Best Riz Ahmed Podcasts (2024)

1
Riz Ahmed channels Yann Mounir Demange in DAMMI 20:03

26d ago20:03

20:03

Oscar-winning actor/producer Riz Ahmed (SOUND OF METAL) and acclaimed UK director Yann Mounir Demange (’71, TOP BOY) tell host Rico Gagliano about treading the line between truth and fiction in DAMMI—Demange’s semi-autobiographical short about an angry young man trying to come to terms with his identity, his dad, and his birthplace: Paris. DAMMI is…

1
The Flipsides of Cannes — Featuring Wim Wenders and more 25:41

3M ago25:41

25:41

With Cannes 2024 underway, host Rico Gagliano takes a tour of the less-known corners of the legendary film festival—avoiding red-carpet glamour to bring you tales of spiritual seekers, aspiring filmmakers on the street, and the ongoing drama of the fest’s favorite dive bar. Featuring on-location conversations with Wim Wenders, UK critic Anna Boguts…

1
PERFECT DAYS — Wim Wenders cures his post-pandemic blues 25:13

4M ago25:13

25:13

Legendary filmmaker Wim Wenders returns to the show to tell host Rico Gagliano about his Cannes-winning, Oscar-nominated PERFECT DAYS—the story of a Tokyo toilet cleaner who finds joy in routine. They also get into a few of Wenders’s favorite things: Japan, travel, Nina Simone, and having time on his hands. PERFECT DAYS will stream exclusively on M…

1
HIGH & LOW - JOHN GALLIANO — Kevin Macdonald tackles fashion and forgiveness 26:49

5M ago26:49

26:49

Superstar fashion designer John Galliano wrecked his career when he was caught on video in a drunken, antisemitic rant circa 2011. Now, in a new documentary, Oscar-winning documentarian Kevin Macdonald (WHITNEY, ONE DAY IN SEPTEMBER) asks audiences to gaze into Galliano’s eyes and decide for themselves if he deserves a second act. On this special e…

1
Sofia Coppola — PRISCILLA, from source to soundtrack 22:03

6M ago22:03

22:03

In a wide-ranging interview, Sofia Coppola tells host Rico Gagliano all about the making of her new Priscilla Presley biopic—from the Kubrick flick that inspired her opening sequence...to picking the soundtrack full of pop tunes by just about everyone except Elvis. It's a follow-up to last week's career-spanning look at the themes threaded through …

1
Sofia Coppola — from VIRGIN SUICIDES to PRISCILLA 29:13

6M ago29:13

29:13

There’s maybe no working filmmaker more associated with film fashion than Sofia Coppola. But in this brief history of her super-stylish body of work, we figure out the thematic stitching inside those perfect fits. Host Rico Gagliano talks with Coppola, her brother (and collaborator) Roman, and her award-winning costume designers past and present, t…

1
DO THE RIGHT THING — Spike Lee and Ruth E. Carter find color in the dark 33:42

6M ago33:42

33:42

Spike Lee’s masterwork DO THE RIGHT THING is an incendiary look at racial tension, an empathetic portrait of a community...and one of the flyest-ever distillations of street style as the ’80s gave way to the ’90s. Host Rico Gagliano learns how double Oscar-winner Ruth E. Carter (BLACK PANTHER) used bright color, afro-consciousness, and a whole lot …

1
QUADROPHENIA — The mod, mod world of ’64, ’79 and beyond 45:56

6M ago45:56

45:56

In 1979, at the tail end of the punk era, Franc Roddam’s QUADROPHENIA helped convince a certain crew of UK kids to favor sharp suits over bondage gear. Host Rico Gagliano tells the twisty story of the movie, the ‘60s mod subculture it celebrates, and the mod revival it fueled. Guests include Roddam himself, superstar fashion designer Anna Sui, mod …

1
BREATHLESS — Jean Seberg & Jean-Luc Godard dress down film and fashion 32:52

7M ago32:52

32:52

In 1959, a brash critic-turned-filmmaker named Jean-Luc Godard cast movie star Jean Seberg in his first film, BREATHLESS. You probably know it revolutionized movies, but it also had a big impact on fashion, onscreen and off—by seeming like it wasn’t even trying. With the help of historians and critics, host Rico Gagliano decodes Seberg’s “French Gi…

