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Welcome to Kicking the Seat!

Ian Simmons launched Kicking the Seat in 2009, one week after seeing Nora Ephron’s Julie & Julia. His wife proposed blogging as a healthier outlet for his anger than red-faced, twenty-minute tirades (Ian is no longer allowed to drive home from the movies).

The Kicking the Seat Podcast followed three years later and, despite its “undiscovered gem” status, Ian thoroughly enjoys hosting film critic discussions, creating themed shows, and interviewing such luminaries as Gaspar Noé, Rachel Brosnahan, Amy Seimetz, and Richard Dreyfuss.

Ian is a member of the Chicago Film Critics Association. He also has a family, a day job, and conflicted feelings about referring to himself in the third person.

Ep874: CINEMA FEMME Is Breaking Down Walls w/ Rebecca Martin Fagerholm and Michael Glover Smith

Ep874: CINEMA FEMME Is Breaking Down Walls w/ Rebecca Martin Fagerholm and Michael Glover Smith

Ian Simmons

Ian talks with Cinema Femme founder Rebecca Martin Fagerholm about the upcoming Cinema Femme Short Film Festival, and with Chicago filmmaker Michael Glover Smith, whose co-directorial effort, "Paper Planes", is included in the lineup.

The fifth edition of the festival is going hybrid this year, with online screenings starting April 28th and, for the first time, a series of in-person events at the historic Music Box Theatre (the April 30th slate is sold out, but tickets are still available for the May 3rd programs).

In this interview, Rebecca talks about the origins of Cinema Femme, the Breaking Down Walls mentorship program for women and nonbinary filmmakers, and the industry impacts that result from helping diverse voices reach a larger audience.

Also, Michael discusses how "Paper Planes" got off the ground thanks to a Tweet by the short's writer/co-director Alyssa Thordarson! For showtimes, tickets, and more information about the 5th Cinema Femme Short Film Festival, check out the links below.

Show Links

  • Watch the Cinema Femme Short Film Fest 2023 trailer.

  • Get tickets for the online portion of the festival here.

  • Get showtimes and tickets for the April 30th in-person shorts program at the Music Box Theatre.

  • Keep up with all things Cinema Femme!

    • Website: cinemafemme.com TikTok: tiktok.com/@cinemafemme

    • Twitter: @Cinema_Femme

    • Facebook: Facebook.com/cinemafemmemagazine

    • Instagram: @cinemafemmemagazine

    • Follow (and use) the festival's Official Hashtag: #CinemaFemmeShortFilmFest

  • Keep up with Michael's movies (and movie reviews!) at White City Cinema: https://whitecitycinema.com/

Ep875: REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE (1955) - Round Table Review

Ep875: REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE (1955) - Round Table Review
Ep873: IndieSeen: THREE WORLDS (2018) - with Writer/Director Amir Motlagh

Ep873: IndieSeen: THREE WORLDS (2018) - with Writer/Director Amir Motlagh