In this episode, I talk with directors Ayman El Amir and Nada Riyadh about their new film “The Brink of Dreams” that recently won the Golden Eye award at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival. This documentary chronicles the lives of a group of young Egyptian girls from a very conservative small village in Egypt who formed an all-female acting troupe despite family rejection.

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“On Documentary” podcast page: www.adamjamessmithfilm.com/on-documentary
Adam James Smith’s Instagram: www.instagram.com/ajsfilm
Contact: ajsfilm@alumni.stanford.edu

In this episode, I talk with artist and director Dan Covert, about his new documentary film “Geoff McFetridge: Drawing a Life” that recently premiered at SXSW, picking up an Audience Award, and is about to be released on VOD. "Drawing a Life" is a poetic and intimate portrait of an artist. In an era dominated by influencers and social media, Geoff McFetridge works to live with intention and authenticity, an increasingly rare practice–more relevant now than ever. Geoff’s art is everywhere: from Apple watch faces, to solo shows around the world, to movie titles for Spike Jonze. But this film is more than a primer on Geoff’s prolific career. It’s about the choices we confront in trying to lead meaningful lives.

Dan Covert's website: www.dancovert.com
"Drawing a Life" website: www.drawingalifefilm.com
Geoff McFetridge's website: www.championdontstop.com

Thank you for listening. Please subscribe to keep up to date with new episodes. If you enjoy this podcast, please leave a review.

“On Documentary” podcast page: www.adamjamessmithfilm.com/on-documentary
Adam James Smith’s Instagram: www.instagram.com/ajsfilm
Contact: ajsfilm@alumni.stanford.edu

In this episode, I talk to filmmakers Xinyan Yu and Max Duncan about the challenges of production of their excellent new film "Made in Ethiopia", that just received its premiere at the 2024 Tribeca Film Festival. "Made in Ethiopia" examines the growing industrialization taking place in present-day Ethiopia and China’s often misunderstood, growing impact in Africa. Filmed over four years with unprecedented access, the story takes viewers to a dusty farming town in Ethiopia as a Chinese industrial park begins to take shape. The film follows three women, perhaps most affected: the Chinese factory director who must muster up strength to fulfill the promise of expansion and 30,000 jobs, a factory worker, and a local farmer, all who look to the success of the development for their future prosperity.

"Made in Ethiopia" website: www.madeinethiopiafilm.com

Thank you for listening. Please subscribe to keep up to date with new episodes. If you enjoy this podcast, please leave a review.

“On Documentary” podcast page: www.adamjamessmithfilm.com/on-documentary
Adam James Smith’s Instagram: www.instagram.com/ajsfilm
Contact: ajsfilm@alumni.stanford.edu