TFV Network – Details, episodes & analysis

Welcome to "The Cinephile Corner," a regular series where TFV's Matt Micucci dives into a randomly selected film, sharing his opinion on a wide range of classics and hidden gems in two minutes or less, in the name of insatiable cinephilia. Tonight's film is "Ecce Bombo" from 1978, directed by Nanni Moretti. The review coincides with the screening of the film in the Venice Classics section of the 2024 Venice Film Festival.

CHAPTERS

(00:00) Intro

(00:29) Review

(02:27) Final Rating and Movie Recommendation

TFV's Matt Micucci shares a conversation with director Fabrice Du Welz, whose latest film, "Maldoror," is premiering out of competition at the 2024 Venice Film Festival.

A gripping and intense thriller, "Maldoror" tells the story of a young and impulsive Belgian cop on a desperate search for justice, all set against the backdrop of one of Belgium's most haunting scandals - a series of kidnappings of young girls that shook the nation in the 1990s and that left a deep scar in the Belgian soul.

In our conversation, Du Welz opens up about the challenges of revisiting such a traumatic chapter in his country's history and the catharsis of revisiting it in cinematic form. We also delve into what draws him to portrayals of evil and how this marks a significant evolution in his filmography.

Beyond this, we go back to Du Welz's earliest memories of cinema, his study of acting and theatre, and how all that shaped the filmmaker he is today.

CHAPTERS (00:00) Introducing Fabrice Du Welz and "Maldoror" (01:30) Early cinema memories (04:24) Theatre background (05:38) Exploring new grounds with "Maldoror" (07:09) Belgium's scandal (10:42) The catharsis of filmmaking (13:10) Universal resonance (16:21) Exploration of evil (17:58) An obsessive quest for justice (20:15) Visual style (23:20) Latest cinephile obsession (25:05) Outro

Welcome to "The Cinephile Corner," a regular series where TFV's Matt Micucci dives into a randomly selected film, sharing his opinion on a wide range of classics and hidden gems in two minutes or less, in the name of insatiable cinephilia. Today's film is "Vampyr" from 1932, directed by Carl Theodor Dreyer.

In this episode, Rashid Bahati has the pleasure of speaking with Clement Virgo, a Canadian film and television writer, producer and director. Clement is the co-founder of the production company Conquering Lion Pictures, which has produced critically acclaimed films, such as "Poor Boy's Game" and "The Book of Negroes," a six-part miniseries based on the novel by Canadian writer Lawrence Hill.

"The Book of Negroes" received widespread praise for its compelling storytelling and powerful performances, earning several awards and nominations. In our conversation, we explore Clement's journey in the film industry, his experiences as a black filmmaker in Canada and the importance of representation in the media.

We discuss his approach to storytelling and the creative process behind his works. His dedication to telling authentic and diverse stories has made a tremendous impact on the industry, inspiring a new generation of filmmakers and storytellers. Tune into this episode of Noir 360, to hear Clement Virgo's inspirational story and how he transitioned his life from wanting to be a designer into the world of film.

Unconventional parents and idealistic teachers were among the most fascinating characters of films presented within the program of the 2023 Berlin International Film Festival. In this latest episode of the Showcast, TFV's Matt Micucci shares conversations with filmmakers who presented works featuring such characters.

Director İlker Çatak talks about "The Teachers' Lounge," about an idealistic teacher who decides to take matters into her own hands after one of her students is suspected of theft, which was this year's big winner of the Berlinale's Panorama section.

We also speak with Zara Dwinger, director of "Kiddo," a mother-daughter road movie that is a coming-of-age film with a nod to the lovers-on-the-run genre.

(Featured photo: Alamonde Film)

TFV's Matt Micucci shines a light on the 2023 International Film Festival Rotterdam, in conversation with its director Vanja Kaludjercic.

The conversation was recorded at the 2023 European Film Market and not long after the conclusion of what many consider to be the first major film festival of the calendar year.

