If you're at IDFA over the next 2 weeks, go see Armand Tufenkian's In The Manner of Smoke. Starting tomorrow night, it has five screenings over the next week. Prime yourself by reading my interview with Armand about his film and career for Public Parking. thisispublicparking.com/posts/speaking…

Today on my newsletter, Dark Optimism, I'm republishing an interview I did with Courtney Stephens 2+ years ago about her feature length essay/lecture film, Terra Femme. This Sunday (11/16), Metrograph is hosting Stephens for another live performance of the film. I'll be there! t.co/Wmvrnw0PnH

In July I met Armand Tufenkian and gushed to him about his debut feature, In The Manner of Smoke. At the end of August we had a very long lunch to talk about the film and his artistic practice that has spawned a very meaningful friendship. Enjoy. thisispublicparking.com/posts/speaki...

In July I met Armand Tufenkian, whose debut feature I saw at this year’s Cinema du Reel. It rarely left my mind in the intervening months, and I knew I had to talk to him. Our conversation spawned a meaningful friendship and this piece, published today. thisispublicparking.com/posts/poetics-…

In July I met Armand Tufenkian, whose debut feature I saw at this year’s Cinema du Reel. It rarely left my mind in the intervening months, and I knew I had to talk to him. Our conversation spawned a meaningful friendship and this piece, published today. thisispublicparking.com/posts/poetics-…

For my neglected newsletter: a conversation with Lee Anne Schmitt, director of Evidence -- one of the best docs of the year, and a brilliant mediation on parenthood, inheritance, and the Conservative movement's ongoing coup of the legal system. Subscribe !!! open.substack.com/pub/chriscas...

Keep forgetting this place exists oops

hey, actually, fuck this sentiment and you!

I wasn't very pleased with John Maclean's TORNADO, a thin and unimaginative homage to Kurosawa's samurai films, too reliant on simple psychology, heavy atmosphere and a needlessly non-linear plot, and desperately lacking in true feeling. t.co/ieBqEPNAPH

A couple weeks ago, I reviewed Graham Swon's stunning AN EVENING SONG (FOR THREE VOICES) for InReview Online. There's magic going on in this thing that I can't fully explain, but is much better to watch, anyways. I hope it gets more opportunities to screen publicly outside of NYC. t.co/2aAEqr63hB

Putting it out there that I would like to write about the Pierre Creton retrospective running at BAM at the end of June. Editors...I am so available it's embarrassing.

I've returned to my newsletter, Dark Optimism, with an interview with filmmaker Ted Kennedy. We met to talk about his new documentary, BF SKINNER PLAYS HIMSELF, the pitfalls of public intellectualism, and the risks of a society not in possession of its own mind. Link in replies!

I've returned to my newsletter, Dark Optimism, with an interview with filmmaker Ted Kennedy. We met to talk about his new documentary, BF SKINNER PLAYS HIMSELF, the pitfalls of public intellectualism, and the risks of a society not in possession of its own mind. Link in replies!

I interviewed Ted Kennedy about his new documentary, BF Skinner Plays Himself. The film has been on my mind since I first saw it in February, so it was a thrill to sit down with him in April when I was in New York to get some answers for all my dumb questions. I hope you enjoy. LINK IN REPLIES!

I interviewed Ted Kennedy about his new documentary, BF Skinner Plays Himself. The film has been on my mind since I first saw it in February, so it was a thrill to sit down with him in April when I was in New York to get some answers for all my dumb questions. I hope you enjoy. LINK IN REPLIES!

I'm publishing a new interview on my Substack in a few minutes. You can subscribe now so it's sent to your inbox: chriscassingham.substack.com. This is the most fun I've ever had interviewing a filmmaker, and I'm excited to share it with you all.

Only one Cannes review from me this year. Had a chance to catch Harris Dickinson's debut feature, Urchin, a gritty, competently made drama about a London rough sleeper, but one lacking a point of view and artistic daring. inreviewonline.com/2025/05/26/u...

Only one Cannes review from me this year. Had a chance to catch Harris Dickinson's debut feature, Urchin, a gritty, competently made drama about a London rough sleeper, but one lacking a point of view and artistic daring. inreviewonline.com/2025/05/26/u...

Notorious Vertigo Shadow of a Doubt Rear Window North By Northwest

I'm going to publish a new interview over at chriscassingham.substack.com when Cannes is over. Just finished editing it for readability and am so pleased with it. Things are slow at Dark Optimism but they are happening.

In the meantime, feel free to subscribe :)

I'm going to publish a new interview over at chriscassingham.substack.com when Cannes is over. Just finished editing it for readability and am so pleased with it. Things are slow at Dark Optimism but they are happening.

oh my god I just realized this was playing Cannes. desperate to see it.