1
HOW TO HAVE SEX — Molly Manning Walker just wants to talk 19:09

8M ago19:09

19:09

The Cannes-winning HOW TO HAVE SEX tracks a trio of UK women on a non-stop clubbing holiday...that goes disturbingly off the rails. In this special episode, writer/director Molly Manning Walker tells host Rico Gagliano about the highs and lows of party culture, why consent should be more than a word, and how she prefers her roller coasters. HOW TO …

1
Ken Loach Calls for Solidarity in THE OLD OAK 22:27

11M ago22:27

22:27

As the “Hot Labor Summer” of union strikes rolls into autumn, legendary British director Ken Loach sits down with host Rico Gagliano to look back on a long career spent telling the stories of working people…and why it might end with THE OLD OAK: a call for solidarity in a northern industrial town. THE OLD OAK releases in cinemas in the UK and Irela…

1
Sebastián Silva on ROTTING IN THE SUN — "Everyone and everything in it will get trashed" 22:46

11M ago22:46

22:46

Sundance favorite Sebastián Silva tells host Rico Gagliano about his self-described "misanthropic comedy" ROTTING IN THE SUN—the satirical story of a happy hedonist and a not-so-happy filmmaker who end up in the middle of a Hitchcockian mystery. Silva dishes on how he teamed up with superstar Instagrammer Jordan Firstman, the importance of self-moc…

1
PASSAGES — Ira Sachs's "endless circle of desire" 22:28

1y ago22:28

22:28

"Let's just say I wanted to make a liberated film. I felt like...am I allowed to say 'f*** it?' Like, 'f*** it.'" So says legendary indie filmmaker Ira Sachs about PASSAGES, his seriously sexy Sundance hit about an insatiable artist in a messy modern love triangle. In this special episode, Sachs tells host Rico Gagliano how his all-star cast (Ben W…

1
Cannes Conversations — Ildiko Enyedi on short cinema 11:32

1y ago11:32

11:32

Oscar-nominated Hungarian filmmaker Ildiko Enyedi is celebrated for her bold, unclassifiable features (like the Cannes-winning sci-fi MY 20TH CENTURY). But at this year’s Cannes she trained her eye on smaller-scale visions: She helmed the jury picking the festival’s best short films. Enyedi tells host Rico Gagliano about her own whimsical shorts, h…

1
Cannes Conversations — Filipa Reis on privilege and empowerment 16:08

1y ago16:08

16:08

At Cannes, celebrated Portuguese directing duo Filipa Reis and Joao Miller Guerra debuted LEGUA — a movie about a housekeeper tending to an empty country estate… and the sacrifices she’s willing to make for work and friendship. Reis tells host Rico Gagliano about turning the camera on her own privilege, the joys and challenges of tag-team directing…

1
Cannes Conversations — Joanna Arnow watches (wryly) from a distance 12:20

1y ago12:20

12:20

Filmmaker Joanna Arnow’s shorts and docs are funny, fearless looks at people at their most excruciatingly vulnerable — especially herself. In her debut feature THE FEELING THAT THE TIME FOR DOING SOMETHING HAS PASSED, she ratchets up the deadpan humor to tell the story of a woman navigating the alternately mundane and surreal worlds of work, family…

1
Cannes Conversations — With OMEN, Baloji clears his name 16:08

1y ago16:08

16:08

Belgian rapper-turned-auteur Baloji was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo — where for some, his name literally means “demon.” So it’s no surprise that his mind-bending first feature OMEN is all about characters society considers cursed. Baloji tells host Rico Gagliano about this kaleidoscopic debut, the pressures of competition at Cannes, an…

1
Cannes Conversations — Elene Naveriani on their stealth punk heroine 16:14

1y ago16:14

16:14

In their sophomore feature BLACKBIRD BLACKBIRD BLACKBERRY, Georgian-born filmmaker Elene Naveriani tells the story of a middle-aged virgin in a small Georgian town who dares to start living the life she feels like leading — gossips and the patriarchy be damned. Naveriani tells host Rico Gagliano about the movie’s big little moments, its “instinctiv…

1
Cannes Conversations — Weston Razooli lets his kids go wild 13:28

1y ago13:28

13:28

L.A. filmmaker Weston Razooli’s debut feature RIDDLE OF FIRE is like if THE GOONIES were directed by Francois Truffaut — a tale of three modern kids on an old-fashioned adventure in the woods, facing down a family of witches. Razooli tells host Rico Gagliano about his D&D-soaked childhood in Utah, how he cast the kids… and the afterparty following …

