She's All Over the Place

On this episode of She's All Over the Place, host Katie Chonacas sits down with acclaimed filmmaker Cate Shortland, director and pioneering voice for women behind the camera, to discuss her landmark debut feature Somersault. Originally nominated for Un Certain Regard and the Camera d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival, Somersault follows teenage Heidi, who escapes home after a traumatic encounter and attempts to rebuild her identity in a frozen ski town. Through isolation, longing, and fragile connection, the film explores adolescence, intimacy, and the human need for belonging. We go far beyond filmmaking technique. This conversation becomes an honest exploration of creative courage, emotional exposure, and artistic voice, especially for female storytellers navigating an industry that often discourages vulnerability. Cate shares: • How Somersault was conceived and made • Working with early-career actors Abbie Cornish and Sam Worthington • Why vulnerability is a strength in storytelling • Emotional truth vs. performance in film • The responsibility of female filmmakers to tell authentic stories • Finding confidence as a woman director • Creative intuition, sensitivity, and psychological depth in cinema We also discuss the film's new 4K restoration and its continued cultural relevance, over 20 years after its Cannes premiere. More than a film discussion, this episode is a masterclass on owning your voice, telling your story, and making art that feels emotionally truthful. About the Film – Somersault Following a reckless encounter with her mother's boyfriend, teenage Heidi flees home and takes refuge in a motel in the winter town of Jindabyne. She finds work at a petrol station, befriends a coworker, and begins a complicated relationship with Joe, a young man dealing with his own emotional wounds. Together they confront isolation, desire, addiction, and the search for connection. Written & Directed by: Cate Shortland Cast: Abbie Cornish, Sam Worthington, Lynette Curran Genre: Drama Runtime: 106 minutes Restored in 4K from the original 35mm negative by Piccolo Films

Filmmaker Roc Morin on following soldier and actor Pavlo Aldoshyn during the war in Ukraine What happens when an actor who once played a sniper in a movie becomes a real sniper in war? In this episode of She's All Over the Place, host Katie Chonacas speaks with director Roc Morin about the documentary MEDUZA, a powerful film following Ukrainian actor Pavlo Aldoshyn from the first days of the 2022 invasion through two years on the front lines. Before the war, Pavlo was known for the film White Raven and as a contestant on Ukraine's version of The Voice. When Russia invaded Ukraine, he was recruited as a sniper — the same role he had previously portrayed on screen. MEDUZA documents his psychological, emotional and spiritual transformation as he navigates combat, relationships, and identity. Filmed across Ukraine, Japan, India, Ecuador, and the United States, the documentary connects Pavlo's inner world to global stories, including a Japanese widower searching the ocean for his wife and an Amazonian tribesman describing a lost mythological bridge between earth and sky. Director Roc Morin, a journalist who has reported on the conflict since 2014, discusses entering Ukraine during the invasion, meeting Pavlo in Kyiv while he was on leave, and filming near the front lines in Kharkiv and surrounding regions. Topics covered: • The human cost of war • Soldiers and psychological transformation • Documentary filmmaking in conflict zones • Ukraine war reporting • Spiritual identity during wartime • Ethics of filming active conflict • The life of Pavlo Aldoshyn This episode contains discussion of war and combat experiences. https://www.rocmorin.com/ ON DIGITAL PLATFORMS ON FEBRUARY 20 by Buffalo 8 Social Media: @meduzadoc @rocmorin @paldoshyn - Pavlo @leonova_kata - Katarina

