{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Your Dark Companion Podcast","title":"20 Years of the DIFF | James Faust","html":"<iframe width=\"100%\" height=\"180\" frameborder=\"no\" scrolling=\"no\" seamless src=\"https://share.transistor.fm/e/4a9e73e4\"></iframe>","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":4498,"description":"Watching one movie a night sounds relaxing.Watching eleven a day sounds like a cry for help.\nThis episode of Your Dark Companion finds Mike Rhyner and Grubes welcoming back James Faust, Artistic Director of the Dallas International Film Festival, as DIFF gears up for its 20th anniversary. From the brutal realities of screening thousands of submissions to the delicate art of choosing films that won’t make audiences flee the theater, James pulls back the curtain on how film festivals actually work.\nAlong the way, the conversation veers (as it should) into popcorn rituals, Russian romantic comedies no one saw coming, mob-adjacent piano tuners, celebrity memories, Netflix House skepticism, and why “effort does not equal quality” might be the hardest truth filmmakers ever hear.\nIt’s part insider masterclass, part hang-session, and fully committed to reminding you that festivals aren’t gatekeepers — they’re exhausted movie lovers with college degrees and very strong opinions.\nChapters\n00:00:00 – Lightning Strikes, Sports Takes, and Why This Episode Exists00:04:04 – Watching 11 Movies a Day Without Losing Your Mind00:06:19 – Popcorn Rules, Butter Politics, and Theater Etiquette00:08:11 – Inside the 20th Anniversary of Dallas International Film Festival00:09:01 – The Hunt for Hidden Gems (And Why Tuner Rules)00:12:30 – Wrongful Convictions, Tough Films, and Emotional Payoffs00:12:46 – Lucky Grandma, AT&T Untold Stories, and Why Comedy Matters00:15:23 – Remembering Rob Reiner and the Rights Nightmare After Legends Pass00:19:27 – Landman, Texas Accents, and When Shows Just Don’t Grab You00:23:09 – Netflix House: Theme Park or Expensive Store With Drinks?00:25:44 – DIFF Dates, Venues, and What’s Coming in April00:26:43 – How to Submit Your Film (And When You’re Too Late)00:29:06 – Film Festivals vs. Streaming: The New Reality00:30:32 – How Films Are Judged (And Why Your Mom Is Not the Final Authority)00:33:13 – Acceptance Rates, Rejections, and Crushing Dreams...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/MY5pcsVq0QCXSElEJXNsUEiC8gyrgEoWfpnhiVr9GdU/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9hZTA1/ZjBmZGFkOTk5ZDdi/YWRmMDQ3NGZjY2Ex/ZjgxYS5qcGc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}