Pure Nonfiction: Inside Documentary Film

Pure Nonfiction: Inside Documentary Film


Latest Episodes

158: Harry Belafonte on "Sing Your Song"
April 27, 2023

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"
April 13, 2023

E. Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin discuss their latest documentary "Wild Life".

156: Chase Joynt Explores Transgender History in "Framing Agnes"
April 06, 2023

"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"
March 03, 2023

Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers interviews "Navalny" director Daniel Roher .

154: Oscar-nominated Shaunak Sen on "All That Breathes"
February 07, 2023

"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"
January 31, 2023

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"
January 10, 2023

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"
December 05, 2022

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
April 14, 2022

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"
February 23, 2022

"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.