Pure Nonfiction: Inside Documentary Film

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 read

Listen to latest episode

Pure Nonfiction: Inside Documentary Film Cover Art

Recent Episodes

220: Jeremy Workman on "Secret Mall Apartment"

Posted March 27, 2025 • 00:50:14

“Secret Mall Apartment” tells the story of a group of artists who found a hidden space a Rhode Island mega mall that they occupied for four years...

219: Frederick Wiseman at 95

Posted February 14, 2025 • 00:38:57

Frederick Wiseman: An American Institution is...

218: Shortlisters, part 2

Posted January 9, 2025 • 00:51:40

Four interviews about films on the Oscars Shortlist for Documentary Feature: consulting editor David Teague and animator Renata Galindo on FRIDA; co-director...

217: Shortlisters, part 1

Posted January 8, 2025 • 00:47:19

Three interviews about films on the Oscars Shortlist for Documentary Feature: Stephen Maing and Brett Story on UNION; Laurie Anderson and Gary Hustwit...

216: "Queendom" with Agniia Galdanova & Igor Myakotin

Posted January 7, 2025 • 00:39:05

"Queendom" profiles the non-binary Russian performance artist Jenna Marvin. We watch her challenge Russia's repressive laws against the LGBTQ+ community...