STUDIOCANAL Presents - The Podcast

STUDIOCANAL

STUDIOCANAL Presents - The Podcast is a monthly movie show, celebrating and exploring exceptional films and series with a deep dive into STUDIOCANAL’s renowned and world-spanning library, including titles available on the streaming channel, STUDIOCANAL PRESENTS.

Host Simon Brew is joined each month by a special guest, and will be exploring classic movies, new theatrical releases, and a fair few hidden gems as well. We dig into films you’ve seen and films you haven’t, and hopefully add a few titles to your watchlist along the way.

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44 episodes
Updated June 29

Episodes44

Newest first

June 29 · 33 min
44: "They had these gigantic 40-foot cut outs of Sean Connery and Christopher Lambert": director Russell Mulcahy talks Highlander
To celebrate the 40th birthday of the immortal Highlander, a very special episode of the STUDIOCANAL Presents podcast. The film's director, Russell Mulcahy, joins regular host Simon Brew to reflect on the film. Plus, Russell talks about what turned into a very special trip to France, with some very large cut outs of Christopher Lambert and Sean Connery! There's just time too for a bit of news from the world of STUDIOCANAL as well...
May 15 · 38 min
43: Director Mike Figgis revisits Leaving Las Vegas
In a very special episode of STUDIOCANAL Presents, regular host Simon Brew welcomes writer/director Mike Figgis, to look back on 30 years of Oscar-winning drama Leaving Las Vegas. As the film arrives on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray for the first time, Mike takes us through the quality control of previous releases, plus the guerilla tactics required to make the movie in the first place. It's an incredible tale. Plus, just time too for a little bit of news from the world of STUDIOCANAL...
April 15 · 38 min
42: Alice Lowe: "Edgier than an Austen", Far From The Madding Crowd, and more
In a special episode of STUDIOCANAL Presents, regular host Simon Brew invites the writer, director, producer and genius Alice Lowe on for a special episode. Alice is given the keys to the STUDIOCANAL catalogue, and picks a pair of films, including the 1967 version of Far From The Madding Crowd. Why does she think it's 'edgier than an Austen?' Alice makes another choice too, and Simon has a round-up of the latest news from STUDIOCANAL as well...
March 17 · 44 min
41: I Swear | Writer/director Kirk Jones looks back on an incredible journey
With three BAFTAs to its name, the film I Swear has added awards acclaim to its critical and commercial success. The real-life story of John Davidson OBE was brought to the screen by writer/director Kirk Jones, and the story of how he got the film made in the first place remains extraordinary. Reflecting on I Swear following its BAFTA success - with two awards alone for leading man Robert Aramayo - Kirk joins Simon Brew to look back on the last two years. And there's a hint of what's ahead, too...
February 6 · 31 min
40: The complicated genius of Peter Sellers
There's a strong case for Peter Sellers being named the finest comedy film actor of all time, and in this latest episode of STUDIOCANAL Presents, he's the subject of our discussion. Regular host Simon Brew is joined by Sellers expert Gemma Ross. They chat through films such as Carlton Brown Of The F.O. and Only Two Can Play, amongst others. And Gemma has an extra double bill for us as well...
Dec 22, 2025 · 34 min
39: Agatha Christie, and an incredible four-film run
Agatha Christie's work may have been adapted for the screen many times, but she wasn't always too happy with it. That all changed with 1974's Murder On The Orient Express, which started a run of four star-studded movies through to the early 1980s. All of which are now available on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray for the first time. Host Simon Brew dons his detective hat, and brings along Christie expert Dr Mark Aldridge to uncover the stories about them. And there's some fresh STUDIOCANAL news to dig into as well...
Oct 21, 2025 · 29 min
38: "History never rewards those who go first" - the quietly groundbreaking One Potato, Two Potato
