Legendary filmmaker Ernest Dickerson joins host Elliot Bloom for a compelling journey through his remarkable career. From his early love of sci-fi and fascination with the practical elements of filmmaking to meeting long-time collaborator Spike Lee on his first day of film school, Dickerson reflects on the defining moments that have influenced his work. With an encyclopaedic knowledge of cinema, he discusses his pivotal role in shaping Black American cinema over the last 40 years and the stories behind the making of his iconic films. In a candid conversation, Dickerson also reveals the unexpected path that led him to make a feature film about Curaçao.

Fresh off winning the Dutch Film Critics’ Choice Award at the Netherlands Film Festival, LAB111 resident filmmaker Jeroen Houben joins host Kiriko Mechanicus to discuss his bittersweet, offbeat drama Torch Song. The film tells the story of an eccentric former pop singer who reconnects with her estranged half-brother in the Netherlands, only to unravel his life when she discovers a muse in his girlfriend. Houben delves into his aim to craft a raw, nuanced portrayal of a struggling artist, sidestepping tired clichés, while offering a fresh perspective on Amsterdam through the eyes of an international community. He also reflects on composing the film’s songs in tandem with the script, his fascination with musicals, and a formative (and unsettling) childhood memory of an animated dog. A bold tribute to the power of music and storytelling, this episode offers an illuminating look into the creation of a film where ambition and emotion collide.

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A fearless voice against systemic injustice, Raoul Peck has crafted a body of work that interrogates the legacies of colonialism, racism, and power with unflinching clarity. In this episode, Peck joins our producer Elliot to discuss his latest film, Ernest Cole: Lost and Found, an intimate exploration of South Africa’s first apartheid-era photographer. Reflecting on Cole’s haunting images, Peck draws striking parallels between apartheid South Africa, modern systems of segregation, and the enduring consequences for those displaced.

Peck’s films stand as a testament to the radical potential of cinema to confront, reimagine, and connect the world’s entrenched narratives. He leaves us with a powerful reminder: “The world will be what each one of us lets it be. If we don’t act, our inaction will shape the future.”

Book tickets to Ernest Cole: Lost and Found

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Book tickets to CC Film Club: Juice