Pure Nonfiction: Inside Documentary Film
185 episodes - English - Latest episode: 11 days ago - ★★★★ - 211 ratingsIf you love documentary films, hear from the top storytellers on Pure Nonfiction. Host Thom Powers is well-connected in this world as a documentary curator for the Toronto International Film Festival, DOC NYC, and SundanceNow Doc Club. He leads conversations that are frank, funny and revealing. Listen to interviews with Oscar-winning filmmakers Barbara Kopple, Alex Gibney, and Roger Ross Williams; as well as the directors of “Making a Murderer,” “Weiner” and “OJ: Made in America.” Often the stories behind the scenes are as dramatic as what’s on the screen. On Twitter, Facebook, Instagram: @purenonfiction. Subscribe now.
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Episodes
83: Jason Kohn on “Love Means Zero”
July 19, 2018 07:00 - 53 minutes - 73.4 MBAndre Agassi, Boris Becker, Jim Courier and Kathleen Horvath are only a few of the champions who came out of Nick Bollettieri’s tennis academy. Bollettieri ran a controversial program taking kids at a young age to live away from their parents, but he turned out more champions than any other coach. The new Showtime documentary […] The post 83: Jason Kohn on “Love Means Zero” appeared first on Pure Nonfiction.
82: Kevin MacDonald on Whitney Houston
July 12, 2018 07:00 - 34 minutes - 47.2 MBWhitney Houston had an angelic voice, but fought demons in her personal life. The new documentary “Whitney” explores her talents and tribulations. Filmmaker Kevin MacDonald previously directed the documentaries “Marley,” “Touching the Void,” and the Oscar-winning “One Day in September,” as well as the fiction film “The Last King of Scotland.” Pure Nonfiction host Thom […] The post 82: Kevin MacDonald on Whitney Houston appeared first on Pure Nonfiction.
81: Tim Wardle on “Three Identical Strangers”
July 05, 2018 07:00 - 31 minutes - 43.4 MBSeparated at birth, the triplets Bobby, Eddy and David discovered each other by accident at age 19 in 1980. They became media sensations. Madonna cast them in a movie and they opened a Manhattan restaurant called triplets. Their lives took many twists and turns that are documented in the film “Three Identical Strangers.” Pure Nonfiction […] The post 81: Tim Wardle on “Three Identical Strangers” appeared first on Pure Nonfiction.
80: Jonathan Safran Foer & Christopher Quinn on “Eating Animals”
June 28, 2018 07:00 - 41 minutes - 57.7 MBRelax, “Eating Animals” isn’t proselytizing for vegetarianism. But author Jonathan Safran Foer and filmmaker Christopher Quinn are asking you to think more seriously about factory farming. Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers interviews Foer and Quinn touching upon how factory farmed meat affects our health, the environment and the economy. Foer also remembers his discussion with […] The post 80: Jonathan Safran Foer & Christopher Quinn on “Eating Animals” appeared first on Pure Nonfiction.
79: Judd Apatow on Garry Shandling
June 14, 2018 07:00 - 38 minutes - 52.3 MBComedian Garry Shandling is remembered for creating two ground-breaking TV shows: “It’s Garry Shandling’s Show” and “The Larry Sanders Show.” He was also a key mentor to Hollywood writer and director Judd Apatow (“The 40-Year-Old Virgin”; “Knocked Up”). After Shandling’s death in 2016, Apatow gained access to his mentor’s diaries. He draws upon them for […] The post 79: Judd Apatow on Garry Shandling appeared first on Pure Nonfiction.
78: Liz Garbus on The New York Times in “The Fourth Estate”
May 31, 2018 07:00 - 19 minutes - 27.2 MBOscar-nominated filmmaker Liz Garbus (“What Happened Miss Simone?”) follows The New York Times team of reporters and editors covering the first year of the Trump administration in the four-part Showtime series The Fourth Estate. Garbus talks to Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers about the making of the series. She was previously interviewed on episode 5. […] The post 78: Liz Garbus on The New York Times in “The Fourth Estate” appeared first on Pure Nonfiction.
