Conversation with director Mike Freedman about Critical Mass, which tops our must-see doc list for MVFF36. With an inventive variety of techniques, this compelling documentary explores how the increasing rate of population growth affects both human psychology and the planet.
(For the resources mentioned, including book list, visit www.criticalmassfilm.com.)
Later, we chat with director Ric Klass about his new rom-com, Excuse Me for Living (begins 37:02).

Two directors with documentaries in the upcoming Mill Valley Film Festival discuss their work: Lisa Fruchtman describes how she and her co-director handled filming in the traumatized country of Rwanda for Sweet Dreams, the story of the first women's drumming troupe in Rwanda, made up of survivors of the Rwandan genocide, and the troupe's inspired effort to open the first ice cream shop ever in Rwanda.
Local director Nancy Kelly shares stories from and about Rebels with a Cause, a documentary tracing how the activism of "ordinary citizens" resulted in the creation of the Point Reyes National Seashore.

Director/producer Linda Goldstein Knowlton (Whale Rider/The World According to Sesame Street) discusses how her own adoption of a Chinese daughter led her to make the documentary "Somewhere Between,." The film explores the feelings and changes in self-identification of four teen girls growing up in the States after being adopted from China.

Director/producer Nicholas Jarecki (The Outsider, Tyson) talks about his foray into narrative with the financial thriller Arbitrage, starring Richard Gere.

Director and graphic novelist Marjane Satrapi (Persepolis) discusses her new live-action film Chicken with Plums and why smoking is a virtue.
We follow up with otsa chicken music for your amusement & bemusement.

Complementing the earlier episode's interview with the director and producer of Searching for Sugar Man, Depth Perception presents a special all-music program of Rodriguez songs. The versatile singer's work include biting political satire, heartfelt ballads, a few excursions into trippy-land, a little electronica and of course some rocking out.

Two interviews for the price of one!
THE IMPOSTER: Director Bart Layton and producer Dmitri Doganis discuss their new documentary, The Imposter. If it weren't true, no one would believe it: A 23-year old Frenchman passes himself off as a returning 17-year old American boy who had disappeared at 13—and even the boy's family bought it, right down to the story of why his eyes were now a different color. [Yes, that's the way the title is spelled by the filmmakers.]

ACADEMY AWARD WINNER, BEST DOCUMENTARY 2012
SEARCHING FOR SUGARMAN: Singer-songwriter Rodriguez and director Malik Bendjellou talk about the doc Searching for Sugarman, a combination of detective story, rags-to-riches fairytale, and concert film. Rodriguez was "the greatest ‘70s US rock icon who never was." While he did manual labor for 30 years in the U.S., thanks to a few albums a fan brought to South Africa—and unbeknownst even to Rodriguez himself,—he was a literally a bigger star than Elvis, and his music helped inspire white Afrikaaners to participate in the struggle to end apartheid. Depth Perception plays several of his songs in full.
[Check out next week's episode for a full hour of Rodriguez music!)

Controversial director Todd Solondz discusses his latest film, Dark Horse, and also reveals why Dawn Weiner had to die—why he took pains, in another film, to kill off this beloved characteri from Welcome to the Dollhouse.

Dog noir, cholo puppets, and the secret origin of skateboarding
Gabriel Bellman: The San Francisco Frozen Film Festival

The elegance of silent film
Anita Monga: San Francisco Silent Film Festival

"Seeking that moment of truth": Interview with Nadine Labaki, director of "Where Do We Go Now?"

MUSIC
Set Your Radio Free Carol Denney
Everyman [For Himself] The Foremen
The Rich Will Never Be Poor Carol Denney
Comfort Is Poison Kindness
Cut Through The Sugar Rebecca Riots
Another Human Being Jann Arden
Ain't No Liberal The Foremen
Look to the Left Anne Feeney




Photo by Sony Classics

5/10/12: America's Most Unwanted. Interview with director Shani Heckman about her new short on queer foster youth, America's Most Unwanted, and the interactive premiere planned.

Labors of Love at SFIFF55: Documentaries and Animation
Interview with documentarian Manuel von Sturler about his film Winter Nomads,
followed by
Interview with Karl Cohen, author of Forbidden Animation, discussing the animation offerings in this year's San Francisco International Film Festival.

Interview with directors Kris Samuelson and John Haptas about their new feature-length documentary/"city poem," Tokyo Waka.

Interview with director Jamie Meltzer about his controversial documentary Informant. The doc traces the story of Brandon Darby, the informant—or perhaps provocateur—responsible for the incarceration of the two activists featured in the award-winning documentary Better This World, by Kelly Duane and Katie Galloway.