In today’s episode, Film Forum presents a Q&A with Robert Yapkowitz, co-director of the new documentary, KAREN DALTON: IN MY OWN TIME, about the mesmerizingly talented, and largely underrecognized folk musician Karen Dalton. The event was recorded on opening night - Friday, October 1st. Writing in The New York Times, Critic Lindsay Zoladz called Dalton “one of ’60s and ’70s folk music’s most skilled and idiosyncratic interpreters,” and writes that watching the film “feels like hanging on a porch with some of Dalton’s closest confidants… In fleeting glimpses, this long-lost musician comes vividly to life.” The Q&A was moderated by Rolling Stone associate editor Angie Martoccio.

Film Forum Presents

KAREN DALTON: IN MY OWN TIME - Robert Yapkowitz

In today’s episode, Film Forum presents a Q&A from opening weekend of the new documentary, IN BALANCHINE’S CLASSROOM, about the brilliant artistry of ballet legend George Balanchine as both a choreographer and teacher, recorded on Sunday, September 19th. Filmmaker Connie Hochman was joined by renowned Balanchine ballerina Merrill Ashley for the Q&A, which was moderated by writer Amanda Vaill. In The New York Times, dance critic Gia Kourlas wrote of the film: “To love Balanchine is to love this film; to love this film is to love ballet, specifically Balanchine’s kind and his kind of dancer: daring, fast, strong, free, at one with the music.” IN BALANCHINE’S CLASSROOM is now playing. Please check www.filmforum.org for showtimes and tickets. Photo by Nivia Hernandez.

IN BALANCHINE'S CLASSROOM – Connie Hochman & Merrill Ashley

In today’s episode, Film Forum presents a lively Q&A from the opening night of FIRE MUSIC, an engrossing chronicle of the free jazz movement. Joining us for the Q&A were FIRE MUSIC director Tom Surgal, executive producer Thurston Moore--best known as founder of the iconic band Sonic Youth--and legendary jazz drummer Warren Smith, who has played with a wide array of artists, including Sam Rivers, Charles Mingus, Janis Joplin, Van Morrison, Aretha Franklin, and Nat King Cole. In addition to his work in feature films, Tom Surgal is a celebrated music video director, jazz curator, and musician in his own right, serving as co-leader of the improvisational band White Out. Photo by Nivia Hernandez

FIRE MUSIC – Tom Surgal, Thurston Moore, Warren Smith

In today’s episode, Film Forum presents a Q&A with filmmaker Bassam Tariq and star Riz Ahmed from the opening night of their acclaimed new drama MOGUL MOWGLI on September 3. In the film, Ahmed (who also produced and co-wrote the film with Tariq) gives a tour-de-force performance as a British Pakistani rapper whose successful career is threatened by a sudden illness that forces him to reckon with his own family, identity, and heritage. The Q&A was moderated by Shaka King, filmmaker of last year’s Oscar-nominated JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH.

MOGUL MOWGLI – Riz Ahmed & Bassam Tariq

In today’s episode, Film Forum presents a conversation between filmmaker Wayne Wang and New Yorker writer Hua Hsu from the opening night of the new restoration of Wang’s groundbreaking independent film CHAN IS MISSING, on August 20th. When it premiered in 1982 at MoMA’s New Directors/New Films festival, CHAN IS MISSING, a Neo-Noir comedy-drama set in San Francisco’s Chinatown, announced Wang as an exciting new voice in American cinema. Wang went on to make the acclaimed films DIM SUM: A LITTLE BIT OF HEART and the Academy Award-nominated adaptation of Amy Tan’s novel THE JOY LUCK CLUB, both of which also screened during our run of CHAN IS MISSING. He continues to make vibrant work that centers on the Asian-American experience. Special thanks to Marcus Hu at Strand Releasing, Hua Hsu, and Wayne Wang for making this event possible. Photo by Stephen Olweck.

