Yo, Adrian

In this episode, Fariha and Kiva use the “Muslim ban” put in place by U.S. President Trump as a jumping-off point to highlight some of the exceptional filmmakers working in the seven countries affected by the Executive Order. They discuss Iraqi filmmaker Hussein Hassan’s decision not to bring his documentary THE DARK WIND to the Miami Film Festival because of the ban. Asghar Farhadi, similarly, opted not to attend the Academy Awards despite the Best Foreign Language Film nomination for THE SALESMAN. They discuss the importance of being an ally to these filmmakers, and the role that programming and criticism can play. Not to mention the importance of simply seeing these films, and telling your friends to see them too. Film is powerful at a moment like this, Fariha and Kiva believe, because of the humanizing effect of experiencing stories about real people's lives from regions which are often considered by the news media solely in terms of politics or conflict. Listen in to find out about some filmmakers to watch from these seven countries: Iran: Asghar Farhadi, THE SALESMAN, A SEPARATION (and a shout out to actor Golshifteh Farahani) Iraq: Mohamed Al-Daradji, SON OF BABYLON Atia Al Daradji and Mohamed Al-Daradji, IN MY MOTHER’S ARMS Somalia: Fathia Absie, BROKEN DREAMS Sudan: Atak Ngor, ATAK’S FILM Libya: Various Directors, LIBYA IN MOTION Yemen: Sara Ishaq, KARAMA HAS NO WALLS, THE MULBERRY HOUSE Syria: Diana El Jeiroudi, DOLLS: A WOMAN FROM DAMASCUS Further reading: Kerry James Marshall is expanding the canon with his latest show at the Met: http://theartnewspaper.com/news/museums/kerry-james-marshall-makes-his-picks-from-the-met-s-collection/ At the Miami Film Festival, Hussein Hassan protested the ban by cancelling his visa application: http://www.indiewire.com/2017/01/iraq-filmmaker-protests-trump-muslim-ban-withdraws-visa-application-miami-film-festival-1201774530/ If you are in Toronto, check out Hot Docs’ Ban This Series, a free screening series of documentaries from the banned countries: http://www.hotdocscinema.ca/responsive/content/ban_this_series

In this episode, Fariha and Kiva use the “Muslim ban” put in place by U.S. President Trump as a jumping-off point to highlight some of the exceptional filmmakers working in the seven countries affected by the Executive Order. They discuss Iraqi filmmaker Hussein Hassan’s decision not to bring his documentary THE DARK WIND to the Miami Film Festival because of the ban. Asghar Farhadi, similarly, opted not to attend the Academy Awards despite the Best Foreign Language Film nomination for THE SALESMAN. They discuss the importance of being an ally to these filmmakers, and the role that programming and criticism can play. Not to mention the importance of simply seeing these films, and telling your friends to see them too. Film is powerful at a moment like this, Fariha and Kiva believe, because of the humanizing effect of experiencing stories about real people's lives from regions which are often considered by the news media solely in terms of politics or conflict. Listen in to find out about some filmmakers to watch from these seven countries: Iran: Asghar Farhadi, THE SALESMAN, A SEPARATION (and a shout out to actor Golshifteh Farahani) Iraq: Mohamed Al-Daradji, SON OF BABYLON Atia Al Daradji and Mohamed Al-Daradji, IN MY MOTHER’S ARMS Somalia: Fathia Absie, BROKEN DREAMS Sudan: Atak Ngor, ATAK’S FILM Libya: Various Directors, LIBYA IN MOTION Yemen: Sara Ishaq, KARAMA HAS NO WALLS, THE MULBERRY HOUSE Syria: Diana El Jeiroudi, DOLLS: A WOMAN FROM DAMASCUS Further reading: Kerry James Marshall is expanding the canon with his latest show at the Met: http://theartnewspaper.com/news/museums/kerry-james-marshall-makes-his-picks-from-the-met-s-collection/ At the Miami Film Festival, Hussein Hassan protested the ban by cancelling his visa application: http://www.indiewire.com/2017/01/iraq-filmmaker-protests-trump-muslim-ban-withdraws-visa-application-miami-film-festival-1201774530/ If you are in Toronto, check out Hot Docs’ Ban This Series, a free screening series of documentaries from the banned countries: http://www.hotdocscinema.ca/responsive/content/ban_this_series

In Round One, Kiva and Fariha discuss the state of things in a post-let's-not-call-him-"President" world, and then consider one form of film that will play a big role in telling stories about that world: documentary. Fariha talks about growing up with Michael Moore's work, and both talk about the must-see Ava DuVernay/Netflix doc 13th (seriously, if you haven't seen it, see it now). Then in Round Two, award-winning Inuit documentarian Alethea Arnaquq-Baril stops by to talk about her latest film ANGRY INUK, which was recently awarded the People's Choice Award at the Canada's Top Ten Film Festival, the emotional challenges of making the film in a hostile social-media environment, questions of representation for Indigenous peoples and women in the current media landscape, and maybe the worst reality show pitch of all time.