Diane Keaton's first feature as a director wasn't a romantic comedy — it was an existential documentary about the afterlife. On this episode of She's All Over the Place, host Katie Chonacas sits down with producer Arnie Holland to discuss the 2026 HD remaster and re-release of Heaven, Diane Keaton's unconventional documentary exploring what people truly believe happens after death. Originally released to critical curiosity and now restored for modern audiences, Heaven blends interviews, film clips, and music to examine religion, Hollywood mythology, and humanity's fascination with paradise. The film features everyday people, spiritual thinkers, and public figures answering questions like: What does God look like? Is there a reward? Is there consciousness after death? The documentary includes a score by Academy Award-winning composer Howard Shore and a soundtrack featuring Lionel Richie, Sam Cooke, The Dream Academy, and more. Producer Arnie Holland explains how the film was made, why Keaton pursued the subject, and why the movie feels especially relevant in today's culture. We also discuss the restoration process, theatrical re-release, and the new limited-edition Blu-ray and digital release. Topics covered: • Diane Keaton as a first-time director • Hollywood and spirituality • Documentary filmmaking • Afterlife beliefs across cultures • Restoring classic films in HD • The business of film distribution • Music licensing and soundtrack selection Heaven releases February 17, 2026 on Blu-ray, VOD, and digital platforms.

Content Warning: This episode discusses sexual abuse and institutional failure. Listener discretion advised. Why can't parents find this when they search the Curtis Institute of Music? In this episode, we examine Dear Lara, the powerful new social justice documentary from world-renowned violinist and filmmaker Lara St. John, which premiered nationally at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF). The film documents St. John's public account of sexual assault she endured at age 14 while a student at the Curtis Institute of Music—first reported by The Philadelphia Inquirer—and expands into a broader investigation of institutional patterns that have affected students across North America and Europe. Through survivor testimony, investigative journalism, and expert legal insight, Dear Lara explores how elite institutions can fail to protect minors, how silence is maintained, and why accountability is so often delayed or denied. This episode is intended for parents, students, educators, and advocates seeking transparency, awareness, and reform within music education and elite training environments. About the Film Dear Lara is the directorial debut of Lara St. John and features original music by St. John. The documentary includes voices from musicians, journalists, legal experts, and advocates, and partners with Child USA, a national organization focused on civil rights and institutional accountability. Why This Matters If you are researching conservatories, elite music programs, or student safety policies, this conversation provides critical context that is not easily found through search engines alone. Learn more about the film, resources, and survivor advocacy: https://www.dearlara.film

Blake Winston Rice joins She's All Over the Place to discuss the world premiere of his latest short film DISC at the 50th Toronto International Film Festival. Blake is an award-winning writer-director whose breakout short Tea premiered in competition at the Cannes Film Festival, with Patty Jenkins serving as Executive Producer. Since Cannes, Tea has screened at 13 Oscar-qualifying festivals, earned multiple awards, and is now a Vimeo Staff Pick streaming on Kanopy. In this conversation, Blake breaks down: The making of DISC, starring Jim Cummings (Thunder Road, The Wolf of Snow Hollow) and Victoria Ratermanis (Oscar-nominated A Lien) Crafting intimate, character-driven stories under pressure Navigating festival premieres at Cannes and TIFF Transitioning from actor and comedian to narrative filmmaker DISC is a sharp dramedy about connection, vulnerability, and the unexpected intimacy that emerges after a one-night stand—featuring an original score by Grammy-nominated Kevin Garrett (Beyoncé's Lemonade). Stay connected with the filmmaker: https://www.instagram.com/blakewrice Stay connect with me: https://www.instagram.com/shesallovertheplacepodcast/

In this Artist Journal solo episode of She's All Over the Place, host Katie Chonacas reflects on psychological isolation—the experience of emotional and social disconnection that can exist even in the presence of others. Inspired by Brené Brown's work on belonging and disconnection, this episode explores how psychological isolation develops, why it can become long-standing, and how it quietly erodes our sense of safety, connection, and self-trust. Katie shares a personal reflection on emotional isolation, social withdrawal, and the loss of belonging, offering language and awareness for an experience many feel but rarely name. This episode is for anyone who has felt: Emotionally disconnected despite being "around people" A loss of belonging or relational safety Socially present but internally isolated Unsure how disconnection became so persistent Stay Connected with me: https://www.chonacas.com/links/

