Director Interviews
Festival filmmakers in their own words. Extended conversations about craft, vision, and the stories behind the stories.
All Interviews
Sean Baker on Anora
The Palme d'Or winner discusses his kinetic love story, casting Mikey Madison, and why he keeps returning to stories about people living on society's margins.
Brady Corbet on The Brutalist
The actor-turned-director on his epic three-and-a-half-hour film about a Hungarian architect in postwar America, and why ambition is a feature, not a bug.
Jacques Audiard on Emilia Pérez
The veteran French director on making a genre-defying narco musical in Spanish, casting Zoe Saldaña and Karla Sofía Gascón, and reinventing himself at 72.
Payal Kapadia on All We Imagine as Light
India's Grand Prix winner on capturing Mumbai's textures, the line between documentary and fiction, and bringing Indian cinema back to the Cannes main competition.
Mohammad Rasoulof on The Seed of the Sacred Fig
The Iranian director who fled his country to premiere at Cannes talks about making films under political repression and the personal cost of artistic freedom.
Coralie Fargeat on The Substance
The French filmmaker on body horror as feminist statement, working with Demi Moore, and the visceral practical effects that divided Cannes audiences.
Andrea Arnold on Bird
The British social-realist director on casting Barry Keoghan, finding magic in working-class Kent, and why she never writes a traditional screenplay.
RaMell Ross on Nickel Boys
The documentarian's radical first-person POV adaptation of Colson Whitehead's novel. On filming through a character's eyes and the ethics of depicting trauma.
More From FestivalMovie
Voices Hub
Return to the Filmmaker Voices hub for Behind the Film features and more.
Back to Voices →Festival Radar
Track buzz and premieres at Cannes, Venice, Sundance, Berlin, and more.
Visit Radar →World Cinema Passport
Explore the best films from every country around the globe.
Visit Passport →Frequently Asked Questions
What festivals do your interview subjects come from?
How long are the interviews?
Our interviews typically run 8 to 15 minutes of reading time. We focus on substantive, in-depth conversations rather than quick Q&As, giving filmmakers space to discuss their creative process, influences, and the specific challenges of each film.
Do you interview only directors?
While directors are our primary focus, we also feature conversations with screenwriters, cinematographers, editors, and producers whose work has made a significant impact on festival cinema. We believe filmmaking is collaborative and want to highlight voices across the creative team.
Can I read interviews with emerging filmmakers?
Yes. Alongside established auteurs, we actively seek out first-time and early-career directors who are making waves on the festival circuit. Discovering new voices is central to our mission. Use the festival filter above to narrow results, or look for the "First Feature" badge on interview cards.