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Artwork for Pure Nonfiction: Inside Documentary Film

Pure Nonfiction: Inside Documentary Film

Pure Nonfiction
Anand Patwardhan
The World Is Family
Albert Brooks
Nature
Hindu Fundamentalism
Indian Independence
Dalit Community
Freedom Of Expression
Toronto International Film Festival
Censorship
The Mother Of All Lies
Israel-Palestine Conflict
Columbia University
1968 Student Protests
Three Promises
The Tonight Show
Songs Of Earth
Indiewire
G20
Documentary Filmmaking

If you love documentary films, hear from the top storytellers on Pure Nonfiction. Host Thom Powers is well-connected in this world as a documentary curator for the Toronto International Film Festival, DOC NYC, and SundanceNow Doc Club. He leads conversations that are frank, funny and revealing. Listen to interviews with Oscar-winning filmmakers Barbara Kopple, Alex Gibney, and Roger Ross Williams;... more

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes241Founded10 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
TV & FilmDocumentarySociety & Culture

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Artwork for Pure Nonfiction: Inside Documentary Film

Latest Episodes

Director Alexandria Stapleton discusses her Netflix series "Sean Combs: The Reckoning," backed by executive producer Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson. Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers interviews Stapleton about each episode of the series and the participants... more

"Apocalypse in the Tropics" explores the tumultuous battle to save democracy in Brazil. It reveals striking parallels to politics in the United States. Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers speaks with director Petra Costa and producer Alessandra Orofino.... more

YouTube

Host Thom Powers interviews the film teams behind five projects that are qualified for the Oscars: MY MOM JAYNE (director Mariska Hargitay, producer Trish Adlesic, editor J.D. Marlow) exploring the life of Hollywood star Jayne Mansfield through the e... more

YouTube

Hear the filmmakers behind four of this year's most acclaimed documentaries: director Tamara Kotevska ("Honeyland") and cinematographer Jean Dakar on "The Tale of Silyan"; first time director Beth Lane on "UnBroken"; co-director Mohammedreza Eyni on ... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Petra Costa
Filmmaker known for her documentaries that focus on Brazilian politics.
Episode: 232: Apocalypse in the Tropics
Alessandra Orofino
Producer with a background in activism and political comedy.
Episode: 232: Apocalypse in the Tropics
Jessica Hargrave
Producer known for her work on 'Ask Dr. Ruth' and 'Good Night Oppie'.
Ryan White Media
Episode: 229: Poetry, Murder, Prison & UFOs
Dan Farah
Filmmaker focused on government cover-ups regarding UFOs.
Episode: 229: Poetry, Murder, Prison & UFOs
Alisa Payne
Producer involved in 'The Perfect Neighbor', focusing on social justice.
Message Pictures
Episode: 229: Poetry, Murder, Prison & UFOs
Andrew Jarecki
Director known for his work in documentaries about the justice system.
Episode: 229: Poetry, Murder, Prison & UFOs
Charlotte Kaufman
Producer involved in documentary production focused on social issues.
Message Pictures
Episode: 229: Poetry, Murder, Prison & UFOs
RJ Cutler
Filmmaker known for directing documentaries such as 'The September Issue' and 'Billy Eilish: The World's a Little Blurry'. He directed the documentary about Martha Stewart.
Netflix
Episode: 226: Martha Stewart, Alice Waters, John Williams
David Gelb
Director known for his work on 'Chef's Table', which showcases chefs and their culinary approaches.
Netflix
Episode: 226: Martha Stewart, Alice Waters, John Williams

Host

Thom Powers
Host of Pure Nonfiction with extensive experience in documentary programming and curation, bringing insightful conversations with filmmakers to life.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 253 ratings
  • The best interviewer!

    Thom knows so much and knows just what to ask to get the story behind the story. Awesome show.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    RFF_RFF
    United States3 years ago
  • Obsessed

    Thom is my hero. As well as the incredible filmmakers he artfully interviews.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    gabyown
    United Kingdom4 years ago
  • The best!

    The best documentary podcast. Love the stories. Would love to hear from less well known docs too including shorts. Thanks for your hard work!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JJ8757686
    United States7 years ago
  • A must-listen for any doc enthusiast

    I like all kinds of films, and there are MANY film podcasts to choose from. But if you LOVE documentaries as I do, Thom Powers’ PURE NONFICTION is one of the few podcasts (the only one?) that focuses on documentary films. Powers interviews superb filmmakers, both new and familiar, and often highlights docs before they find distribution. This is an excellent show, and with documentaries appearing to be increasingly popular, here’s hoping PURE NONFICTION will increase in popularity, too.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    CDMatthew
    United States7 years ago
  • WOW

    I found this on new and noteworthy and listened because I like true crime and true crime documentaries. This was a really great look at the filmmaking side and I am going to keep listening even to the episodes that are about people who don't do true crime shows.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    AnsonPtson
    United States7 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

The host's expertise and ability to ask thought-provoking questions enhance the storytelling quality of the episodes.
Listeners rave about the insightful and engaging interviews, appreciating the depth of content covered.
Many reviewers highlight the importance of the show's focus on social issues, which resonates with their interests in documentaries.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#11
United Arab Emirates/TV & Film
Apple Podcasts
#63
Austria/TV & Film

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

232: Apocalypse in the Tropics
Q: Can you talk about the political moments that Brazil is having right now?
Bolsonaro has been convicted to 27 years in prison and will likely go to jail soon. His movement remains strong, but he has lost much of his power due to his actions.
229: Poetry, Murder, Prison & UFOs
Q: Can you talk about the choice to incorporate Sandra Ray into the story?
We approached with an open mind and documented the tragedy of a mother's loss when her son died in prison, showing the systemic failures of the situation.
229: Poetry, Murder, Prison & UFOs
Q: Can you describe Andrea and what their personality is like?
Andrea is often humorous, dry, and speaks beautiful things casually. Their relatability and perspective are deeply affecting.
228: Contessa Gayles on "Songs From the Hole"
Q: How did making films about prisons affect you?
It radicalized her and made her engage with prison abolition.
227: Heidi Ewing & Rachel Grady on "Folktales"
Q: How did you choose the visual motif of red yarn?
Heidi explained it was inspired by Norse mythology, connecting the weaving motif to fate and the students' journeys.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Pure Nonfiction: Inside Documentary Film

What is Pure Nonfiction: Inside Documentary Film about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Focused primarily on documentary filmmaking, this series offers listeners an engaging platform where notable filmmakers share the intricacies and behind-the-scenes stories of their projects. The host's extensive connections within the documentary film community allow for insightful conversations with a diverse array of guests, from Oscar-winning directors to new voices in the industry. Through personal anecdotes and discussion of contemporary issues in documentary storytelling, the episodes illuminate not only the work behind individual films but also the larger cultural and societal narratives they engage with. Amidst an entertaining yet thoughtful approach, the podcast shines a light on the challenges and triumphs of the documentary genre... more

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1. The New Yorker Radio Hour
2. The Interview
3. The Political Scene | The New Yorker
4. The Ezra Klein Show
5. Radiolab

How many episodes of Pure Nonfiction: Inside Documentary Film are there?

Pure Nonfiction: Inside Documentary Film launched 10 years ago and published 241 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Pure Nonfiction: Inside Documentary Film?

Recent guests on Pure Nonfiction: Inside Documentary Film include:

1. Petra Costa
2. Alessandra Orofino
3. Jessica Hargrave
4. Dan Farah
5. Alisa Payne
6. Andrew Jarecki
7. Charlotte Kaufman
8. RJ Cutler

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