A deep dive into the Basketball Africa League's impact on sports, culture, talent development, and media, featuring insights from BAL President Amadou Gallo Fall and NBA Africa CEO Clare Akamanzi. In 2019, a longtime dream for many became a reality when the National Basketball Association (NBA) committed to launching the Basketball Africa League (BAL). With 12 teams from the continent representing nations including Kenya, Nigeria, Egypt, and Rwanda, the league would showcase the diversity of culture, talent, and love for basketball across Africa while providing a pathway for youth to play professionally in their own nation. One of the dreamers to realize the opportunity was Amadou Gallo Fall, the former scouting director of the Dallas Mavericks and a lifelong champion of sport in Africa. Fall's work prior to the BAL is seen in the creation of a basketball academy in his native Senegal, working with the NBA's Basketball Without Borders program, and his former position as the NBA's managing director for Africa. As plans for the BAL start to move ahead, one of Fall's Basketball Without Borders colleagues, and former director of the program, would join the movement: beloved former Raptors General Manager Masai Ujiri, also the first African general manager in US professional sports history. Together, Fall, Ujiri, and many others would work to make the seemingly impossible possible. Featuring interviews from many supporters of the BAL, including rapper J. Cole (who played in the BAL's inaugural season), NBA superstar Stephen Curry, and former US President Barack Obama, Origin showcases the vast network of advocates who came together to make the ambitious endeavour a reality. Co-directors Richard Brown and Tebogo Malope highlight the diversity of the continent, the passion of the players, and the universal language that is love of the game. Stay Connected with ME: https://www.chonacas.com/links/

In this episode of She's All Over the Place, I had the wonderful opportunity to sit and chat with the producer, Steven Lawrence, to explore The Long Way Home: Remastered and Expanded (2026) Michael Apted's long-lost documentary about Soviet underground rock legend Boris Grebenshchikov and his extraordinary 1988 journey from Leningrad to the West during the early days of Glasnost. Filmed at a moment of rare optimism inside the USSR, the documentary follows Grebenshchikov as he records an album with Dave Stewart (Eurythmics), alongside Annie Lennox, Chrissie Hynde, Ray Cooper, and Crosby, Stills & Nash, becoming one of the first Soviet musicians to collaborate openly with Western rock stars. Remastered in 4K with new 5.1 sound and expanded with a newly created epilogue, the film now brings Boris's story up to the present: his disillusionment with post-Soviet Russia, his outspoken opposition to Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine, and his eventual exile from his homeland. We discuss the film's disappearance for more than three decades, its rediscovery through MoMA's Film Preservation Festival, and why The Long Way Home now feels less like a period piece and more like a warning, a memory, and a testament to the enduring power of music to resist censorship and tyranny. MoMA EVENT WEBSITE: https://www.moma.org/calendar/events/11134 MoMA SOCIAL MEDIA:o Instagram: @themuseumofmodernarto Facebook: facebook.com/MuseumofModernArt (@museumofmodernart) o LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/the-museum-of-modern-art/ (@the-museum-of-modern-art) o TikTok: @museumofmodernarto Threads: @themuseumofmodernarto Twitter: @MoMAFilm Stay Connected with ME: https://www.chonacas.com/links/

Join me on She's All Over The Place as I sit down with director Clement Virgo and writer Tamara Faith Berger to explore the making of the psychological thriller "Steal Away", which premiered at TIFF. We dive into the film's lush, intense world of teen drama, desire, and power, adapted from the non-fiction book Steal Away Home. Hear insights into the creative process, casting decisions with Angourie Rice and Mallori Johnson, and how the film illuminates untold histories of female power and systemic cruelty. If you're a filmmaker, actor, or creative, this episode gives a behind-the-scenes look at directing, writing, and adapting a story for the screen, while navigating film festivals like TIFF. Key Topics: psychological thriller filmmaking, adaptation from book to screen, creative collaboration, casting teen leads, festival insights, storytelling for social impact. Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and share! https://www.chonacas.com/links/

