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Artwork for Pure Nonfiction: Inside Documentary Film

Pure Nonfiction: Inside Documentary Film

Pure Nonfiction
Documentary Filmmaking
Toronto International Film Festival
Black Box Diaries
Art
Anand Patwardhan
Documentary Films
Documentary Film
Moths
Daughters
William Kentridge
Edna O'brien
The World Is Family
Porcelain War
Eno
Netflix
Sundance Film Festival
Self-Portrait As a Coffee Pot
Louis C.K.
Copa 71
Martha Stewart

Hear the world's top storytellers talk all things documentary film. Host Thom Powers is as well-connected as it gets in this world as a documentary curator for TIFF and other renowned festivals. He wrote the book "Mondo Documentary" that is “required reading for fans of nonfiction cinema,” says Judd Apatow. Our podcast guests range from documentary legends to emerging talent. Follow us on Instagra... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes250Founded10 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
DocumentaryTV & FilmSociety & Culture

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Artwork for Pure Nonfiction: Inside Documentary Film

Latest Episodes

Zayd Ayers Dohrn is the son of Bernardine Dohrn and Bill Ayers who were leaders in the Weather Underground, known for bombing the U.S. Capitol, the Pentagon, and other high profile targets. Zayd explores their complicated legacy in the podcast Mother... more

Recorded live in New York, host Thom Powers interviews the directors of three new projects: Alexandria Stapleton (Sean Combs: The Reckoning), Zach Heinzerling (Rafa) and Trish Dalton (Reggae Girlz). The conversations took place as part of Documentary... more

YouTube

Recorded live in New York, host Thom Powers explores four new documentary projects interviewing director Rebecca Miller (Mr Scorsese), director Ally Pankiw (Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery), producer/editor Shane Reid (John Candy: I Like Me), and pro... more

YouTube

"American Doctor" looks at the war in Gaza through the eyes of three volunteer surgeons from different backgrounds - Palestinian, Jewish and Zoroastrian. The film debuted at Sundance and will be released this summer from Watermelon Pictures. Host Tho... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Poh Si Teng
Director and documentary filmmaker
American Doctor (Director), Watermelon Pictures collaborator
Episode: 239: Poh Si Teng on "American Doctor"
Colin Hanks
Director of John Candy, I Like Me
Columbia/Film collaborators
Episode: 238: Colin Hanks & Ryan Reynolds on John Candy
Ryan Reynolds
Producer of John Candy, I Like Me and co-creator of Welcome to Wrexham
Maximum Effort/ Blueprint Pictures
Episode: 238: Colin Hanks & Ryan Reynolds on John Candy
Judd Apatow
Director/Interviewer on Mel Brooks documentary project
Apatow Productions
Episode: 237: Judd Apatow & Michael Bonfiglio on Mel Brooks
Michael Bonfiglio
Co-director on Mel Brooks documentary project
Bonfiglio & Powers (co-director)
Episode: 237: Judd Apatow & Michael Bonfiglio on Mel Brooks
Raney Aronson-Rath
Executive Producer of Frontline
PBS Frontline
Episode: 236: Raney Aronson-Rath on Frontline
Megan Falley
Partner of Andrea Gibson and spoken word poet
Episode: 234: Ryan White & Megan Falley on "Come See Me in the Good Light"
Ryan White
Director of Come See Me in the Good Light
Tripod Media
Episode: 234: Ryan White & Megan Falley on "Come See Me in the Good Light"
Alex Stapleton
Director of the docuseries 'Sean Combs: The Reckoning'
Netflix
Episode: 233: Alexandria Stapleton on "Sean Combs: The Reckoning"

Host

Thom Powers
Host associated with Pure Nonfiction, a documentary-focused interviewer and curator.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 255 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 States8 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 States8 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners praise the host's deep knowledge of documentary filmmaking and ability to pull out behind-the-scenes stories.
Fans value the mix of veteran and emerging filmmakers and the practical takeaways for aspiring documentarians.
Episodes are consistently insightful, with high-quality guests and strong interview craft.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#147
France/TV & Film
Apple Podcasts
#192
Austria/TV & Film

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

239: Poh Si Teng on "American Doctor"
Q: Describe to me your mindset at the time when you launched this project and what drew you into it.
Poh explains that after leaving ABC and facing personal and professional upheaval, she felt a need to tell a story that could illuminate injustices and honor the doctors risking their lives, which led her to commit fully to American Doctor despite immense financial and logistical challenges.
238: Colin Hanks & Ryan Reynolds on John Candy
Q: So Colin, what initially drew you to John Candy as a subject for a documentary?
Colin explains that he wanted to explore the tension between Candy's outward joy and his inner struggles, aiming to present a full, human portrait rather than a one-dimensional tribute.
237: Judd Apatow & Michael Bonfiglio on Mel Brooks
Q: How did the collaboration between Judd and Michael shape the documentary process and its pacing?
Their combined approach balanced long-form interview content with selective, narrative-driven moments, aided by a strong editorial team and a strategy of multiple sessions to draw out new perspectives over time.
237: Judd Apatow & Michael Bonfiglio on Mel Brooks
Q: When you began this project, did you have questions that you felt hadn't been answered yet or hadn't been answered fully?
Yes, the interviewers prioritized intimate, previously unexplored questions about personal life and the emotional aspects of Brooks's experiences, while leveraging existing footage to ensure new insights emerged without repeating prior interviews.
236: Raney Aronson-Rath on Frontline
Q: What are the challenges and opportunities for sustaining Frontline amid funding threats?
Raney reflects on the existential threat of defunding and the importance of foundations, membership, and PBS support to sustain independent, non-profit journalism, while emphasizing optimism and a commitment to continue producing impactful work.

Audience Metrics

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

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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?

Those who tune in are treated to intimate conversations with prominent and emerging documentary filmmakers, exploring the craft, ethics, and storytelling techniques behind compelling nonfiction cinema. Episodes frequently center on behind-the-scenes process, archival choices, interview subjects' personal journeys, and the social impact of their work, often tying in activism, justice, or political context. A notable strength is the host's access to leading filmmakers and festival circles, yielding deep dives into project development, production challenges, and distribution realities that are valuable for professionals seeking industry insight or inspiration for their own projects or sponsorship decisions.

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Which podcasts are similar to Pure Nonfiction: Inside Documentary Film?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Pure Nonfiction: Inside Documentary Film:

1. The Interview
2. The New Yorker Radio Hour
3. The Ezra Klein Show
4. Fresh Air
5. The Book Review

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

Pure Nonfiction: Inside Documentary Film launched 10 years ago and published 250 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. Poh Si Teng
2. Colin Hanks
3. Ryan Reynolds
4. Judd Apatow
5. Michael Bonfiglio
6. Raney Aronson-Rath
7. Megan Falley
8. Ryan White

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