CHAN IS MISSING - Wayne Wang & Hua Hsu

In this two-part episode devoted to EYIMOFE (THIS IS MY DESIRE): a Q&A from our July 23rd opening night screening with co-director Arie Esiri and producer Melissa Adeyemo, moderated by premieres programmer Mike Maggiore; and a specially-recorded conversation between Arie, his twin brother (co-director and screenwriter) Chuko Esiri, and Film Forum outreach intern Malchijah Hoskins. EYIMOFE, the Esiri Brothers’ powerful debut feature, is a portrait of life in their native Lagos, Nigeria through the stories of two aspirational individuals navigating the vast, vibrant, and often unforgiving city. The film is now playing at Film Forum, including special screenings of a brand new 35mm print, sponsored by Blacktag and Kodak. Please check www.filmforum.org for the showtime schedule and tickets. Photo by Simi Vijay.

EYIMOFE (THIS IS MY DESIRE) – Arie & Chuko Esiri, Melissa Adeyemo

In this episode, Film Forum Presents a conversation around TRUMAN & TENNESSEE: AN INTIMATE CONVERSATION, a new documentary that explores the intertwined lives of, and often fraught relationship between, two icons of 20th century American literature and culture: Truman Capote and Tennessee Williams. For the event, filmmaker Lisa Immordino Vreeland was joined by actors Jim Parsons and Zachary Quinto, who perform the writings of Capote and Williams via voiceover. Their talk was moderated by Christopher Castellani, author of the prize-winning best-selling novel Leading Men, a fictionalized depiction of the relationship between Tennessee Williams and Frank Merlo. TRUMAN & TENNESSEE is now playing theatrically at Film Forum. For showtimes and tickets, please visit www.filmforum.org. This event was co-presented by the Center for Fiction (www.centerforfiction.org). Photo by Stephen Olweck.

TRUMAN & TENNESSEE - Lisa Immordino Vreeland, Jim Parsons & Zachary Quinto

In this episode, Film Forum Presents a conversation with Maria Sødahl, writer and director of the new film HOPE, and the film’s stars, Stellan Skarsgård and Andrea Bræin Hovig. Based on Sødahls’ real life experiences, HOPE centers on a couple played by Skarsgård and Hovig whose relationship is tested by crisis. The acclaimed drama was Norway’s official submission to the 2021 Oscars for Best International Feature Film. This episode’s event was co-presented by the Bellevue Literary Review, with editor-in-chief Danielle Ofri serving as moderator. HOPE is now playing theatrically at Film Forum and in our Virtual Cinema at www.filmforum.org. Special thanks to KimStim, Sasha Berman, Danielle Ofri and the Bellevue Literary Review for making this event possible. Photo by Agnete Brun.

HOPE - Maria Sødahl, Stellan Skarsgård & Andrea Bræin Hovig

In this episode, Film Forum Presents a discussion around the acclaimed new documentary WOJNAROWICZ: F**K YOU F*GGOT F**KER with director Chris McKim and editor Dave Stanke. The film explores the life, work, and legacy of visionary queer artist and activist David Wojnarowicz via a dynamic collage of clips, images, interviews, and many recordings of his own voice. It is now available for rental in our Virtual Cinema at www.filmforum.org The event was co-presented by New York City’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Community Center, and moderated by the artist and activist Leo Herrera. Artwork: Untitled. Courtesy of the David Wojnarowicz Papers, Fales Library & Special Collection, New York University.

WOJNAROWICZ: F**K YOU F*GGOT F**KER - Chris McKim & Dave Stanke

In this episode, Film Forum Presents a Q&A with filmmaker Ray Yeung about his new film, TWILIGHT’S KISS, co-presented by NewFest, New York’s leading LGBTQ+ film and media organization. TWILIGHT’S KISS is a moving, naturalistic portrait of late-in-life romance between two Hong Kong men whose relationship is challenged by social prejudices and familial expectations. The acclaimed drama is now available for rental in our Virtual Cinema at www.filmforum.org. The event was moderated by Nick McCarthy, Director of Programming for NewFest. Photo by Viola Gaskell for Zolima CityMag.

TWILIGHT'S KISS - Ray Yeung

 In this episode, Film Forum Presents a Q&A with Oeke Hoogendijk, filmmaker of the new documentary MY REMBRANDT, moderated by Adam Eaker, Assistant Curator, European Paintings at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. MY REMBRANDT provides a rare glimpse inside the small and eccentric world of private Rembrandt owners – and gives a fascinating account of the passion and controversy the Dutch master continues to inspire nearly four hundred years after his death.  The film is currently available for rental in Film Forum’s Virtual Cinema at www.filmforum.org. Photo courtesy of Strand Releasing.

