Directors Notes // The Home of Independent Filmmaking

An Unnerving Stranger Disrupts a Fireside Get Together in Joel Jay Blacker’s Comedy ‘Don’t Let Kyle Sit Down’

Joel Jay Blacker discusses his love of the comedic tension found in the spaces between conversations as deftly used in his unnerving unwelcome guest comedy.

Live Action, Premiere

A High Schooler Has an Unusual Request for His Classmate in Christian Meola’s Drama ‘The Expanding Horizon’

Christian Meola opens up about discovering new narrative territory and a widely diverse range of responses to his emotionally intense coming of age drama.

Live Action, Premiere

A Dubious Pair With Ulterior Motives Spin an Unbelievable Yarn in Sean Lyons’ Political Satire ‘Smoking Dolphins’

Sean Lyons unpacks the on point comedic tone and tension-structured shooting style of his smoky comedy calling out the self-serving doublespeak of politicians.

Documentary, Premiere

A Viral Internet Moment Propels a Leeds Bakery Into the Limelight in Alison Grasso’s Documentary ‘Hope You Fail’

Alison Grasso delves into finding the character driven heart of her film about a UK baker's Sprinklegate fight over the use of illegal American sprinkles.

Live Action

Screenwriter Colby Day on Penning Netflix’s Adam Sandler Starring Sci-Fi Drama ‘Spaceman’

Colby Day walks DN through the process of adapting the novel 'Spaceman of Bohemia' for his Netflix No. 1 Ranking Adam Sandler science-fiction feature.

Film Festival, Live Action

Romance is as Mysterious as the Currency Market in Francisco Lezama’s Berlinale-Winning ‘An Odd Turn’

Francisco Lezama expresses how a love of Balzac and Argentina's current fraught economic reality shaped his Berlinale Golden Bear-winning short film.

Animation, Premiere

How a Desire for Environmental Harmony Led Emily Halaka to Create Animated Fever-Dream Short ‘Organic Matter’

Emily Halaka joins DN to discuss how she used animation to promote harmony between humanity and the Earth in her delightfully surreal ecological short.

Animation, Documentary

Journey Through a Young Woman’s Battle With Mental Health and Self-Acceptance in Melanie Cura Daball’s ‘Trust Me’

Melanie Cura Daball reveals why an ethical approach was an essential pillar in the making of her hybrid doc about her friend's battle with a bipolar diagnosis.

Art & Fashion, Premiere

Harry Price Explores the Disorientating Nature of Unhealthy Dependant Relationships in Dance Short ‘LIMPET’

Harry Price talks through the close handheld camera work directing the audience to the subtle nuances in his claustrophobic relationship dance short.