In Round One, Kiva and Fariha discuss the state of things in a post-let's-not-call-him-"President" world, and then consider one form of film that will play a big role in telling stories about that world: documentary. Fariha talks about growing up with Michael Moore's work, and both talk about the must-see Ava DuVernay/Netflix doc 13th (seriously, if you haven't seen it, see it now). Then in Round Two, award-winning Inuit documentarian Alethea Arnaquq-Baril stops by to talk about her latest film ANGRY INUK, which was recently awarded the People's Choice Award at the Canada's Top Ten Film Festival, the emotional challenges of making the film in a hostile social-media environment, questions of representation for Indigenous peoples and women in the current media landscape, and maybe the worst reality show pitch of all time.

In Round One, Kiva and Fariha talk about their film-based New Year's resolutions (which are actually "intentions," because they are not Bridget Jones). One of their shared intentions: watch more Canadian films. Which is a nice segue into... ...Round Two, featuring TIFF programmer Magali Simard with an in-depth discussion about Canadian film, starting Friday January 13, and specifically the lineup for this year's Canada's Top Ten Film Festival, which features some exciting work from lesser-known and first-time Canadian directors (and also very well known seventh-time director Xavier Dolan). Some interesting questions also get addressed: what role does the education system play in exposing the public to English-Canadian films? What does "Canadian identity" mean in the context of Canadian film? And how does the rest of the world see our cinema? http://www.tiff.net/canadas-top-ten/

In Round One, Kiva and Fariha talk about their film-based New Year's resolutions (which are actually "intentions," because they are not Bridget Jones). One of their shared intentions: watch more Canadian films. Which is a nice segue into... ...Round Two, featuring TIFF programmer Magali Simard with an in-depth discussion about Canadian film, starting Friday January 13, and specifically the lineup for this year's Canada's Top Ten Film Festival, which features some exciting work from lesser-known and first-time Canadian directors (and also very well known seventh-time director Xavier Dolan). Some interesting questions also get addressed: what role does the education system play in exposing the public to English-Canadian films? What does "Canadian identity" mean in the context of Canadian film? And how does the rest of the world see our cinema? http://www.tiff.net/canadas-top-ten/

What makes a political biopic great? And why are so few of them about women? In Round One, Kiva and Fariha talk about Vikram Gandhi's BARRY (Vikram is our Round Two guest!), THE IRON LADY (no. Just no.), contracting a case of HisPo (it's not contagious), the work of Oliver Stone, and various other films that are and are not worth your time. Then Fariha has a wide-ranging talk with Vikram Gandhi (starting at 13:49) about how he came to make a film about a young Barack Obama, the process of recreating the President's early life, casting the role and others, the importance of Obama's college roommate, the influence of Ralph Ellison's INVISIBLE MAN, and exploring issues of race on film.

What makes a political biopic great? And why are so few of them about women? In Round One, Kiva and Fariha talk about Vikram Gandhi's BARRY (Vikram is our Round Two guest!), THE IRON LADY (no. Just no.), contracting a case of HisPo (it's not contagious), the work of Oliver Stone, and various other films that are and are not worth your time. Then Fariha has a wide-ranging talk with Vikram Gandhi (starting at 13:49) about how he came to make a film about a young Barack Obama, the process of recreating the President's early life, casting the role and others, the importance of Obama's college roommate, the influence of Ralph Ellison's INVISIBLE MAN, and exploring issues of race on film.

Kiva and Fariha discuss the incredible work of director Deepa Mehta, and how her films have helped them and others to be themselves and feel less alone. They also talk about the importance of seeing films made by people who are not white males. They also discuss her challenging new film ANATOMY OF VIOLENCE, which is now playing at TIFF Bell Lightbox. In Round Two, Fariha sits down with Mehta to get deeper into the making of the film, how essential it is that people see it (and bring their parents), the effect of film on the culture at large, and how whole societies can be complicit in creating monsters. NOTE: the next episode of YO, ADRIAN will be delayed by one week. Watch out for it on December 16.