1964's One Potato, Two Potato is an extraordinary film that flies under many people's radars. Now available on Blu-ray for the first time, this episode of STUDIOCANAL Presents looks at a superb slice of Black film history. Regular host Simon Brew is joined by Dr Clive Nwonka, Associate Professor of Film, Culture & Society at University College London. The pair chat about the film, and also bring the similarly underappreciated Pool Of London into the conversation. Plus: Dr Nwonka gives us his double bill choice, and there's a round-up too of the latest news from the world of STUDIOCANAL. If you like this podcast, please leave a nice review and subscribe. Thank you.
Sep 8, 2025 · 34 min
37: The Graduate: "There was so little going for it ahead of its release!"
After breaking through on Broadway and earning early success with theatre, director Mike Nichols was looking to move to feature films. The second movie he made - and at one stage it was going to be the first - was The Graduate, and over 50 years later, it's enjoying a 4K remaster and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray release. For this latest episode of STUDIOCANAL Presents, regular host Simon Brew (of Film Stories) is joined by Little White Lies editor David Jenkins for a conversation about the film, its legacy, and how the casting could have been very, very different. Plus! David's double bill choice, and some added STUDIOCANAL news...
Aug 8, 2025 · 40 min
36: Akira Kurosawa's Ran at 40, plus a special appearance from Chiwetel Ejiofor and Tom Hiddleston
An absolutely packed episode of STUDIOCANAL Presents here, as we celebrate a birthday, and bring in a couple of bonus guests! The first order of business is Akira Kurosawa's masterpiece, Ran, which is celebrating its 40th birthday. Regular host Simon Brew is joined by The Guardian film writer Andrew Pulver to talk about the film, and the influence of Kurosawa on modern Hollywood. And then! In come Chiwetel Ejiofor and Tom Hiddleston, two of the stars of Mike Flanagan's The Life Of Chuck, which heads to UK cinemas on 20th August. Quite the chat with these two here, rounding off an extra special episode...
Jul 18, 2025 · 40 min
35: “My attitude was I wanted it to be honest” | Francis Ford Coppola, and Hearts Of Darkness: A Filmmaker’s Apocalypse
A very special episode of STUDIOCANAL Presents, as multi-Oscar-winning filmmaking legend Francis Ford Coppola spends some time with us. He's talking about the new restoration of Hearts Of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse, the newly-remastered documentary film charting the making of Apocalypse Now. Francis talks candidly about the film, and how Eleanor Coppola went about her work. Furthermore, co-director of the film Fax Bahr then also joins us, as he reflects on wading through all the material and fashioning it into a film. Plus, how he ended up making the movie in the first place.
Jun 12, 2025 · 27 min
34: "Drawings do not pretend. Drawings do not lie." - Oscar-winner Michel Hazanavicius on moving to animation
Academy Award-winning director Michel Hazanavicius joins regular host Simon Brew for a special episode of the STUDIOCANAL Presents podcast. After winning Oscar for The Artist, Michel spent many years realising the extraordinary The Most Precious Of Cargoes. He tells Simon about the challenge of making the film, and what animation afforded him that live action wouldn't. That, and about the power of Alexandre Desplat's music. Plus, a special double bill as well, and the latest news from STUDIOCANAL...
May 8, 2025 · 33 min
33: “This wasn’t Oppenheimer. This was something else” – revisiting The Dam Busters, 70 years on
A British war movie classic comes into focus in the latest episode of the STUDIOCANAL Presents podcast, as The Dam Busters celebrates its 70th birthday. Host Simon Brew is joined by Dr Matthew Sweet as the pair chat about the film, drawing parallels with work as far and wide as Apocalypse Now, Star Wars, Dunkirk and even a dab of Top Gun Maverick. Also, why a version of the film written by Roald Dahl and directed by Howard Hawks never came to be. Quite the bonus double bill in this episode, too!
Mar 31, 2025 · 32 min
32: Over 40 films in 15 years: the work of Rainer Werner Fassbinder