It was the 30th anniversary of Wild Reed's US release last week, so I took the opportunity to share my thoughts, parse out what it's doing that other coming-of-age films don't seem to attempt. It's a remarkable film, and very important to me. inreviewonline.com/2025/05/16/w...

I'm thrilled to say that TO USE A MOUNTAIN, the second feature doc produced by my sister this year, has just won the Special Jury Prize of the International Competition at Visions du Reel. So very proud of her and everyone who worked on this film.

I'm thrilled to say that TO USE A MOUNTAIN, the second feature doc produced by my sister this year, has just won the Special Jury Prize of the International Competition at Visions du Reel. So very proud of her and everyone who worked on this film.

HENRY FONDA FOR PRESIDENT opens this weekend @anthologyfilm.bsky.social. Sharing my Doc Fortnight review. I’ll be shocked if it’s not on my best of the year list come December. inreviewonline.com/2025/03/05/h...

HENRY FONDA FOR PRESIDENT opens this weekend @anthologyfilm.bsky.social. Sharing my Doc Fortnight review. I’ll be shocked if it’s not on my best of the year list come December. inreviewonline.com/2025/03/05/h...

I'm thrilled to share my @reverseshot.bsky.social debut, a review of Songs of Slow Burning Earth. A huge thanks to Michael for his wonderful edits and for the Reverse Shot Writers Workshop. It gave me a much needed injection of inspiration and motivation. t.co/4wB2fpZMsh

Val Kilmer was a life-long, devout Christian Scientist. So was Henry Fonda. I grew up the same. It’s usually given a bad rap in popular culture. The screenplay I wrote last year deals with it. 20 years ago Kilmer could have played a key character in that story. Strange, stray thoughts. RIP.

New @junkfilterpod.bsky.social! The writer and programmer @chriscassingham.bsky.social returns to the pod from Milwaukee for a show about John Ford's THE LONG GRAY LINE and his innovations in the use of the CinemaScope format. Here's a preview. Patrons can unlock! open.spotify.com/episode/7wp5...

On the new Premium episode, the writer and film programmer @chriscassingham.bsky.social returns for a look at John Ford's 1955 comedy/tragedy THE LONG GRAY LINE and Ford's innovative use of the Z-Axis (the depth of the image) for a CinemaScope frame. Preview: podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/j...

This podcast is now out

A total pleasure to spend 90 minutes talking about one of my favorite movies. I'm not sure I actually laid out the few caveats surrounding its "only Ford film shot in CinemaScope" status, but hope I'll be forgiven. If you're not a Junk Filter patron, there's no better reason to become one than this!

How do I get followers on here without making an effort?

Forgot I’m still here lol

I will be on this podcast

My review of Courtney Stephens and Michael Almereyda's JOHN LILLY AND THE EARTH COINCIDENCE CONTROL OFFICE. Like Courtney's last film w/ Callie Hernandez, the subtextually conspiratorial nature of its subject and its inquiry into his life felt tailor-made for me. inreviewonline.com/2025/02/06/j...

Terrific film

Subscribe to Dark Optimism, too! I hope to be semi-regular there. chriscassingham.substack.com/p/keep-tuggi...

First piece on Dark Optimism is a conversation I had with Courtney Stephens and Callie Hernandez last summer about their amazing film, Invention. One of my favorites from last year, it's a platonic ideal for what I hope this newsletter represents. Link to the newsletter below!

First piece on Dark Optimism is a conversation I had with Courtney Stephens and Callie Hernandez last summer about their amazing film, Invention. One of my favorites from last year, it's a platonic ideal for what I hope this newsletter represents. Link to the newsletter below!

I've started a Substack to collect my thoughts on contemporary American indie cinema and generally about stuff I'm watching. It's called Dark Optimism. I wrote a little primer today that you can read: chriscassingham.substack.com/p/hello-ever...

Happy belated Christmas to myself

Happy belated Christmas to myself

I have a little blurb about GOOD ONE in InRO’s top 50 films of 2024. Look out for one more from me, hopefully up at the very top of the list. inreviewonline.com/2024/12/23/b...

Never shared this here. Why not? vimeo.com/1027471433

Never shared this here. Why not? vimeo.com/1027471433

I had a chance to chat w/ Alfred Giancarli, whose debut feature WEEKNIGHTS is gets a weeklong run at @spectacletheater.com starting tomorrow. It’s a wonderful film and a testament, among many, of all the cool things Spectacle’s programmers do. Interview for @splittoothmedia.bsky.social, link below!

I had a chance to chat w/ Alfred Giancarli, whose debut feature WEEKNIGHTS is gets a weeklong run at @spectacletheater.com starting tomorrow. It’s a wonderful film and a testament, among many, of all the cool things Spectacle’s programmers do. Interview for @splittoothmedia.bsky.social, link below!