77: Wim Wenders on Pope Francis
May 24, 2018 07:00 - 33 minutes - 46.7 MBBuena Vista Social Club, Pina Bausch and Sebastiao Selgado are among Wim Wenders past documentary subjects. Now he profiles the head of the Catholic Church in “Pope Francis: A Man of His Word,” released in theaters by Focus Features. Wenders talks to Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers about the making of the film. He also […] The post 77: Wim Wenders on Pope Francis appeared first on Pure Nonfiction.
76: Filming Ruth Bader Ginsburg
May 10, 2018 07:00 - 45 minutes - 63.1 MBSupreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is profiled in the new documentary “RBG.” Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers interviews the directing duo of Betsy West and Julie Cohen on Ginsburg’s career fighting for women’s rights. They discuss their personal experiences of enduring sexism in the worlds of broadcast news and public radio. On Twitter: @betsywest […] The post 76: Filming Ruth Bader Ginsburg appeared first on Pure Nonfiction.
75: Dawn Porter on “Bobby Kennedy for President”
May 03, 2018 07:00 - 30 minutes - 42.6 MB“Bobby Kennedy for President” is a four-part Netflix series that traces the politician’s career with an emphasis on issues of racial justice. The final episode reexamines his 1968 assassination and the trial of Sirhan Sirhan that left unanswered questions. Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers interviews filmmaker Dawn Porter on the making of the series. She […] The post 75: Dawn Porter on “Bobby Kennedy for President” appeared first on Pure Nonfiction.
74: Joe Berlinger from “Brother’s Keeper” to “Intent to Destroy”
April 26, 2018 07:00 - 43 minutes - 59.8 MBJoe Berlinger has been making documentaries for over 25 years. He started out at Maysles Films where he met Bruce Sinofsky. In 1992, they made “Brother’s Keeper”, a story of a murder trial in upstate New York, that revitalized observational documentary. They went on to make the “Paradise Lost” trilogy and “Metallica: Some Kind of […] The post 74: Joe Berlinger from “Brother’s Keeper” to “Intent to Destroy” appeared first on Pure Nonfiction.
73: Sophie Fiennes on Grace Jones
April 19, 2018 07:05 - 36 minutes - 49.5 MBGrace Jones has been commanding attention for decades as a singer, actress and icon. Now filmmaker Sophie Fiennes crafts a documentary as unconventional as its subject in “Grace Jones: Bloodlight and Bami.” The film immerses us into Grace’s life on the road – from her childhood home in Jamaica to the recording studio of “Hurricane” […] The post 73: Sophie Fiennes on Grace Jones appeared first on Pure Nonfiction.
72: Jed Rothstein on “The China Hustle”
April 05, 2018 07:00 - 25 minutes - 34.4 MBCould China be responsible for the next Wall Street crash? Filmmaker Jed Rothstein explores that question in “The China Hustle.” After the 2008 market crash, American investors started paying close attention to the growth in Chinese companies. The film follows the founder of a small investment firm named Dan David who got bullish on Chinese […] The post 72: Jed Rothstein on “The China Hustle” appeared first on Pure Nonfiction.
71: Amanda Micheli on “Vegas Baby” & IVF Treatment
March 22, 2018 07:00 - 21 minutes - 29.3 MBIn “Vegas Baby,” filmmaker Amanda Micheli follows several wannabe parents who enter a contest for free IVF treatment at a Las Vegas fertility clinic – ranging from a Midwestern couple to a Lady Gaga impersonator. Micheli’s previous films include “Double Dare” about female stunt women and the Oscar-nominated short “La Corona” about a Colombian women’s […] The post 71: Amanda Micheli on “Vegas Baby” & IVF Treatment appeared first on Pure Nonfiction.
70: Mark Duplass, Chapman & Maclain Way on “Wild Wild Country”
March 15, 2018 19:46 - 33 minutes - 46.4 MBNetflix’s new true crime series “Wild Wild Country” explores the 1980s case of the so-called sex guru Bhagwan Rajneesh whose followers established a city near the small town of Antelope, Oregon and raised fears among locals. The clash of cultures escalated to both sides arming themselves. Rajneesh’s personal secretary Ma Anand Sheela was at the […] The post 70: Mark Duplass, Chapman & Maclain Way on “Wild Wild Country” appeared first on Pure Nonfiction.