1
Cannes Conversations — Monia Chokri on THE NATURE OF LOVE 10:33

1y ago10:33

10:33

Quebecois actor and director Monia Chokri is a Cannes regular — who in her films, regularly returns to her favorite themes: Very smart women having a very hard time figuring out relationships. Host Rico Gagliano stole a few minutes with her at this year’s Cannes to try and figure out why — and to learn about her charmer of a dramedy THE NATURE OF L…

1
Cannes Conversations — Kleber Mendonça Filho watches movie palaces disappear 19:07

1y ago19:07

19:07

In 2019, Brazil's Kleber Mendonça Filho won the Jury Prize at Cannes with his co-directed movie BACURAU. This year he returned to the fest to premiere a documentary about movies. Or more specifically, about the places we watch them. In the second installment of our mini-season of conversations taped on location at Cannes '23, Filho tells host Rico …

1
Cannes Conversations — Wim Wenders on ANSELM 12:05

1y ago12:05

12:05

To kick off our mini-season of conversations taped on location at the 2023 Cannes film festival, host Rico Gagliano meets up with legendary director Wim Wenders (Buena Vista Social Club; Paris, Texas). The subject of their conversation: Wenders' new 3D documentary Anselm, which plunges the audience into the work of German fine artist Anselm Kiefer.…

1
FERRIS BUELLER to WOLF OF WALL STREET — Cinema's top music supervisors break down their greatest hits 43:15

1+ y ago43:15

43:15

We wrap up our season on great needle drops with an interview mixtape. Host Rico Gagliano talks to three legendary music supervisors about their iconic pairings of music and image...a bunch of which likely provided the soundtrack to some part of your life. Featuring Randall Poster (KIDS, THE WOLF OF WALL STREET, SUMMER OF SOUL), Margaret Yen (JUNO)…

1
BLACKBOARD JUNGLE — Hollywood's first rumble with rock ‘n’ roll 33:40

1+ y ago33:40

33:40

In his gritty ’55 flick BLACKBOARD JUNGLE, director Richard Brooks introduced a wide audience to Sidney Poitier, the harsh world of inner-city schools...and a genre of music called "rock ‘n’ roll." Host Rico Gagliano tells the story of Bill Haley's "Rock Around the Clock"—cinema's first rock needle drop—with the help of music detective and author J…

1
CHUNGKING EXPRESS — Wong Kar Wai puts "Dreams" on the menu 34:48

1+ y ago34:48

34:48

Shot on a shoestring in six wild weeks, CHUNGKING EXPRESS is the movie that put legendary Hong Kong filmmaker Wong Kar Wai on the international map—along with his star, pop diva Faye Wong...and her Cantonese cover of The Cranberries's hit "Dreams." Host Rico Gagliano learns how the song, the director, and the singer all came together to capture Hon…

1
CLOSE — Lukas Dhont's Quietly Powerful Coming-of-Age Movie 18:20

1+ y ago18:20

18:20

In his Oscar-nominated CLOSE, filmmaker Lukas Dhont uses the sparest dialogue, the gentlest music, and the most pastoral of images...to tell a shattering story about the brutal ways society turns boys into men. We're taking a mid-season break from our series on movie music to bring you this candid interview with Dhont—in which he tells host Rico Ga…

1
THE HARDER THEY COME — Reggae catches fire on film 40:09

1+ y ago40:09

40:09

In 1972, director Perry Henzell set a gritty crime thriller in Jamaica's exploding, politically charged music scene, and came up with THE HARDER THEY COME—the cult-movie spark that started reggae music's slow burn around the world. Host Rico Gagliano tells the story of a film and a soundtrack that inspired rebels and rockers from the Clash to Willi…

1
DONNIE DARKO — Richard Kelly makes the ultimate ‘80s mixtape 43:00

1+ y ago43:00

43:00

In 2001, writer/director Richard Kelly's genre-busting rookie feature DONNIE DARKO crashed and burned at the box office. But it almost immediately rose from the ashes to become one of the first cult hits of the 21st century...and it took the music of '80s band Tears for Fears along for the ride. Host Rico Gagliano tells this twisty tale with the he…

1
2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY — Stanley Kubrick finds heavenly music on vinyl 42:24

