Episodes

  • 555. Ethan Shaftel “Ajax All Powerful”

    555. Ethan Shaftel “Ajax All Powerful”
    Jul 4 2025
    Happy Independence Day, Everyone. And what better way to celebrate independence thank listened to a podcast about Independent film! Ethan Shaftel brought his Immersive film “Ajax All Powerful” to the Sherman Oaks Film Festival in 2024 and took one the Grand Jury Award for Outstanding Immersive Short. Do I need to explain what an immersive short is? You watch it on the Meta Quest virtual reality headset and become immersed in the amazing world that Ethan created. “Ajax All Powerful” simply blew my mind and I think every person looking at these words right now should find a way to get their hands on one and watch Ethan’s film. What else needs to be said in this intro? Learn more about Ethan at his website EthanShaftel.com or @ethanaction on Instagram. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Discover Indie Film Podcast Links DIF Podcast Website - DIF Instagram - DIF BlueSky Discover Indie Film Foundation (nonprofit for the arts) Links DIF Foundation - Sherman Oaks Film Festival - Film Invasion Los Angeles
    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 32 mins
  • 553. Rob Neilson “The Word”

    553. Rob Neilson “The Word”
    Jun 30 2025
    Welcome back and thank you for starting your week with a new installment of Discover Indie Film! Rob Neilson’s film “The Word” was an official selection at both Film Invasion Los Angeles as well as Sherman Oaks Film Festival in 2024, which you might know is a rare feat. I should also mention that at FI- LA “The Word” took home the Grand Jury Awards for Best Short Film, Comedy and Best Cast Performance, while at SOFF it took home the Filmmakers Award for Outstanding Short Film - Comedy. You should watch this wickedly funny and cuttingly smart film right now! Here’s the link: https://youtu.be/ZPQA-gmSS6g?si=D-W4Jxs9LQrN1g-N If you want to learn more about Rob and his work, check out www.savagehenryfilms.com or www.robmneilson.com. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Discover Indie Film Podcast Links DIF Podcast Website - DIF Instagram - DIF BlueSky Discover Indie Film Foundation (nonprofit for the arts) Links DIF Foundation - Sherman Oaks Film Festival - Film Invasion Los Angeles
    Show more Show less
    56 mins
  • 552. 4Qs with Nicholas Burns

    552. 4Qs with Nicholas Burns
    Jun 27 2025
    What are the 4Qs? (1) Three favorite films. (2) An underrated film. (3) An overrated film. (4) A lesser-known film people should seek out. Nicholas Burns wrote and directed the short film “Intertitle” that took home both the Grand Jury Award for Best Sound Design and the Filmmakers Award for Outstanding Originality - Drama at Film Invasion Los Angeles 2024. He ALSO brought it to Sherman Oaks Film Festival later that year and took home- Filmmakers Award – Outstanding Writing – Arthouse/Experimental – Nicholas Burns Nicholas is not on social media so you'll just have to go to his website nicholasburns.net or listen to our chat released on Wednesday or his 4 Questions here to find more about him! _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Discover Indie Film Links DIF Podcast Website - DIF Instagram - DIF BlueSky Discover Indie Film Foundation (nonprofit for the arts) Website Sherman Oaks Film Festival Film Invasion Los Angeles
    Show more Show less
    33 mins
  • 551. Nicholas Burns “Intertitle”

    551. Nicholas Burns “Intertitle”
    Jun 25 2025
    Welcome back listeners and a special thank you to anyone who came out to Film Invasion Los Angeles this past weekend! There are many things I love and adore about the two festivals I run, but one of them is having an exciting new crop of filmmakers to invite onto the podcast. Nicholas Burns wrote and directed the short film “Intertitle” that took home both the Grand Jury Award for Best Sound Design and the Filmmakers Award for Outstanding Originality - Drama at Film Invasion Los Angeles 2024. He ALSO brought it to Sherman Oaks Film Festival later that year and took home- Filmmakers Award – Outstanding Writing – Arthouse/Experimental – Nicholas Burns This uniquely original film brings a lot more to the table than simply its use of silent film era intertitles. In fact, it tells one of the most compelling, personal and authentic stories that I have seen in my decade of festival programming. Nick hopped onto Zoom for this interview and I hope that you enjoy listening to it as much as I enjoyed chatting with him. Nick is NOT on social media, but you can visit his website nicholasburns.net _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Discover Indie Film Podcast Links DIF Podcast Website - DIF Instagram - DIF BlueSky Discover Indie Film Foundation (nonprofit for the arts) Links DIF Foundation - Sherman Oaks Film Festival - Film Invasion Los Angeles
    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 22 mins
  • 550. 4Qs with Vernon Davidson

    550. 4Qs with Vernon Davidson
    Jun 23 2025
    What are the 4Qs? (1) Three favorite films. (2) An underrated film. (3) An overrated film. (4) A lesser-known film people should seek out. Vernon Davidson brought the feature length documentary “SEGAL” for a World Premiere at the Sherman Oaks Film Festival in 2024 and took home the Grand Jury Award – Best Feature Film – Documentary. Apparently I'm not the first to find Vernon an absolute blast and I was happy for the excuse to keep the party going with the 4 Questions. SEGAL-DOC.COM @SEGALMOVIE _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Discover Indie Film Links DIF Podcast Website - DIF Instagram - DIF BlueSky Discover Indie Film Foundation (nonprofit for the arts) Website Sherman Oaks Film Festival Film Invasion Los Angeles
    Show more Show less
    26 mins
  • 549. Vernon Davidson “SEGAL”

    549. Vernon Davidson “SEGAL”
    Jun 20 2025
    TGIFF (Filmmakers Friday!) Today is not just any Friday-- it's also opening night of Film Invasion Los Angeles, one of the two festivals I run! To browse the films & screenings just click here. But back to today's episode! Vernon Davidson brought the feature length documentary “SEGAL” for a World Premiere at the Sherman Oaks Film Festival in 2024 and took home the Grand Jury Award – Best Feature Film – Documentary. Vernon co-directed and co-produced the film with Ryan Krayser, and this wonderful retrospective about historic actor George Segal is a work that every movie fan should see. Vernon and Ryan did extensive interviews with George as they had worked with him on The Goldbergs and earned his trust. Add in their great nose for archival footage and “SEGAL” turned into a film that, in my opinion, should enjoy a big’ole nationwide release. Please enjoy our chat and find out more at: SEGAL-DOC.COM @SEGALMOVIE _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Discover Indie Film Podcast Links DIF Podcast Website - DIF Instagram - DIF BlueSky Discover Indie Film Foundation (nonprofit for the arts) Links DIF Foundation - Sherman Oaks Film Festival - Film Invasion Los Angeles
    Show more Show less
    2 hrs and 20 mins
  • 547. 4Qs with David Lazaro

    547. 4Qs with David Lazaro
    Jun 18 2025
    What are the 4Qs? (1) Three favorite films. (2) An underrated film. (3) An overrated film. (4) A lesser-known film people should seek out. David Lazaro, or Kuya Quatro to some, showed his Immersive music video “V. - Freaky Friday” at the Sherman Oaks Film Festival’s VR Pavillion and took home the Grand Jury Award – Outstanding Immersive Short. It doesn't take long meeting and/or listening to David to see that he is a true artist and was very eager to see what inspires him in his 4 Questions! @KUYAQUATRO KUYAQUATRO.COM _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Discover Indie Film Links DIF Podcast Website - DIF Instagram - DIF BlueSky Discover Indie Film Foundation (nonprofit for the arts) Website Sherman Oaks Film Festival Film Invasion Los Angeles
    Show more Show less
    40 mins