PN 69: Remembering Chris Hondros
March 08, 2018 08:00 - 33 minutes - 45.5 MBThe documentary “Hondros” tells the story of war photographer Chris Hondros who was killed alongside Tim Hetherington in Libya in 2011. Hondros is known for iconic photos that were published all over the world: a jubilant warrior in Liberia; an Iraqi girl after a checkpoint shooting in Tal Afar; and an Arab Spring clash in Tahrir […] The post PN 69: Remembering Chris Hondros appeared first on Pure Nonfiction.
PN 68: Policing in “Flint Town”
March 02, 2018 00:34 - 37 minutes - 51.2 MBNetflix’s new 8-part series “Flint Town” follows the city’s police department as they cope with a depressed economy, high crime and a water crisis over the course of 2016. Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers interviews the three directors of “Flint Town” – Zackary Canepari, Drea Cooper and Jessica Dimmock – in front of a live audience […] The post PN 68: Policing in “Flint Town” appeared first on Pure Nonfiction.
PN 67: “Control Room” Revisited with Josh Rushing
February 23, 2018 01:01 - 30 minutes - 42.1 MBFifteen years ago as America prepared to make war on Iraq, filmmaker Jehane Noujaim embedded herself at the U.S. military’s CENTCOM media headquarters in Doha, Qatar. She and cinematographer Hani Salama focused on how the rising network Al Jazeera covered the war differently from American news. Two key characters are Al Jazeera journalist Hassan Ibrahim […] The post PN 67: “Control Room” Revisited with Josh Rushing appeared first on Pure Nonfiction.
PN 66: Attorney Gloria Allred on “Seeing Allred”
February 15, 2018 08:00 - 29 minutes - 39.9 MBThe lawsuit “Summer Zervos v. Donald Trump” is among the high profile cases handled by attorney Gloria Allred. The Netflix film “Seeing Allred,” directed by Sophie Sartain and Roberta Grossman, explores the history of the 76-year-old lawyer, known for her work with women, LGBT and other minority clients. On February 6, Allred sat for a […] The post PN 66: Attorney Gloria Allred on “Seeing Allred” appeared first on Pure Nonfiction.
PN 65: Sam Pollard on Sammy Davis Jr, Spike Lee & St. Clair Bourne
February 08, 2018 08:00 - 30 minutes - 42.5 MBSam Pollard reflects on collaborating with Spike Lee, Henry Hampton and St. Claire Bourne; and on directing his latest film “Sammy Davis Jr: I Gotta Be Me.” Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers interviewed Pollard at TIFF Doc Conference in September 2017. You can watch an extended version of this interview at TIFF Originals on YouTube. […] The post PN 65: Sam Pollard on Sammy Davis Jr, Spike Lee & St. Clair Bourne appeared first on Pure Nonfiction.
PN 64: First Person Documentary with Yance Ford, Bryan Fogel & Jeff Orlowski
February 01, 2018 08:00 - 35 minutes - 48.9 MBDirectors Yance Ford (“Strong Island”), Bryan Fogel (“Icarus”) and Jeff Orlowski (“Chasing Coral”) each put themselves on camera in different ways. The three filmmakers sat down with Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers at the DOC NYC festival last November to discuss how they chose their first person approach. In “Strong Island,” Ford investigates the 1992 […] The post PN 64: First Person Documentary with Yance Ford, Bryan Fogel & Jeff Orlowski appeared first on Pure Nonfiction.
PN 63: Tabitha Jackson + 2018 Sundance Preview
January 16, 2018 08:00 - 53 minutes - 72.8 MBThe Sundance Film Festival is always a great place for documentary discoveries. This year features new films about Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Fred Rogers, Imagine Dragons, Kronos Quartet and more. Pure Nonfiction founders Thom Powers and Raphaela Neihausen have gotten an early look at several Sundance premieres and have 11 recommendations. Even if you won’t be […] The post PN 63: Tabitha Jackson + 2018 Sundance Preview appeared first on Pure Nonfiction.
