Full Frame Documentary Film Festival: The Coziest Film Festival in the Triangle

In today’s episode, Sophs sits down with Emily Foster, the Co-Director of the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival taking place in Durham April 16th–19th. We talk about the great new films and filmmakers that will be showcased, what makes this year’s lineup especially exciting, and how the festival continues to be a vital platform for documentary storytelling.

Emily also shares insights into the curation process, highlights a few must-see premieres, and offers tips for first-time attendees looking to make the most of their festival experience. We wrap things up with a look at how documentary film is evolving and why events like Full Frame remain so important for both creators and audiences alike.

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Creators and Guests

Host

Sophs Magnanini

Public Affairs Director (2025-2026)

What is Oak City Move?

A radio program and podcast from WKNC 88.1 FM HD-1/HD-2 celebrating those who enact positive changes in the Raleigh community.

00:00
Sophia Magnanini
Oak City Move is a podcast on WKNC's 88.1 FM HD 1 Raleigh where we highlight people and organizations creating positive change in the Triangle and beyond. Oak City Move can be heard on air every Other Monday on 88.1 FM HD1 Raleigh or online at wknc.org Listen for episodes and more information, go to our blog at blog.wknc.org or follow us on SoundCloud at wknc88.1.

00:30
Sophia Magnanini
Hello wknc88.1 Raleigh the song you just heard with Sweaty linen by Surf Ninja 3. I'm Sophia Magnanini, your host and you're listening to Oak City Move. Today we're joined by a very special guest, Emily Foster, who's here to help tell us about the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival, which is super exciting. And first off, I just want to say thank you. Thank you so much for joining me and if you could kind of explain what the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival is about for listeners who aren't familiar and your role in it.

01:04
Emily Foster
Yeah, thanks so much for having me. So I am one of the festival co directors of the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival. We have two, there are two directors I lead alongside my artistic director Sadie Tillery, which is really a really rad setup. So the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival happens each spring. It is a morning to midnight four day event that features more than 60 documentary films each year in addition to free panel conversations, parties and so much more. We take place in downtown Durham both at the Carolina Theater and then we quite literally build two screens in the Durham Convention center in the ballrooms there. The festival is an Academy Award qualifying festival in addition to welcoming dozens and dozens of filmmakers from all around the world to downtown Durham each year.

02:03
Emily Foster
More than 60% of films have a filmmaker or participant in attendance. Plus it's just like a really fun time. The community is out. It feels so good and it's such a cool unique event unlike anything else you're going to find in the Triangle.

02:20
Sophia Magnanini
No, that's awesome. Especially how long it's like a lot of films every day, four days. And it's so cool like the you guys are saying you built these two other screens and it's just so awesome that also like the filmmakers are kind of out there like to ask questions and it's just a really great like bringing together because I haven't really heard of the Full. Well I have heard of Full Frame but what kind of makes it different from other film festivals in Raleigh or in the Durham Raleigh area. And also what's kind of the energy this year? Is there a specific theme or is it kind of just all different types of films?

03:05
Emily Foster
No. Such a good question. So I think Full Frame is not only unique among festivals here in the Triangle, but I think it is actually unique in the world and certainly in the country, but definitely around the world. So Full Frame is not only one of the oldest non fiction film festivals, founded in 1998, previously called the Double Take Documentary Film Festival before it became full frame in 2003. Full frame, most film festivals you attend particularly that are of the same scale and size of Full Frame take place all across the city. You're on shuttles and buses. It's hard to get from screening to screening and to really immerse yourself in the festival experience. Full Frame is very lucky because all of our venues are within about two square city blocks.

03:55
Emily Foster
So everybody, all thousands of attendees, all of the filmmakers, everyone is there together and it's very easy to zip between screenings, go to events, go check out a panel conversation. We build a plaza, we partner with restaurants in Durham and build in the plaza a big pop up cafe. So it's a great way to just really hang out downtown and spend, you can spend a full day easily watching films and that's what I really encourage people to do. Like the energy at Full Frame. So Academy Award winner from this year for best documentary, David Borenstein for Mr. Nobody against Putin described Full Frame as last year as the coziest film festival he had ever been to.

04:41
Emily Foster
And I like to think it's because of how easy it is to navigate in addition to the fact that like you're just surrounded by people who want to immerse themselves in this art form in a news stories and it's just easy to like make connections with your community. And yeah, that's the energy that I love about the festival and that I hope others can feel when they attend.

05:05
Sophia Magnanini
That's so awesome. You guys are just building a community and like you were saying, since everything's so close, everyone's kind of in the same vicinity and it's not going to take a long time for people to like go different places or like miss certain documentaries because of this. So that's really awesome. And also yeah, I love it being called the coziest. Yeah, because honestly that's like a goal, that's a main goal. Like when you're in a group of people and you're watching new things and talking to people, cozy is A great word to describe that.