Kiva and Fariha discuss the incredible work of director Deepa Mehta, and how her films have helped them and others to be themselves and feel less alone. They also talk about the importance of seeing films made by people who are not white males. They also discuss her challenging new film ANATOMY OF VIOLENCE, which is now playing at TIFF Bell Lightbox. In Round Two, Fariha sits down with Mehta to get deeper into the making of the film, how essential it is that people see it (and bring their parents), the effect of film on the culture at large, and how whole societies can be complicit in creating monsters. NOTE: the next episode of YO, ADRIAN will be delayed by one week. Watch out for it on December 16.

After a very, very bad week in global politics, Fariha and Kiva talk about the cultural impact of the American president, the ways that film can influence the conversation about politics and vice-versa, the works that have come out under President Obama, and the social responsibility of anyone who cares about the world as the next four years unfold. In Round Two, Barry Jenkins, director of the highly acclaimed film MOONLIGHT (now playing at the TIFF Bell Lightbox), has an in-depth conversation with Fariha about the making of the film, its potential impact, his use of colour, unscripted moments, and the fact that making this film was never impossible. "If you make something that's true, and you find a way to get it to audiences, they will respond." - Barry Further reading: http://lwlies.com/tags/obama-era-cinema/ http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/10/24/moonlight-undoes-our-expectations http://www.vulture.com/2016/10/hidden-significance-of-moonlights-chiron.html http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/21/movies/moonlight-review.html

After a very, very bad week in global politics, Fariha and Kiva talk about the cultural impact of the American president, the ways that film can influence the conversation about politics and vice-versa, the works that have come out under President Obama, and the social responsibility of anyone who cares about the world as the next four years unfold. In Round Two, Barry Jenkins, director of the highly acclaimed film MOONLIGHT (now playing at the TIFF Bell Lightbox), has an in-depth conversation with Fariha about the making of the film, its potential impact, his use of colour, unscripted moments, and the fact that making this film was never impossible. "If you make something that's true, and you find a way to get it to audiences, they will respond." - Barry Further reading: http://lwlies.com/tags/obama-era-cinema/ http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/10/24/moonlight-undoes-our-expectations http://www.vulture.com/2016/10/hidden-significance-of-moonlights-chiron.html http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/21/movies/moonlight-review.html

A Halloween episode: Round 1 Fariha tells Kiva about her recent spooky encounter and then the pair talk about what makes a good horror movie. In Round 2, Kiva talks to Alex West, the author of Films of the New French Extremity: Visceral Horror and National Identity about gore, guts and taking genre film seriously. Find West's book here: http://www.mcfarlandbooks.com/book-2.php?id=978-1-4766-6348-7

A Halloween episode: Round 1 Fariha tells Kiva about her recent spooky encounter and then the pair talk about what makes a good horror movie. In Round 2, Kiva talks to Alex West, the author of Films of the New French Extremity: Visceral Horror and National Identity about gore, guts and taking genre film seriously. Find West's book here: http://www.mcfarlandbooks.com/book-2.php?id=978-1-4766-6348-7

In Round 1, Kiva and Fariha are living their best #postTIFF16 life (0.47) meaning Kiva is getting sick. They start off discussing best recovery films (1.08) and Fariha gives a shoutout to her girl, Jane Austen (1.27) while Kiva gets into her inner bro with the Oceans franchise (3.21), and both decide on their likeness to Brad (Fariha) and Andy Garcia (Kiva), respectively (4.40). Obviously the conversation quickly turns to #dadbods (6.40). In Round 2, Fariha interviews Johnny Ma, director of OLD STONE and winner of Best Canadian Feature at TIFF (9.30). They discuss how people are desensitized to pain (12.00) disregarding others' humanity (12.27). Johnny talks about his film inspirations and filmmakers he loves — Werner Herzog (13.13) and Abbas Kiarostami (13.46) and the beauty of telling fables in the modern age. Johnny finishes off talking about intersectional identity, being both Chinese and Canadian, and the importance of shifting what a Canadian film looks like (15.45).

