Pure Nonfiction: Inside Documentary Film
Latest Episodes
158: Harry Belafonte on "Sing Your Song"
Harry Belafonte died this week at age 96. Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers interviewed Belafonte and his daughter Gina in 2013 as part of the Montclair Film Festival.
157: E. Chai Vasarhelyi & Jimmy Chin on "Wild Life"
E. Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin discuss their latest documentary "Wild Life".
156: Chase Joynt Explores Transgender History in "Framing Agnes"
"Framing Agnes" premiered at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival where it won the Audience Award in the Next section. It draws upon a rare archive of interviews with trans and gender non-conforming people
155: Daniel Roher on "Navalny"
Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers interviews "Navalny" director Daniel Roher .
154: Oscar-nominated Shaunak Sen on "All That Breathes"
"All That Breathes" won top prizes at Sundance and Cannes for its portrayal of two brothers in New Delhi who dedicated themselves to rescuing birds from the hazards of the polluted city.
153: Joyce Chopra on "Lady Director"
Joyce Chopra broke the glass ceiling for womenin film by directing classic works such as the ground-breaking personal documentary "Joyce at 34". Those films and others are now streaming in a collecti
152: Violet Du Feng on "Hidden Letters"
Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers interviews director Violet Du Feng about changes for women in China, the effects of capitalism in the country and her goals to reach both Chinese and western audiences
151: Rebeca Huntt on "Beba"
Rebeca Huntt tells her own coming of age story in her debut documentary "Beba," now streaming on Hulu.
150: “La Madrina” of the South Bronx
La Madrina: The [Savage] Life of Lorine Padilla profiles the South Bronx godmother who transitioned from life in the Savage Skulls street gang to become a beloved community activist.
149: W. Kamau Bell on "We Need to Talk About Cosby"
"We Need to Talk About Cosby" explores the once beloved entertainer who's been accused by over 60 women of rape, sexual assault, and harrassment.