Ep 137: Naomi Ackie on playing Whitney Houston + focus on International Film Festival Rotterdam

Naomi Ackie, the British star of Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody, talks to Anna Smith about preparing for her portrayal of the musical icon. Ackie has been longlisted for a BAFTA Film Award for Leading Actress for her extraordinary performance. She explains how important it was to her that the audience was being shown a side of Houston that perhaps they hadn’t seen before, particularly with her same-sex relationship with her girl friend Robyn Crawford. They also discuss the importance of having a female director, Kasi Lemmons, at the helm with the involvement of Whitney Houston's long-time producer Clive Davis, who is played by Stanley Tucci.
Anna is also joined by Vanja Kaludjercic, the director of the International Film Festival Rotterdam, giving insight into the 2023 programme and what it is that makes this film festival special. Vanja and Anna talk diversity, inclusion and internationalism within film and film festivals, and Vanja also picks out a few of this year’s highlights. Vanja also talks about why she has invited Girls On Film to return for the third time in January 2023 to record a live podcast episode - check back soon for that episode.

Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody was released in theatres nationwide in December 2022.

2023 International Film Festival Rotterdam is taking place from the 25th January 2023 to the 5th February 2023. For all information go to:
https://iffr.com/en

Other films mentioned in this episode include:
The Plains, David Easteal, 2022
Mayday! May day! Mayday!, Yonri Revolt, 2022
Deadly Love Poem, Garin Nugroho, 2022
Sri Asih, Upi Avianto, 2022
Like & Share, Gina S. Noer, 2022
Indivision, Leïla Kilani, 2023
Le spectre de Boko Haram, Cyrielle Raingou, 2023
Mama dan so que sorriso, Cyrielle Raingou, 2023
Gagaland, Teng Yuhan, 2023

Become a patron of Girls On Film on Patreon here:
www.patreon.com/girlsonfilmpodcast

Follow us on socials:
www.instagram.com/girlsonfilm_podcast/
www.facebook.com/girlsonfilmpodcast
www.twitter.com/GirlsOnFilm_Pod
www.twitter.com/annasmithjourno

Watch Girls On Film on the BFI’s YouTube channel:
www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLX…L89QKZsN5Tgr3vn7z

Girls On Film is an HLA production.

Host: Anna Smith.
Executive Producer: Hedda Archbold
Producer: Lydia Scott
Audio Producer: Emma Butt
Intern: Eleanor Hardy
House band: MX Tyrants

Principal Partners: Vanessa Smith and Peter Brewer.

Thank you also to our Patreon Supporters.