In Round 1, Kiva and Fariha are living their best #postTIFF16 life (0.47) meaning Kiva is getting sick. They start off discussing best recovery films (1.08) and Fariha gives a shoutout to her girl, Jane Austen (1.27) while Kiva gets into her inner bro with the Oceans franchise (3.21), and both decide on their likeness to Brad (Fariha) and Andy Garcia (Kiva), respectively (4.40). Obviously the conversation quickly turns to #dadbods (6.40). In Round 2, Fariha interviews Johnny Ma, director of OLD STONE and winner of Best Canadian Feature at TIFF (9.30). They discuss how people are desensitized to pain (12.00) disregarding others' humanity (12.27). Johnny talks about his film inspirations and filmmakers he loves — Werner Herzog (13.13) and Abbas Kiarostami (13.46) and the beauty of telling fables in the modern age. Johnny finishes off talking about intersectional identity, being both Chinese and Canadian, and the importance of shifting what a Canadian film looks like (15.45).

In a special TIFF '16 episode, Kiva and Fariha talk about the highlights of their Festival, including Kiva's time hanging out with Agnes Varda and getting an official photo with her (1:45), meeting the "really kind" Busta Rhymes and hanging with literal angel and friend of the show Barry Jenkins, whose MOONLIGHT is making waves with critics and audiences (4:41), the awesomeness of seeing films made by people of colour and women getting a great deal of media attention during Festival (5:49), film bros being film bros (6:48), and TIFF as a gateway to real diversity in film (7:52). In Round Two, friend of the show Nikissi Serumaga-Jamo interviews the great Julie Dash about DAUGHTERS OF THE DUST, 26 years later (9:05), being a reference point for Beyonce (10:58), how researching for the film changed her understanding of Gullah/Geechee culture and her own history (11:47), the "remarkable" experience of encountering LEMONADE (12:46), remaining fresh and original as a filmmaker (14:19), restoring the skin tone of DAUGHTERS to its original state (15:50), and advice for young filmmakers (16:52).

In a special TIFF '16 episode, Kiva and Fariha talk about the highlights of their Festival, including Kiva's time hanging out with Agnes Varda and getting an official photo with her (1:45), meeting the "really kind" Busta Rhymes and hanging with literal angel and friend of the show Barry Jenkins, whose MOONLIGHT is making waves with critics and audiences (4:41), the awesomeness of seeing films made by people of colour and women getting a great deal of media attention during Festival (5:49), film bros being film bros (6:48), and TIFF as a gateway to real diversity in film (7:52). In Round Two, friend of the show Nikissi Serumaga-Jamo interviews the great Julie Dash about DAUGHTERS OF THE DUST, 26 years later (9:05), being a reference point for Beyonce (10:58), how researching for the film changed her understanding of Gullah/Geechee culture and her own history (11:47), the "remarkable" experience of encountering LEMONADE (12:46), remaining fresh and original as a filmmaker (14:19), restoring the skin tone of DAUGHTERS to its original state (15:50), and advice for young filmmakers (16:52).

In Round 1, Kiva is going crazy because #TIFF16 is in a few days (0.30), but TIFF's Artistic Director, Cameron Bailey, still made time to come on the podcast! Fariha asks Kiva about what it's like to work on the inside of a festival (1.15) and the two reflect on their favourite fest moments (4.30). Hint: Claire Denis' leopard print boots. In Round 2, Cameron says he's sorry he ruined TIFF Bingo (12.40) and the two talk about what programming *really* is (13.00) and Toronto's diverse audiences (16.00). Then they get into questions of taste (21.00) and the role of film festivals in a digital age (26.00), plus the City to City (33.00) and Platform programmes (37.00). Cameron caps off the convo by explaining why he loves JERRY MAGUIRE (40.00).

In Round 1, Kiva is going crazy because #TIFF16 is in a few days (0.30), but TIFF's Artistic Director, Cameron Bailey, still made time to come on the podcast! Fariha asks Kiva about what it's like to work on the inside of a festival (1.15) and the two reflect on their favourite fest moments (4.30). Hint: Claire Denis' leopard print boots. In Round 2, Cameron says he's sorry he ruined TIFF Bingo (12.40) and the two talk about what programming *really* is (13.00) and Toronto's diverse audiences (16.00). Then they get into questions of taste (21.00) and the role of film festivals in a digital age (26.00), plus the City to City (33.00) and Platform programmes (37.00). Cameron caps off the convo by explaining why he loves JERRY MAGUIRE (40.00).