Documentary filmmaker Brent Renaud was the first American journalist to die while reporting on the war in Ukraine. His younger brother and collaborator, Craig Renaud, and producer Juan Arredondo recovered Brent's body and his final recordings from Ukraine and brought them back to their childhood home in Arkansas.

The Palisades and Eaton fires swept through Los Angeles, destroying 16,000 homes, including 270 in Big Rock, a section of Malibu. Director David Goldblum’s film, Big Rock Burning, chronicles the horror of that event. Goldblum lived in Big Rock.

David Bushell, whose credits include scripted films going back to “Sling Blade” and “Dallas Buyers Club,” talks to Westdoc about his first documentary, Cheech & Chong - The Last Movie, the status of independent docs, and lifting the veil on two legendary comics (the original stoners) who hold a unique place in American culture. He describes the movie-making process as “laying a line of firecrackers and running.” Don’t miss this revealing interview.

In this compelling new episode of Westdoc Online, Chuck Braverman sits down with award-winning director Geeta Gandbhir to discuss her powerful Netflix documentary The Perfect Neighbor. The film tells the tragic story of Ajike Owens, a young Black mother murdered by a white neighbor in Florida, through an unprecedented trove of police body-cam footage.

The film follows Mackenzie, a young pregnant woman living on the streets of Hollywood, and her mother, as they navigate survival, love, and loss amid homelessness. Director Collins talks about working with the Los Angeles Times and no budget.

Director Jennifer Tiexiera and Co-Director/DP Guy Mossman share their journey in creating "SPEAK." This documentary, which runs for 28 minutes, captures the essence of Gen Z. It highlights their courage, intelligence, and humanity.

Lois Vossen re-visits Westdoc after six years to discuss the current status of docs. With all federal funding cancelled, filmmakers and ITVS search for other platforms and alternate money sources. Committed to diversity — it is literally written into the original congressional mandate — Vossen addresses commercialism by saying, “We are in the business of telling stories, not selling products.”

What begins as the portrait of an idyllic family living close to nature on a farm in Norway turns into a powerful exploration of loss, resilience, and the search for meaning when life suddenly changes. Through intimate access and stunning visuals, the film captures how a father and his children navigate grief while holding onto love, connection, and the values that shaped their lives.

Berg discusses her emotional journey of making the documentary she spent more than a decade pursuing. From navigating archival materials during the pandemic to collaborating with an Icelandic animator to evoke the warmth of the analog 1990s, Amy shares the creative and emotional labor behind resurrecting Buckley’s story—and spirit.

Chuck Braverman speaks with filmmakers Michelle Walshe and Lindsay Utz about their extraordinary documentary chronicling the rise and leadership of the former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. What began as a humble idea — sparked by Walshe’s husband casually noting Ardern’s compelling presence years before she took office — evolved into a seven-year journey capturing unprecedented, intimate access to one of the most admired global leaders of our time.

Director Matt Wolf takes us into the world of Pee-Wee as Himself in this episode of Westdoc Online. Host Chuck Braverman peels back the layers of Wolf’s journey—his battle for creative control with Paul Reubens, securing HBO’s backing, and collaborating with Hollywood heavyweights like producer Emma Tillinger Koskoff and the Safdie brothers.

In this engaging episode of Westdoc,  host Chuck Braverman sits down with longtime friend and filmmaker Sean O’Malley to discuss his transition from producing hit food series like Food Paradise to directing a compelling new documentary, Blue: The Life and Art of George Rodrigue.

From acclaimed filmmaker Robert Greenwald — the visionary behind Outfoxed, Iraq for Sale, and Steal This Movie — comes his most courageous and urgent work to date. In his latest documentary, Greenwald turns his lens toward one of the world’s most pressing and painful crises: the ongoing war in Gaza.

Director/Editor Miranda Yousef with her first feature documentary and the up and down story of painter Robert Kindkade and his $100 million a year fall from grace.

Set against the backdrop of his son’s first five years of life—filmmaker Justin Simms looks at modern masculinity through the lens of fatherhood as he asks an increasingly urgent question: How do we teach our boys to be better men?

Filming the urban transformation of Sunset Park, Brooklyn, NY took eight years covering both sides of a very complex issue. If the film is “about” something, Sterrenberg noted, it is about showing up, and participating in the democratic process.

"THANK YOU VERY MUCH" is a very special episode of Westdoc interviewing producer director Alex Braverman and his life long obsession with Andy Kaufman and the eight year road to producing this feature documentary.

Horton tells us his formula for low budget scripted and documentary success with digital distribution with FilmHub mostly to FAST channels like Tubi, Mubi, Amazon Prime and dozens more.

Exposing the hidden history of the systemic destruction of indigenous culture, language, and community. After 160 days of shooting over three years, they speak to Westdoc from the comfort of a Beverly Hills hotel about their personal connection to the material, the difficulty of getting distribution, and how Nat Geo found them.

In 1966, Leonard Bernstein hired Orin O’Brien to play double bass in the New York Philharmonic, making her The Only Girl in the Orchestra. 

DOCUMENTARY INFLUENCER A mover/shaker in the documentary world, Thom is a filmmaker, a festival programmer, co-founder of the prestigious Doc NYC festival, host of the podcast “Pure Non-Fiction,” and a teacher at NYU.

Filmmaker Benjamin Ree about his latest feature documentary 'The Remarkable Life of Ibelin,' which explores the short life of Mats Steen, a young gamer who found friendship and identity through his avatar in the World of Warcraft.

