film festival

Inside Cinetopia – A Look at the Business of Film Festivals

In this episode, Alex goes to the Cinetopia Film Festival in Ann Arbor and Dearborn to learn more about the business of film festivals and the role they play in getting films distribution. First, Ariel Wan, Director of Marketing and Programming for the festival joins him in North Quad Studios to talk about the festival. Then, later in the episode, we hear from filmmakers whose films screened at the festival. The voices you'll hear in that segment: Bo Burnham (writer/director, "Eighth Grade"), Qasim Basir (co-writer/director, "A Boy. A Girl. A Dream."), Michael Curtis Johnson (writer/director, "Savage Youth") and Michael Dweck (director, "The Last Race"). 

 

You can also listen to this episode and subscribe for future episodes on Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts.

Industry Interview: A Conversation with an Art Film Exhibitor

Amanda and Alex take a field trip to the office of Russ Collins, Executive Director and CEO of the Michigan Theater and Creative Director of the Cinetopia Film Festival. Russ explains the particular dynamics of film exhibition outside the multiplex and a sector of filmgoing that remains alive and thriving. Our wide ranging conversation explores the challenges and opportunities of the art film sector, where that sector developed from, and the particularities of operating as a community-based, mission driven theater--all with our media business focus.