As such, this episode of the Showcast features a discussion of its program, including its films, installations, and dedicated sections highlighting specific themes and films from specific regions, as well as the Cinemart and beyond.

(Featured photo: IFFR)

Rashid Bahati presents his conversation with Floyd Webb, a filmmaker and founder/curator of Blacknuss.tv. We discuss Floyd's extensive experience in the film industry, which includes being the associate producer of the award-winning film "Daughters of the Dust" (1992), directed by Julie Dash. He was also the Chicago producer of the American Masters film, "The World of Nat King Cole" (2006).

In our conversation, Floyd shares his journey in the film industry and the challenges that he faced as a Black filmmaker. We also chat about his work as a producer and consultant on several documentaries, including the 50th Anniversary of "The March," directed by John Akomfrah of UK-based Smoking Dogs Films and co-produced by Robert Redford's Sundance Productions.

Floyd's dedication to showcasing the richness and diversity of African-American culture through his platform, Blacknuss.tv, is truly inspiring. We delve into the importance of representation in the media and the impact it has on shaping our perception of ourselves and our communities. This interview is an important look at the intersection of film, culture and history.

Noir 360, the podcast that celebrates international Black film in all its diversity, is thrilled to present Rashid Bahati's conversation with Rahmatou Keïta, a Nigerian journalist, writer and film director.

Keïta's career in film began in 1990 and she has since become an accomplished filmmaker, winning the prestigious 7 d'Or for "L'assiette anglaise" (2005) and the Sojourner Truth Award for her first feature film, "Al'lèèssi..."

Born in Niger, Keïta is of Fulani, Songhai and Mandingo heritage. After studying philosophy and linguistics in Paris, she worked as a journalist for European TV channels before transitioning into filmmaking.

In our podcast conversation, we delve into Rahmatou's experiences as a journalist-turned-filmmaker, her creative process and her dedication to telling authentic stories that are "off the beaten tracks."

This is a very essential interview for all interested in the intersection of film and culture. Tune into Noir 360 to her Keïta's journey as an African woman in the world of global cinema.

In this episode of Noir 360, Rashid Bahati shares and exclusive conversation with Valeriya Biyen, co-owner of Yelhy Technology Africa and owner of the newly-opened 22N6 Tech Lounge, based in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

Biyen is originally from Ukraine and currently lives between Europe and West Africa. In this podcast conversation, we discussed her passion and involvement in Ouagadougou to engage the Burkinabe youth in eSports Gaming at her new facilities in the Ouaga 2000 area of the city.

Biyen has hosted the inaugural edition of the Filmmaker Accelerator Program Awards ceremonies at 22N6 during the 28th edition of FESPACO, the film and television festival, at the beginning of March 2023.

In this podcast conversation, she shares her vision of creating opportunities for the youth of Burkina Faso, particularly in the areas of technology and gaming. We explore her journey in building Yelhy Technology Africa and how it is contributing to the development of the tech industry in Burkina Faso.

TFV's Matt Micucci shares an extensive conversation with the legendary American experimental filmmaker James Benning, who presented his latest film, Allensworth, in the Forum section of the 2023 Berlin International Film Festival.

The film centres on the title location, the first self-administered African-American municipality in California. A great starting point for a conversation covering several aspects of Benning's filmmaking and art, from the political nature of his works to his admiration of Henry David Thoreau.

(Featured photo: Berlinale)

CHAPTER (00:00) Intro (01:02) James Benning in Berlin (03:37) Presenting "Allensworth" at the Berlinale (07:11) Understanding things from paying attention (08:04) Early film experiences (10:48) Political films (12:08) Is James Benning a cinephile? (13:08) The influence of Henry David Thoreau's "Walden" (14:02) Eadweard Muybridge (15:42) Painting (17:45) Seeing the world in a different way (19:02) Love-hate relationship with technology (22:35) Sleeping and working habits (24:19) Teaching (25:00) Outro