1+ y ago42:24

42:24

In 1968, Stanley Kubrick’s sci-fi epic 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY pushed movies light years into the future. It pioneered the use of special effects, makeup, sound design…and needle drops. For the season debut of our audio documentary series, host Rico Gagliano tells the story of the now-legendary classical tracks Kubrick dropped into his space movie—so…

1
With TÁR, Todd Field makes a power play 21:33

1+ y ago21:33

21:33

The multiple-Oscar-nominated psychodrama TÁR is the story of a compulsive, privileged leader who abuses her power. In this special episode of the MUBI Podcast, writer/director Todd Field tells host Rico Gagliano why he set that story in a concert hall instead of the halls of politics. Also up for discussion: Cate Blanchett’s small miracles, why Fie…

1
In AFTERSUN, Charlotte Wells lets Queen and Bowie tell the story 25:57

1+ y ago25:57

25:57

Charlotte Wells's wildly acclaimed feature-length debut AFTERSUN follows a father and daughter on a vacation where much is implied but little is said...unless you listen close to the soundtrack. In this special bonus episode, Wells tells host Rico Gagliano about the '80s and '90s-era needle drops that pepper the film, from Bran Van 3000 to the acci…

1
Park Chan-wook finds DECISION TO LEAVE in “The Mist” 20:06

1+ y ago20:06

20:06

In 1972, a lush pop ballad called "The Mist" swirled out of radios all over South Korea. Fifty years later, master auteur Park Chan-wook has taken it as the main inspiration for his celebrated new thriller-romance DECISION TO LEAVE. In this special episode of the award-winning MUBI Podcast, Park tells host Rico Gagliano about the song's influence o…

1
Bad B Mentality with Raheem aka Dosa Cat 51:43

2y ago51:43

51:43

In the final episode of Series 3 we are joined by Raheem aka Dosa Cat. A choreographer and performer, Raheem aka Dosas Cat talks to us about the world of drag, plus his new feature film coming out very soon!By Sagar Radia & Amrita Acharia

1
Piece of The Heart with Jade Anouka 58:12

2y ago58:12

58:12

Known for her roles in shows such as His Dark Materials, Cleaning Up, and Trauma, Jade Anouka joins us on Rule Not The Exception where we discuss motherhood, her love for theatre access and awareness, and her love of Shakespeare!By Jade Anouka, Amrita Acharia, Sagar Radia

1
A Journey of Discovery with Naomi J. Ogawa 52:29

2y ago52:29

52:29

Soon to be seen on Netflix's Wednesday, Naomi J. Ogawa comes onto Rule Not The Exception as we explore her short but successful journey so far!By Naomi J Ogawa, Sagar Radia, Amrita Acharia

1
Surrendering Control with Daniel Monks 50:22

2y ago50:22

50:22

Australian actor and screenwriter, Daniel Monks shares his journey on the podcast where we delve into what acting means to him, and how his disability has influenced his outlook on life and workBy Daniel Monks, Sagar Radia, Amrita Acharia

1
By Accident with Sudha Bhuchar 51:02

2y ago51:02

51:02

Poised, experienced and talented are just a few ways to describe Sudha Bhuchar. We speak about her early days in theatre, setting up Tamasha Theatre Company, and wanting to see more roles for older actors. A beautiful conversation that isn't one to be missed!By sudha bhuchar, amrita acharia, sagar radia

1
Food For Thought with Santosh Shah 50:30

2y ago50:30

50:30

From the streets of Nepal to winning the nation's hearts on Masterchef, chef Santosh Shah joins us on Rule Not The Exception as we talk about his humble beginnings, working in India and how he managed to compete on the UK's most prestigious cookery competition, Masterchef: The ProfessionalsBy Sagar Radia & Amrita Acharia

1
For Art's Sake with Nitin Sawhney 44:06

2y ago44:06

44:06

In this week’s podcast, we sit down with the inimitable & multi-award winning musician and composer Nitin Sawhney. His bodies of work spans every corner of the artist fields be it scores for film & television, the stage, video games as well as his own discography of albums like ‘Beyond Skin’ which recently celebrated its 20th anniversary with a spe…

1
Casting Culture with Jatinder Chera 53:30

2y ago53:30

53:30

Casting director Jatinder Chera comes onto the podcast as he explores the new world of casting. Having recently worked at The National Theatre Jatinder talks to us about his push for representation and diversity in casting process.By jatinder chera, amrita acharia, sagar radia