All about the money. 2nd conversation with director Gabriel Francis Paz Goodenough about how and why he ended up $250,000 out of pocket on his PBS ITVS POV feature documentary The Body Politic.

His cinema vérité crew spent five years in Baltimore, following our other guest Mayor Brandon Scott, an idealistic young leader with an ambitious plan to stop chronic violence.

Peruvian born Gutiérrez speaks with Westdoc about her own connection with Kahlo’s art - as a woman, an artist, and a Latina  - her struggle with learning English as a teen, and the importance of using Kahlo’s own words, in Spanish, for the film’s narration.

Producer Director Raoul Peck in a conversation about the making of his new feature documetary ERNEST COLE: LOST AND FOUND, the injustices of apartheid, the grueling necessity of film promotion, the connections between all stories, cinema’s death-by-streaming, and the need to sometime self-finance.

Filmmakers Ian Bônhote and Peter Ettedgui,  who made Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story, speak with Westdoc about their long journey to get the film made, Reeve’s family and their personal memories, clearance, licensing, financing and the essence of documentary characters.

Four extraordinary artists — an older couple moving toward the end, a younger couple chronicling the journey — come together to make "Two Strangers Trying Not To Kill Each Other." Filmmakers Jacob Perlmutter and Manon Ouimet spent a year living with world famous photographer Joel Meyerowitz and his wife writer Maggie Barrett, resulting in an exquisite cinéma vérité of tremendous depth and intimacy. The filmmakers spoke with Westdoc host Chuck Braverman from their London home about their “soulful collaboration,” small light camera gear, large emotional gains, and of course, distribution. Quite a journey.

In this conversation with Westdoc’s Chuck Braverman, Annie Roney discusses her extensive experience in the documentary film industry, particularly through her global distribution company Roco Films. She elaborates on the difficult challenges faced today in documentary distribution, both foreign and domestic, the launch of the In Real Life Movie Club aimed at fostering community engagement through film, and the evolving landscape of documentary filmmaking. The feature doc “Join or Die” is the first film the non profit distributed. Roney emphasizes the importance of civic engagement and the role of documentaries in addressing social issues, while also highlighting the need for innovative distribution methods in a changing market.

Documentary filmmaker Marc Marriott directs his first scripted feature film and discusses the challenges of a very low budget and short shooting schedule. Japanese business man travels to Montana ranch and becomes a fish out of water.

A conversation with Director Yariv Mozer, Exec Producers Terry Wrong & Susan Zirinsky about the making and collecting of footage for the documentary about the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on the music festival in Israel. Available on Paramount Plus September 24, 2024.

A conversation with producer director Erik Nelson covering his documentary about John and Yoko Ono's appearance for 5 days on the Mike Douglas show in February of 1972. 

Producer Director creator David Chase interviewed on Westdoc by Chuck Braverman about the making of The Sopranos HBO two part special.

Best selling author Norman Mailer is the subject of the new Jeff Zimbalist feature documentary. Two terrific documentaries by Producer Director JEFF ZIMBALIST are being released at the same time. HOW TO COME ALIVE with NORMAN MAILER and SKYWALKERS; A LOVE STORY. 

Best selling author Norman Mailer is the subject of the new Jeff Zimbalist feature documentary. Two terrific documentaries by Producer Director JEFF ZIMBALIST are being released at the same time. HOW TO COME ALIVE with NORMAN MAILER and SKYWALKERS; A LOVE STORY. 

Both of these feature documentaries were released theatrically the same day. One in art houses, and the other in Imax and first run theaters. See our conversation on Westdoc with Jeff Zimbalist and the story of the making of these two exciting documentaries.

Lucy Walker’s heart stopping new film, Mountain Queen: the Summits of Lhakpa Sherpa, is not just about mountain climbing but about a woman who struggled with social norms, language, and personal demons to get to the top. Lhakpa Sherpa has climbed Everest a record ten times, helped others to do so, protected her daughters from abuse, all while supporting them in a country that barely values her gifts. This is an important conversation.

“This is a story about design,” says the subject of "Geoff McFetridge: Drawing A Life." He and producer/director Dan Covert speak with Westdoc about the experience of filming his life. McFetridge, who designed faces on the Apple Watch, though he doesn’t wear one himself, shares his feelings about art, money, the “danger of sincerity,” and the importance of self-awareness.

Unfinished Docs Put to Good Use as Chris Wilcha will tell you, his latest film Flipside doesn’t fit easily into an “elevator pitch.” With eyes closed, as if searching for answers, he tells Westdoc about a final reckoning with unfinished projects. Surviving the unpredictable business of film world by directing commercials, Wilcha discusses budgets, family, and the power of fate. 

Bill and Turner Ross, have been gaining momentum with feature films like "Nose Bleed and Empty Pockets," and have created a unique format with Gasoline Rainbow: semi-scripted narrative with a documentary style. Speaking to Westdoc on our latest episode published today, they discussed sharing the director’s chair, working with five, first-time actors, a long prep and a short shooting schedule, and capturing acceptable audio on the fly.

ANDREW JARECKI, producer director of THE JINX - The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst, is even more interesting than the subjects of his films. He speaks to Westdoc at length about his privileged background, an accidental entrance into filmmaking, creating and running Moviefone, and a curious incident involving Harvey Weinstein.