PN 62: Errol Morris, Brett Morgen & Ceyda Torun on Documentary Style
January 11, 2018 08:00 - 40 minutes - 55.9 MBFrom “Wormwood” to “Jane” to “Kedi,” documentary directors are making bold stylistic choices. Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers led a discussion titled “Finding the Style For the Story” at the DOC NYC festival in November 2017. The guests are filmmakers Ceyda Torun (“Kedi”), Brett Morgen (“Jane”) and Errol Morris (“Wormwood”). They discuss how they achieve […] The post PN 62: Errol Morris, Brett Morgen & Ceyda Torun on Documentary Style appeared first on Pure Nonfiction.
PN 61: Jennifer Brea on “Unrest”
December 21, 2017 08:00 - 28 minutes - 38.8 MBThe Oscar Documentary Feature Short List of 15 films includes the underdog entry “Unrest” by first time director Jennifer Brea. Her film explores the disease commonly known as “chronic fatigue syndrome” – a name many patients resent as misleading. The official name is Myalgic Encephalomyelitis or M.E. Jennifer contracted the disease in her late 20s […] The post PN 61: Jennifer Brea on “Unrest” appeared first on Pure Nonfiction.
PN 60: Alex Gibney & Blair Foster on “Rolling Stone”
December 15, 2017 08:00 - 42 minutes - 59 MBJohn Lennon, Tina Turner, Hunter Thomspon and Annie Leibovitz are among the many figures covered in the new 2-part HBO documentary “Rolling Stone: Stories from the Edge.” Filmmakers Alex Gibney and Blair Foster talk to Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers about telling the magazine’s 50-year history. The conversation also touches upon “Sticky Fingers,” the recent […] The post PN 60: Alex Gibney & Blair Foster on “Rolling Stone” appeared first on Pure Nonfiction.
PN 59: Yance Ford on “Strong Island”
November 30, 2017 22:21 - 33 minutes - 46.4 MBWinner of the Gotham Awards for Best Documentary, “Strong Island” investigates the 1992 killing of filmmaker Yance Ford’s brother William in Long Island. With a black victim and a white shooter, race was a key factor in the case. Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers talks to Yance about how the Ford family felt betrayed by […] The post PN 59: Yance Ford on “Strong Island” appeared first on Pure Nonfiction.
PN 58: Brett Morgen on Jane Goodall
November 06, 2017 12:25 - 45 minutes - 63 MBJane Goodall is the subject of the new documentary “Jane” that draws upon rediscovered footage from the 1960s capturing her early work with chimpanzees. Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers talks to “Jane” director Brett Morgen at TIFF Doc Conference about the challenges of making the film and working with composer Philip Glass. Brett Morgen’s films […] The post PN 58: Brett Morgen on Jane Goodall appeared first on Pure Nonfiction.
PN 57: DOC NYC Preview
October 26, 2017 19:34 - 40 minutes - 55 MBEric Clapton, Susan Sarandon, Dan Rather are among over 300 special guests coming to the 8th annual DOC NYC festival, running from November 9-16. Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers is the festival’s artistic director. On his episode, he interviews his colleagues Raphaela Neihausen and Basil Tsiokos to guide listeners through the bounty of films and […] The post PN 57: DOC NYC Preview appeared first on Pure Nonfiction.
PN 56: Agnès Varda & JR on “Faces Places”
October 19, 2017 16:05 - 42 minutes - 58.3 MBWinner of the Cannes Golden Eye Documentary Award, “Faces Places” is a wondrous collaboration between the 89-year-old Agnès Varda and the 34-year-old street artist known as JR. In the film, they visit small towns in France, creating mural projects that celebrate workers on farms, docks and factory grounds. We also witness the deepening of their […] The post PN 56: Agnès Varda & JR on “Faces Places” appeared first on Pure Nonfiction.