Filmmaker Michael Premo joins the podcast to discuss HOMEGROWN, his award-winning documentary about January 6, political extremism, and America's deepening divide. Award-winning documentary HOMEGROWN, which will be released exclusively via GATHR on the upcoming January 6 anniversary of the attack on the US Capital. Directed by Michael Premo, HOMEGROWN brings raw intimacy and unprecedented access to a political moment still unfolding. Shot across battleground communities and key flashpoints of national tension, the documentary reveals the lived experiences of people whose determination to turn their beliefs into action places them on the front lines of America's political divide. The film was an official selection of the 81st Venice International Film Festival, where it won Best Technical Contribution. HOMEGROWN has since garnered top honors on the global festival circuit and was nominated for the 2025 Cinema Eye Honors Spotlight Award, recognizing exceptional independent nonfiction filmmaking. It has screened at nearly fifty top-tier film festivals worldwide. HOMEGROWN- NEW TRAILER: Embed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e59UpVz1QM4 Watch here: https://homegrown.film/ Please stay connected with me: https://www.chonacas.com/links/ https://www.instagram.com/shesallovertheplacepodcast

DIALOGUES: Short Cuts to First Features" is a Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) Industry program featuring conversations with emerging directors who transitioned from making acclaimed short films (Short Cuts alumni) to directing their debut features, sharing insights on script development, collaboration, and overcoming challenges to build their filmmaking careers. It's a key part of the TIFF Industry Conference, focusing on practical advice and inspiration for filmmakers aiming to make that crucial jump to feature-length projects. I had the grand pleasure to join alumni directors of TIFF Short Cuts and Industry Talent, Lloyd Lee Choi (Lucky Lu), Sasha Leigh Henry (Dinner with Friends), Taratoa Stappard (Mārama), and Eva Thomas (Nika & Madison), as they discuss their journeys from making short films to developing and directing their first features. Learn how they honed their scripts, found the collaborators and supporters they needed, and coped with practical challenges while protecting their creative visions. Lloyd Lee Choi is a Korean-Canadian filmmaker based in Brooklyn. He has directed the short films Same Old (22), which played the Festival, and Closing Dynasty (23). Earlier this year he received the TIFF–CBC Films Screenwriter Award for his screenplay Yakult Ajumma. Lucky Lu (25) is his feature film debut. Sasha Leigh Henry is a Toronto-based writer, director, and producer. Her short films include Love Bent (14), To Love and Back (16), Bitches Love Brunch (18), and the Festival Official Selection Sinking Ship (20). She also created, wrote, and directed the television show Bria Mack Gets a Life (22), which premiered at the Festival. Dinner With Friends (25) is her latest film. Taratoa Stappard was born in Aotearoa and lives in London. He has directed the shorts Eight for Eight Thirty (96), Strip (98), Euston Road (04), Goalie (16), and Emkhatsini: Between (18). Mārama (25), his latest film, is his feature debut. Eva Thomas is a writer and filmmaker from Walpole Island First Nation based in Wallaceburg, Ontario. Her production credits include the Festival Official Selections Night Raiders (21) and Kaniehtiio Horn's Seeds (24). She directed the short film Redlights (23) and co-directed the feature Aberdeen (24), both of which played the Festival. Nika & Madison (25) is her latest film. Moderated by: Jason Anderson is the International Programmer for Short Cuts. A member of TIFF's Programming team since 2015, he's also worked on TIFF Kids and Canada's Top Ten. He's been the director of programming for the Kingston Canadian Film Festival since 2008 and the programming director for Aspen Shortsfest since 2019. A longtime journalist and critic who graduated from the University of Toronto with a B.A. in English literature, he was a film critic and columnist for the Toronto weeklies The Grid and Eye Weekly, and regularly contributed to such publications as The Globe and Mail, The Toronto Star, Toro, and Saturday Night. He currently writes about music and film for Uncut magazine, Sight & Sound, and Cinema Scope. He has taught a course on film criticism for the University of Toronto since 2008 and has taught journalism courses at Toronto Metropolitan University. His least useful areas of expertise include the Step Up franchise, show business memoirs, and the discography of Nile Rodgers. Stay connected with me here: https://www.instagram.com/shesallovertheplacepodcast

