Alex and Orla count down the 30 best films of 2021 and discuss the process behind creating the list.
Read all of our best of 2021 coverage.
This is a premium members-only episode. Become a member to listen to the full episode.
This episode features Editor-in-Chief Alex Heeney and Executive Editor Orla Smith.
On This Episode
- Why this bonus episode is free to everyone (0:00)
- Selecting the list and where we look for films (0:56)
- Another strong year for Indigenous films (7:37)
- Why we only have three American films (16:02)
- Films directed by women (19:00)
- The importance of psychological complexity and new approaches to social change (22:24)
- Documentaries (24:55)
- The list (26:41)
- Conclusion (1:10:01)
Show Notes
- Read Alex’s 2020 interview with Monkey Beach director Loretta Todd
- Read Orla’s interview with Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy director Ryûsuke Hamaguchi
- Read Alex’s interview with Slalom director Charlène Favier
- Read Orla’s interview with Kímmapiiyipitssini: The Meaning of Empathy director Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers
- Purchase your copy of our ebook Subjective realities: The art of creative nonfiction film, which includes interviews with Robert Greene (Procession), Jonas Poher Rasmussen (Flee), Aisling Chin-Yee and Chase Joynt (No Ordinary Man), Cheryl Foggo (John Ware Reclaimed), and more.
Best Films of 2021 Related Episodes
- Ep. 118: The Souvenir Part I and II
- Ep. 114: Mia Hansen-Løve’s Things to Come and Bergman Island
- Ep. 113: The sci-fi love stories of About Time and I’m Your Man
- Ep. 101: Magnus von Horn’s Films: The Here After and Sweat
- Ep. 95: Reclaiming history in documentary: No Ordinary Man and John Ware Reclaimed (Members Only)
- Ep. 93: The films of Agnieszka Holland (Members Only)
- Ep. 87: Couples dealing with cancer: Ordinary Love and Hope (Members Only)
- Ep. 86: Depictions of childhood sexual assault: Una & Slalom (Members Only)
- Ep. 85: The films of Naomi Kawase, featuring True Mothers (Members Only)
- Ep. 84: Berlinale 2021, Part 2: The Competition (Members Only)
- Ep. 82: Genocide on film: Quo Vadis, Aida and Our Lady of the Nile (Members Only)
- Ep. 42: The romances of Normal People and On Chesil Beach (Members Only)
- Ep. 41: Political satires: In the Loop and My Internship in Canada (Members Only)
- Bonus 19: Who is the Poshest Actor in Britain?
- Bonus 18: Titane