PN 55: Frederick Wiseman – From “Titicut Follies” to “Ex Libris”
September 06, 2017 07:00 - 48 minutes - 67.2 MB“Ex Libris – The New York Public Library” is that latest film from documentary master Frederick Wiseman. This year also marks the 50th anniversary of his first film “Titicut Follies” set at the Bridgewater State Hospital for the criminally insane. Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers talks to Wiseman about both those films and others in […] The post PN 55: Frederick Wiseman – From “Titicut Follies” to “Ex Libris” appeared first on Pure Nonfiction.
PN 54: TIFF 2017 Documentary Preview Part 2 of 2
September 01, 2017 13:55 - 31 minutes - 43.9 MBAgnes Varda, Drake, and Cary Grant all get name-checked as Thom Powers and Dorota Lech continue their discussion of documentaries at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). They preview film clips being made public for the first time. The films discussed in order of mention are: Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood (d. […] The post PN 54: TIFF 2017 Documentary Preview Part 2 of 2 appeared first on Pure Nonfiction.
PN 53: TIFF 2017 Documentary Preview Part 1 of 2
August 30, 2017 20:01 - 37 minutes - 51.6 MBThe Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) takes place September 7-17, 2017. Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers is the festival’s documentary programmer. On this episode, he’s joined by his colleague Dorota Lech to discuss the line-up and preview film clips being made public for the first time. The films discussed in this episode in order of […] The post PN 53: TIFF 2017 Documentary Preview Part 1 of 2 appeared first on Pure Nonfiction.
PN 52: Playwright Dominique Morisseau on “Detroit ’67,” “Pipeline,” “Shameless” & more
July 27, 2017 07:00 - 31 minutes - 43.7 MBWhile Detroit is in the headlines for the 50th anniversary of its darkest days, we focus on one of its brightest new storytellers, playwright Dominique Morisseau. Pure Nonfiction host (and Detroit native) Thom Powers talks to Morisseau about her breakthrough play “Detroit ’67,” her new work “Pipeline” at Lincoln Center, writing for Showtime’s “Shameless” and […] The post PN 52: Playwright Dominique Morisseau on “Detroit ’67,” “Pipeline,” “Shameless” & more appeared first on Pure Nonfiction.
PN 51: Errol Morris & Elsa Dorfman on “The B-Side”
July 13, 2017 07:00 - 36 minutes - 50.3 MBPortrait photographer Elsa Dorfman has worked for several decades on Polaroid’s rare 20″ x 24” format camera. She had a loyal clientele in Cambridge, Massachusetts, but was hardly known outside. Now she is the subject of Errol Morris’ new film “The B-Side: Elsa Dorfman’s Portrait Photography.” Morris and his wife Julia are longtime friends of […] The post PN 51: Errol Morris & Elsa Dorfman on “The B-Side” appeared first on Pure Nonfiction.
PN 50: D.A. Pennebaker on “Monterey Pop” at 50
June 22, 2017 07:00 - 36 minutes - 50.4 MBOtis Redding, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix and The Who are among the classic acts captured by D.A. Pennebaker in “Monterey Pop.” Now for the 50th anniversary of the concert, the film is being released in a new 4k restoration by The Criterion Collection and Janus Films. Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers interviewed Pennebaker along with […] The post PN 50: D.A. Pennebaker on “Monterey Pop” at 50 appeared first on Pure Nonfiction.
PN 49: Steve James From “Hoop Dreams” to “Abacus”
May 18, 2017 07:00 - 44 minutes - 61.5 MBNew York’s Chinatown is the backdrop for Steve James’ latest documentary “Abacus: Small Enough to Jail.” He follows a David vs Goliath legal tale about the Chinese-American family behind a small bank defending themselves against an aggressive prosecution. In Part 1 of this episode, Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers talks to James about his breakthrough […] The post PN 49: Steve James From “Hoop Dreams” to “Abacus” appeared first on Pure Nonfiction.
PN 48: HBO’s Sheila Nevins on Seductions, Heartbreaks & Her New Book
May 11, 2017 07:00 - 44 minutes - 60.8 MBMeryl Streep, Audra McDonald and Glenn Close are among many esteemed performers who read stories on the audio version of Sheila Nevins’ new quasi-memoir “You Don’t Look Your Age…And Other Fairy Tales.” Nevins has served for 35 years overseeing HBO Documentary Films. Now she reveals tales from her own life covering childhood, seduction, heartbreak, feminism, […] The post PN 48: HBO’s Sheila Nevins on Seductions, Heartbreaks & Her New Book appeared first on Pure Nonfiction.