1
Specific Excellence with Ambreen Razia 49:47

2y ago49:47

49:47

Actor/Writer Ambreen Razia is going from strength to strength and we got a chance to sit down with her to discuss her writing process, her drive for excellence and how she's making her mark both on the page and on camera!By Ambreen Razia, Amrita Acharia, Sagar Radia

1
A Symphonic Act with Prasanna Puwanarajah 1:04:34

2y ago1:04:34

1:04:34

We sit down with one of the stars of Amazon's show, Ten Percent. An acclaimed actor, writer and director, Prasanna gives us an insight into his views of the biz and how he went from doctor to director!By prasanna puwanarajah, Sagar Radia, Amrita Acharia

1
Zanzibar's Majestic, the last cinema standing (feat. Nick Broomfield) 31:23

2y ago31:23

31:23

"Only in Theaters" concludes with the cautionary tale of the Majestic. Africa's island region of Zanzibar used to be movie crazy — but today just one cinema remains: The Majestic, a 1950s-era building with roots that go back even further. Host Rico Gagliano speaks to folks around the world about the wild glory days of Zanzibar's cinema culture, why…

1
Being Like Water: Tilda Swinton and Apichatpong Weerasethakul on MEMORIA 1:12:11

2y ago1:12:11

1:12:11

This week, we have a special bonus episode courtesy of our Latin American podcast MUBI Podcast: Encuentros. To celebrate the exclusive release of MEMORIA on MUBI in many countries, we're excited to share this discussion between Tilda Swinton and Apichatpong Weerasethakul. Swinton and Weerasethakul reunited in Colombia for MEMORIA's release and talk…

1
The Dryden Theatre's Nitrate Picture Show explodes our view of movie history 34:15

2y ago34:15

34:15

For the first half-century of cinema, most movies were made and printed on nitrate film. Problem: it easily decomposes, it's easily combustible, and once it's on fire, you can't put it out. Only a few theaters on Earth can safely screen nitrate prints...and only one has an annual festival dedicated to the format: The George Eastman Museum's Dryden …

1
London's Scala Cinema becomes "A country club for lunatics" (feat. Mary Harron and Peter Strickland) 42:04

2y ago42:04

42:04

In the grey Thatcher-era England of the '80s, a romantically dilapidated London movie palace called The Scala beckoned to England's subcultures — and influenced filmmakers from Christopher Nolan to Steve McQueen. Host Rico Gagliano learns the wild, seedy, and ultimately poignant history of what John Waters called, "A country club for lunatics." Spe…

1
HAROLD AND MAUDE find new life at The Westgate 38:00

2y ago38:00

38:00

Hal Ashby's HAROLD AND MAUDE debuted to generally poor reviews, and worse box office. But in suburban Minneapolis, a humble second-run neighborhood theater called The Westgate found the film an audience...and helped turn it into one of the biggest cult hits of all time. Host Rico Gagliano gets the story from HAROLD AND MAUDE producer Charles Mulveh…

1
The Elgin and EL TOPO plunge NYC into "Midnite Madness" 36:53

2y ago36:53

36:53

In 1970, a scruffy repertory theater — led by the visionary Ben Barenholtz — quietly placed a print ad in the Village Voice, advertising midnight screenings of a Spanish-language western they claimed was "too heavy to be shown any other way." The movie was Alejandro Jodorowsky's EL TOPO, and it'd kick off the "Midnite Movie" craze that changed movi…

1
The Cinémathèque Française launches two revolutions 42:20

2y ago42:20

42:20

In 1940s France, a little 50-seat cinema opened that would launch one revolution on international movie screens...and arguably a second one in the streets of Paris. Host Rico Gagliano delves into the wild history of the Cinémathèque Française and its legendary founder, Henri Langlois. Featuring interviews with directors Barbet Schroeder (BARFLY, RE…

1
In LINGUI, Mahamat-Saleh Haroun honors women's "invisible resistance" 22:21

2+ y ago22:21

22:21

On this special episode, host Rico Gagliano talks to Cannes-winning filmmaker Mahamat-Saleh Haroun about his latest film LINGUI, THE SACRED BONDS — the story of a mother trying to secure an abortion for her daughter...in Chad, a country where abortion is illegal. Haroun opens up about the movie's real-life inspirations, the collective power of wome…

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Riz Ahmed Podcasts

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