
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
| Publishes | Weekly | Episodes | 250 | Founded | 10 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | DocumentaryTV & FilmSociety & Culture | |||

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Thom knows so much and knows just what to ask to get the story behind the story. Awesome show.
Thom is my hero. As well as the incredible filmmakers he artfully interviews.
The best documentary podcast. Love the stories. Would love to hear from less well known docs too including shorts. Thanks for your hard work!
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.
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.
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Apple Podcasts | #192 |
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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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These podcasts share a similar audience with Pure Nonfiction: Inside Documentary Film:
1. The Interview
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4. Fresh Air
5. The Book Review
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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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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