PN 47: Jonathan Demme & Renée Shafransky on Spalding Gray
May 04, 2017 07:00 - 29 minutes - 40.1 MB“Swimming to Cambodia,” the 1987 film directed by Jonathan Demme, had a rippling influence. It laid the path for a kind of first person storytelling that today is widespread from “This American Life” to “The Moth.” The film is deceptively simple: monologuist Spalding Gray sits behind a desk and tells a stream of consciousness story […] The post PN 47: Jonathan Demme & Renée Shafransky on Spalding Gray appeared first on Pure Nonfiction.
PN 46: Rashida Jones, Jill Bauer & Ronna Gradus on “Hot Girls Wanted”
April 27, 2017 07:00 - 26 minutes - 36.2 MBSex and technology are the focus of the new Netflix series “Hot Girls Wanted: Turned On.” Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers interviews the series’ creators Rashida Jones, Jill Bauer and Ronna Gradus. They previously made the similarly titled feature documentary “Hot Girls Wanted” about young women entering the world of amateur porn. Bauer and Gradus […] The post PN 46: Rashida Jones, Jill Bauer & Ronna Gradus on “Hot Girls Wanted” appeared first on Pure Nonfiction.
PN 45: Matt Tyrnauer on “Citizen Jane”
April 20, 2017 07:00 - 44 minutes - 60.6 MBJane Jacobs, author of “The Death and Life of Great American Cities,” changed the way we think of urban planning. Matt Tyrnauer’s new documentary “Citizen Jane” tells the story of her epic battles with New York power broker Robert Moses. On this episode, Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers interviews Tyrnauer about the film and his […] The post PN 45: Matt Tyrnauer on “Citizen Jane” appeared first on Pure Nonfiction.
PN 44: From Indiana Jones to Guatemala’s Civil War – Frank Marshall & Ryan Suffern
April 13, 2017 07:00 - 26 minutes - 48.7 MB“Raiders of the Lost Ark,” “Jurassic World” and “Sully” are among Frank Marshall’s stellar producing credits. Now his company Kennedy/Marshall has a documentary division. Their latest film is “Finding Oscar” about the search for a boy who survived an infamous 1982 massacre in Guatemala’s civil war in the jungle hamlet of Dos Erres. The film’s […] The post PN 44: From Indiana Jones to Guatemala’s Civil War – Frank Marshall & Ryan Suffern appeared first on Pure Nonfiction.
PN 43: Laurent Bouzereau & Mark Harris on “Five Came Back”
April 06, 2017 07:00 - 41 minutes - 57.6 MBSteven Spielberg is the executive producer for the new 3-part Netflix series “Five Came Back” about the Hollywood directors who put their fiction careers on hold during World War II as they went to make propaganda documentaries for the U.S. government. The five were Frank Capra, John Ford, William Wyler, George Stevens and John Huston. […] The post PN 43: Laurent Bouzereau & Mark Harris on “Five Came Back” appeared first on Pure Nonfiction.
PN 42: Made in Miami – Billy Corben & Alfred Spellman on “Cocaine Cowboys”
March 30, 2017 07:00 - 31 minutes - 42.8 MB“Cocaine Cowboys” is a cult classic exploring the 1980s drug trade in Miami. Packaged like a gangster film, the documentary links the criminal underworld to the city’s real estate boom. On this episode of Pure Nonfiction, host Thom Powers interviews “Cocaine Cowboys” director Billy Corben and producer Alfred Spellman during the 2017 Miami Film Festival. […] The post PN 42: Made in Miami – Billy Corben & Alfred Spellman on “Cocaine Cowboys” appeared first on Pure Nonfiction.
