood. October 16th! Tickets are available now at LADFF.com.

Bring Your Own Brigade is a gripping investigation into our landscape's hidden fire stories and on-the-ground experiences of firefighters and residents struggling through deadly fires.

We discuss this incredible documentary with Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Lucy Walker. Lucy discusses her experiences filming intense fire sequences and what she learned from these personal and heartbreaking stories.

Bring Your Own Brigade is a must-see film - you can see it now on the big screen in select theaters! It will also be available on the CBS News App and Paramount+ starting August 20th.

Not Going Quietly follows Ady Barkan, whose life is upended when he is diagnosed with ALS. Still, a confrontation with a powerful senator catapults him to national fame and ignites a once-in-a-generation political movement.

In today’s episode of Film Forward, we are joined by director Nicholas Bruckman and producer Amanda Roddy. They discuss the challenges of filming a documentary on the road, the insanity of watching Ady’s rapid fame, and what they learned from Ady’s journey.

Not Going Quietly plays in select theaters (Los Angeles: Laemmle Town Center 5 in Encino). See it on the big screen and let us know what you think! It is an uplifting, empowering, and inspiring film.

The Pine Ridge Reservation (in South Dakota) declares a State of Emergency when youth suicide rates reach the highest levels in the country. A respected female elder leads the Oglala Sioux Tribe’s suicide prevention team while mentoring a group of suicide-survivor teenagers to find their voice.

 

This is the story of The Bears on Pine Ridge - a powerful, eye-opening, and empowering documentary by filmmaker Noel Bass. In this episode of Film Forward, Noel discusses the making of his first film, what it was like living on the reservation, the relationships he built and how people can help the Bear program.

 

The Bears on Pine Ridge will be streaming at LADFF.com from August 9th - August 14th. It is a film that must be seen - check it out and let us know what you think!

Duet is the story of one fateful day in the lives of 8-year-old girls May and Shadmit, who dislike each other but learn that their lives have become oddly intertwined forever.

 

On this episode of Film Forward, we are joined by Duet’s writer and director, Mika Orr (former LADFF Best Director Award Winner). Mika discusses the long journey with this personal story, filming across two countries, and what she took away from an extended post-production process.

 

As always, Mika also provides three film recommendations of work that inspired her in our Gimme Three segment.

 

Watch Duet in the Los Angeles Diversity Film Festival from August 5th - August 9th in the program, A Many Splendored Thing. Go to LADFF.com to stream or for tickets.

 

The feature film documentary In the Dark of the Valley is a chilling examination of the 1959 partial nuclear meltdown at the  Santa Susana Field Lab, and the decades-long effect it’s had on the community and its residents.

 

The film is both gripping and uplifting, thanks to the work of community leaders, parents, and Melissa Bumstead - the mother of a cancer survivor who is fighting to get the spill cleaned up 60 years after the disaster.

 

In this episode, we are honored to be joined by Melissa Bumstead herself and the film’s director Nicholas Mihm.

 

In the Dark of the Valley is playing at the Laemmle Town Center in Encino as a part of the Los Angeles Diversity Film Festival. Tickets for the event are available at LADFF.com