Paul Thomas Anderson speaks to critic Danny Leigh about his distinctive approach to directing and the creative process behind his latest film, One Battle After Another.

Akinola Davies Jr sits down with Chiwetel Ejiofor to discuss the making of his powerful feature directorial debut My Father's Shadow. Akinola shares insights from the development process, taking inspiration from the archive, and his process collaborating with cast and crew.

Elizabeth Lo joins Jeanie Finlay to discuss her latest documentary, Mistress Dispeller. In China, a discreet new industry has emerged to help couples preserve their marriages in the face of infidelity. So-called “mistress dispellers” are hired to protect marital bonds — and dismantle affairs — by any means necessary. With remarkable intimacy, Mistress Dispeller follows an unfolding family drama from every corner of a complex love triangle. Elizabeth reflects on how she negotiated extraordinary access to the participants’ private lives, built and maintained trust throughout the filming process, and more.

Ryan Coogler speaks with Destin Daniel Cretton on his latest film Sinners. Ryan shares his creative journey as a director, what it was like shooting in 70mm, and his unique, genre-bending approach to the craft.

Nadia Latif joins fellow director George Amponsah for an in-depth conversation about her film directorial debut, The Man In My Basement. Nadia shares what her extensive experience directing for theatre prepared her for director for film, how she the opportunity to adapt Walter Mosley's book came to her, and the creative decisions that went into making this film.

Daisy-May Hudson joins fellow director Alex Kalymnios for an in-depth conversation about the making of her fiction feature debut, Lollipop. Daisy-May shares her unconventional route into filmmaking, the moment she realised that directing was for her, why film is such a powerful medium to tell stories that matter. The conversation delves into the creative and practical challenges of crafting Lollipop, and how Daisy’s unique perspective shaped both her storytelling and her process of working with non-professional actors.

Recorded live at our exclusive Directors UK member event, Academy Award-winning director Guillermo del Toro sits down with friend and fellow Oscar-winning director Alfonso Cuarón for a fascinating deep dive into his creative process, and the making of his haunting new film, Frankenstein.

In the latest episode of the Directors UK Podcast, recorded live at our exclusive Directors UK member event, Academy Award-winning director Kathryn Bigelow speaks with fellow director Peter Straughan on her approach to directing, and the work that went into directing her explosive new film A House Of Dynamite.

Olaide Sadiq’s directorial debut Grenfell: Uncovered examines the disturbing chain of events that led to the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017, giving survivors, bereaved families and firefighters a platform to share their story. In the latest episode of the Directors UK Podcast, recorded live at our exclusive member event last month, Olaide sits down with fellow documentary director Toby Trackman, to discuss how she became involved with the project, her approach to working with collaborators and the responsibility she felt towards them as director, and what it was like working with Netflix on this project.

Recorded live at a Directors UK members event, in partnership with Illuminatrix and FOMO House, director Shannon Murphy and DoP Annika Summerson explore their recent collaboration on BBC drama Dope Girls, in a live discussion moderated by DoP Susanne Salavati. Shannon and Annika share how their creative partnership evolved during filming. Image Credit: BBC/Bad Wolf/Grant Royce

Get a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the casting process behind Channel 4 series, Queenie, in the latest episode of the Directors UK Podcast. Recorded live at our career development masterclass last Autumn, Director (episodes 1-4) Joelle Mae David, Casting Director Aisha Bywaters, and lead actor Dionne Brown, explore the show’s approach to casting. Director James Kent hosts their conversation. Listen to the discussion wherever you get your podcasts.

Sean Baker is In Conversation with Ian Haydn Smith on directing Anora. Sean shares his experience casting and working with Mikey Madison, what it was like shooting on a tight budget, and how the story grew from the film's locations. Image credit: Christopher Andreou

John Crowley is on the Directors UK Podcast speaking to Anna Bogutskaya on what went into directing We Live In Time. John shares his experience in the edit, his approach to rehearsals, as well as what challenges come from working on a non-linear story.

Brady Corbet is on the Directors UK Podcast, In Conversation with Sam Mendes on what went into directing The Brutalist. Brady reflects on the importance of a director’s creative vision, and his journey bringing this epic story to screen.

Greg Kwedar shares the work that went into directing his latest film Sing Sing. A stirring true story featuring an ensemble cast of formerly incarcerated actors, Greg talks about how he worked with the cast to translate real experiences into powerful scenes, and how he practised filmmaking “in community” on the set.

Ellen Kuras speaks about what went into directing her latest film Lee, which tells the true story of American photographer Lee Miller on her quest to document the truth of the Nazi regime. Ellen discusses what sparked her interest in Lee Miller’s work, her approach to telling a story through images, and her commitment to telling this story from a woman’s perspective.

Recorded live at our In Conversation members event in December 2024, Jesse Eisenberg is on the Directors UK Podcast speaking to Sandra Hebron about his latest film A Real Pain. Jesse shares his process, how his work as an actor prepared him for directing, and the risks he’s glad to have taken as a filmmaker.

On the Directors UK Podcast, journalist and filmmaker Shiori Itô discusses her debut feature documentary Black Box Diaries, In Conversation with Jeanie Finlay. Shiori shares how the documentary format gave her more freedom to tell her own story, and helped facilitate her own investigation into her sexual assault in an effort to prosecute her high-profile offender.

Recorded live at our In Conversation member event in November 2024, Robert Eggers speaks to Sandra Hebron about what went into directing his latest film Nosferatu. Robert talks about the evolution of his distinctive style, working with collaborators to craft a dark gothic nightmare, and how his love of the 1920’s classic led to this terrifying reimagining. (Image credit: Christopher Andreou)

Recorded live at our In Conversation members event in November 2024, director Edward Berger speaks to Susanna White on his latest film Conclave. (Image credit: Christopher Andreou)