Episode Description

Cannes 2026 just wrapped, and Zef is joined by producer Cole Howard to break down the films, winners, distributors, and festival buzz coming out of the world’s most prestigious film festival.

They discuss this year’s Palme d’Or winner FJORD, Christian Mungiu’s new family drama starring Sebastian Stan and Renate Reinsve, along with some of the biggest films on their watchlists, including James Gray’s PAPER TIGER, Na Hong-jin’s HOPE, Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s ALL OF A SUDDEN, Nicolas Winding Refn’s HER PRIVATE HELL, and A24’s buzzy CLUB KID.

Zef also shares stories from attending Cannes in 2014 and 2019, including seeing WINTER SLEEP before it won the Palme d’Or and attending the Cannes premiere of THE GANGSTER, THE COP, THE DEVIL.

The conversation also touches on NEON’s incredible run as a distributor, Cannes standing ovations, Korean cinema, long movies that earn their running time, recent Palme d’Or winners, director commentaries as film school, and why Cannes still matters as the ultimate launchpad for world cinema.

Films discussed include: FJORD, PAPER TIGER, HOPE, ALL OF A SUDDEN, HER PRIVATE HELL, CLUB KID, WINTER SLEEP, THE GANGSTER, THE COP, THE DEVIL, KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON, TITANE, ANORA, PARASITE, ANATOMY OF A FALL, TRIANGLE OF SADNESS, SHOPLIFTERS, MY COUSIN VINNY, TWO LOVERS, WE OWN THE NIGHT, AD ASTRA, THE WAILING, MEMORIES OF MURDER, CITY OF GOD, and more.

Hosted by Zef Cota & Cole Howard

Alex Braverman is a filmmaker who has directed and produced acclaimed documentaries, including the 2023 film THANK YOU VERY MUCH, a fascinating portrait of the great Andy Kaufman.

I first discovered Alex’s work through THANK YOU VERY MUCH, which is currently on MUBI, and immediately wanted to talk to him about Kaufman, documentary filmmaking, and the strange blurred line between performance, truth, comedy, and reality.

We talked about Alex’s early work as a documentary cameraman, including MAKING MARINES, the making of THANK YOU VERY MUCH, the Safdie brothers coming on as producers, Andy Kaufman’s obsession with confusing and challenging audiences, and why documentary filmmaking is often truly built in the edit.

We also discussed STANFORD PRISON EXPERIMENT: UNLOCKING THE TRUTH, which Alex produced, the current state of documentary filmmaking, and the importance of cutting material that does not serve the story. Alex also shares two of his favorite movie scenes from THE HEARTBREAK KID and Bennett Miller's THE CRUISE.

Chicago-based director Jared Isaac recently directed his debut feature film AN AUTUMN SUMMER, which releases next month.

A great conversation about the joys of shooting an indie film in the hidden cinematic gem of Northern Michigan. We spoke about the personal nature of this film and how it's based on some of his closest friends...and the fascinating story of how he was able to, against-all-odds, cast Tony Horton as the father. Horton is the founder of the ground breaking, immensely popular, workout program P90X.

We also spoke of a couple of his favorite movie scenes from Ridley Scott's GLADIATOR as well as Matthew Mcconaughey's as Wooderson in Richard Linklater's DAZED & CONFUSED.

Follow AN AUTUMN SUMMER on Instagram @anautumnsummerfilm

Hosted by Zef Cota

Ross Brodar joins The Film Situation for a wide-ranging conversation about filmmaking, New York stories, and the strange overlap between cinema and real life.

Ross has worked as a locations manager on acclaimed films including ANORA, MARTY SUPREME, and projects with directors such as Sean Baker, James Gray, and Josh Safdie. In this episode, Ross breaks down the art and logistics of location scouting, transforming real-world environments into cinematic spaces, and collaborating with visionary directors and production designers.

The conversation also dives deep into Ross’s gripping documentary The Linchpin of Bensonhurst, which chronicles the unbelievable life of Dominic Montiglio, a Vietnam veteran, artist, singer, and former associate of the infamous DeMeo crew tied to the Gambino crime family. Ross shares how he met Dominic by chance, ended up living with him for years, and spent over a decade documenting his life story.

Along the way, Zef and Ross discuss New York in the ‘80s and ‘90s, CBGB’s, Roseland Ballroom, collecting money for Sicilian fish markets, and why some true stories are ultimately stranger than fiction.

Ross also shares one of his favorite movie scenes of all time: the iconic “Tears in Rain” sequence from BLADE RUNNER.

Hosted by Zef Cota

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Website for Ross' documentary:

THE LYNCHPIN OF BENSONHURT: The Dominick Montiglio Story

In Episode 79 of THE FILM SITUATION, Zef Cota sits down with producer, writer, and director Sean A. Reid for a grounded conversation about what it actually takes to get an independent film made.

Sean breaks down his experience raising money, structuring deals, and navigating today’s distribution landscape. From MGs and tax incentives to the surprising revenue potential of niche films on platforms like Tubi and YouTube, this episode offers a real look at the business side of filmmaking.

He also shares insights on building a strong package, understanding your audience, and why investors are often betting on the filmmaker as much as the film itself.

Jeff Deverett joins The Film Situation for a deep dive into the business side of filmmaking, from his decades in distribution to ultimately stepping behind the camera to direct his own films.

We get into how movies are actually financed, why most indie films struggle to make money, and the realities of selling a film in today’s market. Jeff breaks down the myth of pre-sales, explains how high net worth individuals fund independent films, and shares practical insight on what investors actually care about when you’re pitching a project.

We also talk about his transition from a long career in distribution into directing, what he learned from working with companies tied to Roger Corman, and how understanding the business side gave him a major advantage as a filmmaker.

This is a candid, no-BS conversation about the intersection of art and commerce, and what it really takes to get a film made and seen.

Hosted by Zef Cota

Produced by Cole Howard

Writer and director Richard Schenkman joins THE FILM SITUATION for a wide-ranging conversation that moves from the earliest days of MTV to the making of his cult classic THE MAN FROM EARTH.

Richard shares how he became one of the first people hired at MTV before it even launched, what it was like building something from scratch, and how a James Bond fan club unexpectedly helped him land the job. From there, we get into his path as a filmmaker and the long journey behind bringing THE MAN FROM EARTH to life from a screenplay written by Jerome Bixby on his deathbed.

We go deep on micro-budget filmmaking, including how Richard raised just over $100K, assembled a strong cast led by Tony Todd, and shot the film in eight days under extreme limitations with no water, no power, and a dust storm hitting on the final night. He also breaks down working with actors, the importance of rehearsal, and why 12 ANGRY MEN was a key influence on the film’s structure.

This is a great conversation about persistence, creative problem solving, and finding a way to make the film you believe in, even when nothing goes according to plan.

Hosted by Zef Cota

Produced by Cole Howard

(c) 2026 - The Film Situation

Zef & Cole discuss the 2026 Academy Awards.