I had the grand opportunity to cover the 50th Aniversary of the Toronto International Film Festival. With animation being one of my favourite topics in the world, I am grateful that I was able to join this epic conversation and now share it with you. :) DIALOGUES: Creative Visions in Animated Feature Films is a specific TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival) event/panel where acclaimed directors like Domee Shi (Pixar's Elio), Mamoru Hosoda (Belle, Summer Wars), and Momoko Seto (Dandelion's Odyssey) discuss balancing artistic vision with studio realities, creative authorship, and the future of bold animation, showcasing diverse global perspectives. This dialogue offers insights into the challenges and triumphs of making visionary animated features, featuring both indie and major studio voices. From intimate, auteur-driven projects to collaborations with major studios, discover how directors Domee Shi (Elio), Momoko Seto (Dandelion's Odyssey), Mamoru Hosoda (Scarlet), and Kid Koala (Space Cadet) balance artistic integrity with industry realities, and what it takes to make animated films that captivate audiences and spark global imaginations. Join us for a candid conversation about creative authorship, industry pressures, and the evolving space for bold, visionary animation. Domee Shi began as a story intern at Pixar Animation Studios in 2011 and was soon hired as a story artist on the Academy Award–winning Inside Out. She went on to work on The Good Dinosaur, Incredibles 2, and Toy Story 4. In 2015, she was greenlit to write and direct Bao, which won the Oscar for Best Animated Short. She made her feature directorial debut with 2022's Oscar-nominated Turning Red and most recently co-directed Elio, released June 2025. Born in Chongqing, China, and raised in Toronto, Shi now lives in Oakland, California. Momoko Seto was born in Tokyo and lives in Paris. She studied at Le Fresnoy - National Studio of Contemporary Arts. Her short film series Planet includes Planet Z (11) and Planet Sigma (15). The winner of the FIPRESCI Award at Cannes Critics' Week, Dandelion's Odyssey (25) is her feature film debut. Mamoru Hosoda was born in Toyama, Japan. He has worked on numerous animated series and directed the features One Piece: Baron Omatsuri and the Secret Island (05), The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (06), Summer Wars (09), Wolf Children (12), The Boy and the Beast (15) which played at the Festival, Mirai (18), and Belle (21). Scarlet (25) is his latest film. Kid Koala (Eric San) is a Montreal-based DJ, composer, and graphic novelist. He directed Space Cadet, his first animated feature based on his graphic novel, which premiered at the Berlinale and will have its North American Premiere at TIFF 50. Known for genre-defying albums and live shows, he has also scored acclaimed films, series, and video games. Moderator Theresa Scandiffio is the Associate Dean of Animation and Game Design at Sheridan College. Prior to joining Sheridan, Scandiffio led archival and curatorial projects at museums, festivals, and universities in Toronto, Chicago, and Orlando. From 2010–2020, Scandiffio was a member of the programming team that launched the Toronto International Film Festival's year-round home, TIFF Lightbox, where she led the Learning, Heritage, and Community Outreach divisions. Scandiffio served as an Ontario delegate for the 2015 Governor General Canadian Leadership Conference and was a 2017 Civic Action DiverseCity Fellow. She received her PhD in Cinema and Media studies from the University of Chicago. Key Participants & Films Mentioned: Domee Shi: Elio (Pixar) Momoko Seto: Dandelion's Odyssey (Indie/Artistic) Mamoru Hosoda: Scarlet (Japan's Studio Chizu) Kid Koala: Space Cadet (Independent) Themes Explored: Creative Authorship vs. Industry: How directors maintain their unique style within large production environments. Industry Pressures: Navigating financial and commercial demands in animation. Evolving Landscape: The growing space for unique, visionary animation. Global Perspectives: Highlighting both auteur-driven projects and major studio collaborations. Stay connected with me here: https://www.instagram.com/shesallovertheplacepodcast