My Rembrandt - Oeke Hoogendijk

In this episode, Film Forum Presents a Q&A with Hao Wu, one of the three directors of the new film 76 DAYS. The Gotham Award-nominated documentary follows the doctors and patients in four hospitals across Wuhan, China in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. 76 DAYS is now available for rental in our Virtual Cinema at www.filmforum.org. The Q&A was moderated by IndieWire’s Senior Film Critic, David Ehrlich. Photo courtesy of MTV Documentary Films.

76 DAYS - Hao Wu

In this episode, Film Forum Presents a panel discussion around Tania Cypriano’s new documentary BORN TO BE on November 19th, presented by the Human Rights Campaign. BORN TO BE is an illuminating and deeply empathetic portrait of the trailblazing Dr. Jess Ting and his courageous transgender and non-binary patients at Mt. Sinai’s Center for Transgender Medicine and Surgery in New York City. Joining Cypriano and Dr. Ting on the panel were two of these patients – Jordan Rubenstein and Mahogany. The panel was moderated by IndieWire’s associate editor Jude Dry, with an introduction by Tari Hanneman, Director of the Health and Aging Program at the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. BORN TO BE is available for rental in Film Forum’s virtual cinema at www.filmforum.org. Photo courtesy of Kino Lorber.

BORN TO BE - Tania Cypriano, Dr. Jess Ting, Jordan Rubenstein, Mahogany

In this episode, Film Forum Presents a Q&A with the legendary filmmaker Frederick Wiseman about his latest documentary, CITY HALL, moderated by MoMA film curator Josh Siegel on November 1. An inspiring portrait of democracy at work, CITY HALL explores the inner-workings of the city government of Wiseman’s native Boston. The film is Wiseman’s 45th, and the 14th to open at Film Forum, making him the most often-premiered filmmaker in our 50-year history. CITY HALL is now available for rental in our Virtual Cinema at www.filmforum.org. We are also presenting, in our Virtual Cinema, Wednesdays with Wiseman, a limited series of his classic films accompanied by newly-recorded conversations between Wiseman and other filmmakers. His 1978 documentary SINAI FIELD MISSION, which includes a discussion between Wiseman and Oscar winner Errol Morris, is available through November 10th. His seminal 1970 film HOSPITAL, accompanied by a discussion between Wiseman and Oscar nominees Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady, is available through November 17th. Special thanks to Josh Siegel, Michael Tuckman, and Zipporah Films for making today’s episode possible. Photo by Adrien Toubiana.

CITY HALL - Frederick Wiseman and Josh Siegel

In this episode, Film Forum Presents a conversation around Catherine Gund’s new documentary, AGGIE, co-presented by the Asian American Writers’ Workshop. AGGIE is the story of the filmmaker’s mother, the philanthropist, collector, and MoMA Board President Emerita Agnes Gund, with a focus on her social justice work. In 2017, Aggie sold Roy Lichtenstein’s painting, “Masterpiece,” at auction for 165 million dollars and used the proceeds to found the Art for Justice Fund, an organization devoted to ending mass incarceration. Today’s episode features a Q&A with two Art for Justice grantees: the poet, writer, curator and organizer Mahogany L. Browne and Adnan Khan, executive director and founder of the prison reform organization Restore Justice. We were also joined for a special introduction by producer Tanya Selvaratnam, who produced AGGIE. The Q&A was moderated by scholar, writer, and educator Dr. Rachel Kuo. AGGIE is currently available for rental in our virtual cinema at www.filmforum.org. A portion of all rental fees support Film Forum. Special thanks to Strand Releasing, Aubin Pictures and the Asian American Writers’ Workshop for making this episode possible. Photos clockwise from top left: Mahogany L. Browne (Photo by Jennie Bergqvist); Adnan Khan; Tanya Selvaratnam (Photo by KK Ottesen); Dr. Rachel Kuo (Photo by Marino Aguas).

AGGIE - Mahogany L. Browne, Adnan Khan, Tanya Selvaratnam and Rachel Kuo

FILM FORUM PRESENTS is the official podcast of Film Forum, a nonprofit cinema in downtown New York City, founded in 1970. Each episode features audio from a special event (Q&A, intro, or conversation), recorded live at Film Forum, around our signature programming: premieres of new independent movies and world-class repertory cinema.

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Film Forum Presents

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