The American Cinematheque Podcast

Actor Willem Dafoe joins us on the show this week! He’s been nominated for four Academy Awards, has appeared in more than 150 feature films, and he’s here to talk about his life at the movies. Dafoe shares stories about tagging along on an older sister’s date to GOLDFINGER at the Viking Theatre in Appleton, Wisconsin and navigating protests of THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST in front of the Ziegfeld Theatre in NYC on the same day as taking his son to see OLIVER & COMPANY. We also chat about theatre programming as the artistic director at the Venice Biennale, his roles in LATE FAME and the upcoming GONZO GIRL, and going to the movies with Abel Ferrara.
LATE FAME is streaming now, TENZING is available to watch later this month, and GONZO GIRL is coming soon.
To watch this episode, head to our YouTube.
The American Cinematheque operates the Aero, Egyptian, and Los Feliz 3 Theatres in Los Angeles, and soon the Directors Village in Westwood, with programming nationwide.
The American Cinematheque is a 501c3 non-profit – if you’d like to learn more, donate, or become a member, head to americancinematheque.com.
The show is executive produced by Grant Moninger alongside producer Victoria Alejandro and video producer Mike Cuenca. Stephanie Cervantes leads marketing with production design by Seth Meisterman, animation and graphics by Jack Rossi and original music by Gelberg. Additional audio mixing by Nate Flaks.

Filmmaker Brian Duffield joins the show in advance of his new film WHALEFALL coming to theaters this October! He programs the film festival of his life from blockbusters like JURASSIC PARK to lesser-known standouts like MY BOYFRIEND’S BACK and, staying on theme, THE WHALE GOD. We also talk about why Duffield and Austin Abrams trust whales so much, working with Wētā Workshop to create their creature, and what movie you should show a whale if you get the chance.
WHALEFALL is in theaters on October 16th.
To watch this episode, head to our YouTube.
The American Cinematheque operates the Aero, Egyptian, and Los Feliz 3 Theatres in Los Angeles, and soon the Directors Village in Westwood, with programming nationwide.
The American Cinematheque is a 501c3 non-profit – if you’d like to learn more, donate, or become a member, head to americancinematheque.com.
The show is executive produced by Grant Moninger alongside producer Victoria Alejandro and video producer Mike Cuenca. Stephanie Cervantes leads marketing with production design by Seth Meisterman, animation and graphics by Jack Rossi and original music by Gelberg.

Award winning podcaster, author, and film historian Karina Longworth joins the show this week! She programs the film festival of her life with select movies from the newest season of YOU MUST REMEMBER THIS, “The Bisexuals.” In between discussions about Montgomery Clift and Howard Hawks, Longworth shares stories about discovering Alfred Hitchcock as a kid, spending a year in a film preservation program and, of course, the band Sonic Youth.
“The Bisexuals” is streaming now, wherever you get your podcasts.
To watch this episode, head to our YouTube.
The American Cinematheque operates the Aero, Egyptian, and Los Feliz 3 Theatres in Los Angeles, and soon the Directors Village in Westwood, with programming nationwide.
The American Cinematheque is a 501c3 non-profit – if you’d like to learn more, donate, or become a member, head to americancinematheque.com.
The show is executive produced by Grant Moninger alongside producer Victoria Alejandro and video producer Mike Cuenca. Stephanie Cervantes leads marketing with production design by Seth Meisterman, animation and graphics by Jack Rossi and original music by Gelberg.

Actor, director, and author Griffin Dunne (AFTER HOURS, PRACTICAL MAGIC, AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON) joins us on the podcast this week! In between discussions about the great Hal Ashby and the impact of THE GRADUATE on a young actor, Dunne shares stories about working with Martin Scorsese and seeing musicals in New York with Carrie Fisher. We’re talking unexpected run-ins with Dustin Hoffman, saturated colors of the 70s, and smoking doobies before going in the editing room.
To watch this episode, head to our YouTube.
The American Cinematheque operates the Aero, Egyptian, and Los Feliz 3 Theatres in Los Angeles, and soon the Directors Village in Westwood, with programming nationwide.
The American Cinematheque is a 501c3 non-profit – if you’d like to learn more, donate, or become a member, head to americancinematheque.com.
The show is executive produced by Grant Moninger alongside producer Victoria Alejandro and video producer Mike Cuenca. Stephanie Cervantes leads marketing with production design by Seth Meisterman, animation and graphics by Jack Rossi and original music by Gelberg.

PAN’S LABYRINTH celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, and actor Doug Jones is joining us on the podcast this week! The frequent Guillermo Del Toro collaborator shares his life at the movies, from watching THE WIZARD OF OZ on a black and white TV, to seeing SUPERMAN: THE MOVIE in theaters over and over again, to the record breaking standing ovation for PAN’S LABYRINTH at Cannes. We take some detours to talk CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON and WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS - with a sprinkle of GLITTER. We’re talking about everything from classic monsters to romance and pop divas.
PAN’S LABYRINTH is back in theaters with a 4K restoration this October.
To watch this episode, head to our YouTube.
The American Cinematheque operates the Aero, Egyptian, and Los Feliz 3 Theatres in Los Angeles, and soon the Directors Village in Westwood, with programming nationwide.
The American Cinematheque is a 501c3 non-profit – if you’d like to learn more, donate, or become a member, head to americancinematheque.com.
The show is executive produced by Grant Moninger alongside producer Victoria Alejandro and video producer Mike Cuenca. Stephanie Cervantes leads marketing with production design by Seth Meisterman, animation and graphics by Jack Rossi and original music by Gelberg.