PN 41: Danae Elon on “P.S. Jerusalem”
March 23, 2017 07:00 - 34 minutes - 47.8 MBDanae Elon’s latest film “P.S. Jerusalem” is a first person account of moving back to the city of her childhood after living abroad for 17 years. A key presence in the film is her late father Amos Elon who was a widely read author of books and essays on Israel. Before his death in 2009, […] The post PN 41: Danae Elon on “P.S. Jerusalem” appeared first on Pure Nonfiction.
PN 40: “True South” – Jon Else on Henry Hampton & “Eyes on the Prize”
March 16, 2017 07:00 - 35 minutes - 64.3 MB“Eyes on the Prize” is a landmark documentary series chronicling the history of the civil rights movement. Debuting on public television in 1987, it remains just as riveting 30 years later. Now the making of the series is covered in a new book called “True South” by the filmmaker-turned-author Jon Else. He gives a vivid […] The post PN 40: “True South” – Jon Else on Henry Hampton & “Eyes on the Prize” appeared first on Pure Nonfiction.
PN 39: Marina Zenovich on Roman Polanski & California’s water crisis
March 02, 2017 08:00 - 39 minutes - 72.6 MB“Chinatown” created a mythology out of California’s water politics. Now Marina Zenovich investigates a modern version of that story in her documentary “Water & Power: A California Heist” airing on National Geographic. Her film, executive produced by Alex Gibney, draws upon the reportage of journalist Mark Arax, questioning the collusion between California politicians and Big […] The post PN 39: Marina Zenovich on Roman Polanski & California’s water crisis appeared first on Pure Nonfiction.
PN 38: Clay Tweel on “Gleason”
February 23, 2017 08:00 - 34 minutes - 47.1 MBNew Orleans Saints football player Steve Gleason became a sports hero one year after Hurricane Katrina when he blocked a kick that became a symbol of the city’s comeback. In 2011, he announced he had ALS – known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease – that typically causes death in two to five years. The documentary “Gleason” […] The post PN 38: Clay Tweel on “Gleason” appeared first on Pure Nonfiction.
PN 37: Oscar Nominees for Documentary Feature
February 16, 2017 08:00 - 51 minutes - 70.7 MBHear the five Oscar nominated directors for Documentary Feature. We present highlights from our past interviews with filmmakers Roger Ross Williams (“Life, Animated”), Gianfranco Rosi (“Fire at Sea”), Ava DuVernay (“13th”), Ezra Edelman (“O.J.: Made in America”), and Raoul Peck (“I Am Not Your Negro”). Want to hear even more? Listen to these episodes: Ezra […] The post PN 37: Oscar Nominees for Documentary Feature appeared first on Pure Nonfiction.
PN 36: John Heilemann on “Trumped”
February 09, 2017 08:00 - 42 minutes - 58.3 MBJohn Heilemann, the veteran political reporter, is one of three creators – along with Mark Halperin and Mark McKinnon – of the new Showtime documentary “Trumped: Inside the Greatest Political Upset of All Time.” The project draws upon their reportage from the weekly series “The Circus” that spanned the entire campaign season over 26 episodes. […] The post PN 36: John Heilemann on “Trumped” appeared first on Pure Nonfiction.
PN 35: Syrian Filmmaker Orwa Nyrabia In Exile
February 02, 2017 08:00 - 39 minutes - 72.2 MBBefore Trump’s travel ban for Syrians, we sat down with Orwa Nyrabia at the Sundance Film Festival where he was attending workshops. Three years ago, he produced “Return to Homs,” directed by Talal Derki, about the resistance movement in his hometown. The film won Sundance’s Jury Prize for World Documentary and is now available on […] The post PN 35: Syrian Filmmaker Orwa Nyrabia In Exile appeared first on Pure Nonfiction.
PN 34: Island President Mohamed Nasheed in Exile
January 26, 2017 08:00 - 33 minutes - 60.5 MBThe Sundance Film Festival is always full of surprises. Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers begins this episode with reflections on the 2017 festival and the real-life characters who passed through it. The center of the episode is a wide-ranging interview with Mohamed Nasheed, the former president of the Maldives, who was profiled in the 2011 […] The post PN 34: Island President Mohamed Nasheed in Exile appeared first on Pure Nonfiction.