Few filmmakers can ever match the output of the late Rainer Werner Fassbinder, a German filmmaker who died at the age of just 37, with several lifetimes of work to his name. He's in the spotlight in this episode of STUDIOCANAL Presents, with two movies in particular - In A Year Of 13 Moons and Lola - going under our microscope. Regular host Simon Brew, of Film Stories, is joined by film writer and curator Sarah Cleary to examine the work of Fassinder. Plus, a fresh double bill, and the latest STUDIOCANAL news too...
Feb 28, 2025 · 34 min
31: "One of the best British comedies ever made" | Paul Merton, and the cinema of Tony Hancock
Welcome to the brand new season of STUDIOCANAL Presents, kicking off in style as Paul Merton joins regular host Simon Brew to talk about comedy legend Tony Hancock. In particular, two films that Hancock made at a pivotal point in his career: 1961's The Rebel and 1963's The Punch & Judy Man, both arriving on STUDIOCANAL's Vintage Classics DVD and Blu-ray label. Wearing terrific socks, which might not come across in the audio, Paul Merton explains just what makes the two films special. Plus, a whole lot more in here too...
Dec 10, 2024 · 32 min
30: Early Alfred Hitchcock
In the final episode of STUDIOCANAL Presents for 2024, regular host Simon Brew is joined by film historian and critic Henry K Miller. Between them, they're digging into some of the early work of Alfred Hitchcock. They pick out the highlights from a brand new Blu-ray boxset of Hitchcock films, not least the film that straddled the line between silent cinema and talkies. Plus, there's time too for a double bill recommendation, and the latest STUDIOCANAL news...
Nov 13, 2024 · 29 min
29: Alain Delon
The work of the late screen legend Alain Delon is the focus of the latest episode of STUDIOCANAL Presents. Regular host Simon Brew is joined by broadcaster and journalist Christina Newland to chat about Delon's films, with Plein Soleil and Mr Klein in particular a focus of conversation. There's also time for more news from the world of STUDIOCANAL, and a fresh double bill recommendation too...
Oct 3, 2024 · 27 min
28: Behind the scenes of Paddington In Peru
A real treat in this episode of STUDIOCANAL Presents, as host Simon Brew gets to go behind the scenes of the eagerly-awaited Paddington In Peru! He heads to a top secret location in London where the film was having its final touches put to it. He also finds out more from producer Rosie Alison, and the film's director, Dougal Wilson. Just enough time too for a news round-up from STUDIOCANAL as well. Paddington In Peru arrives in UK cinemas from 8th November 2024.
Sep 3, 2024 · 30 min
27: Pedro Almodovar
The work of Spanish film director Pedro Almodovar moves into the limelight in this episode of the STUDIOCANAL Presents podcast - in particular, a pair of his earlier movies. Kayleigh Donaldson joins regular host Simon Brew, examining and discussing both Women On The Verge Of A Nervous Breakdown and Kika. There's also time for the latest STUDIOCANAL news, as well as a fresh double bill recommendation as well...
Aug 14, 2024 · 35 min
26: Cartoon Saloon at 25, with Tomm Moore, Paul Young and Nora Twomey
Founded back in 1999 by Tomm Moore, Paul Young and Nora Twomey, Irish animation studio Cartoon Saloon has earned a worldwide reputation off the back of films such as The Secret Of Kells, Song Of The Sea and The Breadwinner. In a very special episode of STUDIOCANAL Presents, the trio join regular host Simon Brew to talk about the story of Cartoon Saloon, its films, and its birthday. It's quite the tale...
Jul 5, 2024 · 34 min
25: The Conversation, with Walter Murch
A real treat in this episode of STUDIOCANAL Presents, as regular host Simon Brew is joined by Academy Award winner Walter Murch to talk about the 1974 classic The Conversation. Directed by Francis Ford Coppola, The Conversation was the movie he made between the first two Godfather films, and for actor Gene Hackman, he called it one of his favourite roles. No wonder: a superb, paranoid thriller, The Conversation also marked Walter Murch's first credit as editor, and he was also the sound designer on the film. He has plenty of stories to tell. The Conversation has been remastered in 4K, and is back in UK cinemas, with a 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray release too.