05:41
Emily Foster
I totally agree. And I'll say from like, a personal philosophy I have in my own work. So I've worked in film exhibition and with many film festivals over the years. One of my personal philosophies is how do we make independent film in documentary feel accessible and be accessible in all the ways that you can define it in? One of those, to me, is I want people to feel like they're just coming to a movie. Like they. They get to try something new. I don't want the festival to feel like this big, intimidating event. And so have it. Have it being described as a cozy experience was so wonderful. It made it feel like, oh, we're doing what we meant to do. It's. It's a. It's. It's. We want to make it an accessible, easy event for people to attend.

06:26
Sophia Magnanini
Exactly. And also then it's like, it kind of broadens the spectrum of visitors from like, people who are kind of more into film to then maybe people who just haven't really, like, heard of it before, but then they see it and then they're like, let's. Let's see what's going on. Which is, yeah, really cool. How long have you been at a Full Frame and also, like, through the years. What are some of the favorite parts of helping build this festival that you just love?

06:58
Emily Foster
Yeah, so I joined Full frame in late 2019, just before the pandemic came and hit us all. So were actually in our virtual years for a couple years before returning in person back in 2024. And I will say that one of the biggest highlights of my career, and certainly in my time at Full Frame, was really getting to see the community, both locally and nationally, and the filmmaking community come together to really help that return to in person in 2024, be a huge. And year over year, that is the best part of my job, is getting to work with such incredible partners, work with such incredible artists who are so invested in making sure that these films reach their intended audiences and also to, like, help people discover these films. Like you said, like, I.

07:57
Emily Foster
Some people may love film, but they may not know how to attend Full Frame, or people may not be big film buffs and they're not sure if they're going to enjoy a documentary film festival. Well, I love that we have so many local partners, so many national partners who are here to help make the experience just easy for people and accessible for people to come. So really, it's our community that is the best part of my Job.

08:24
Sophia Magnanini
I love that. And yeah, it's really awesome because what you're saying, since everything's so close, even if people are just kind of walking on the street, they could be like, what's going on? And then it'll help just spread. But that's. That's amazing for the people, for the different films, like the directors from anywhere. Is it like just the U.S. is it like the world? Is it North Carolina?

08:51
Emily Foster
No. Such a good question. So we. We have filmmakers from all around the globe join us each year. And Full Frame is very committed to having to supporting artists at the festival. So we will. We often pay travel in a com in addition to a stipend. We welcome well over 100 makers each year. So it's a very cool experience to watch a film and then immediately have the artist there to talk about how they found this story, their philosophy around filmmaking, it's those deeper conversations. But because Full Frame is such like a compact landscape, what's also cool is you could be standing in line to go to a movie and like the filmmaker you just saw like the. The hour before is also in line waiting for that same film. So you're really immersed in the art with the artist.

09:48
Emily Foster
I also love to spotlight that Full Frame has an awards program. So we give out 10 juried awards each year and two audience awards, which puts $50,000 back into the hands of artists. And I'm very proud of that support that we're able to give to documentary filmmakers.

10:08
Sophia Magnanini
No, that's awesome, because not only are you helping spread their creations, but then also helping to support them. And it's also really cool how, like you were saying, they could be in line behind you. So it's like for people who are really interested in film and creating things, like, going to this festival would be a great opportunity because you can meet so many different people and it's just so cool. Why do you think events like Full Frame are important, especially right now?

10:41
Emily Foster
No, I think any event or space that encourages people to gather together is essential, especially right now. I think so many people are seeking that connection with their community. And when I think about Full Frame's place in the city of Durham and in the Triangle region and kind of what we build, it really is about gathering people together to tell these stories. I shared this earlier, but a filmmaker last year explained it as, you know, when we all come together to watch these films, it's people gathered together telling stories. Something that we have done since the beginning of time. And that has resonated with me. Over this last year about the importance of why Full Frame has such an impact on our community and in this area.

11:39
Emily Foster
So I'm such an advocate for not just the work we do, but the work that any community space does or event does that brings people together, especially together around art. I think that is so important. Art is essential to our lives and living a good life. And that to me is why I think. Yeah, I think festivals and art events are just so important in communities.

12:06
Sophia Magnanini
So incredibly true. Like you're saying, especially I feel, well, in this past like decade as social media and all that stuff comes up and we kind of become less connected to our community. Community. And so it's so important to have these type of things where everyone can come together, tell stories like you were saying, because storytelling and community has been. Yeah. Around for as long as we can think of. And so it's really awesome that you guys are hoping to keep that going. Going off of that. I know you guys were talking about kind of the supporting the local and stuff. How does the festival help connect to the local arts and culture scene?

12:50
Emily Foster
Yeah. So Full Frame is so incredibly proud to call Durham our hometown. It has been our home for almost three decades since we. Since its inception. So it's been our home for three decades. And what I love is during the event itself, it can become a gathering space for artists and filmmakers and those in creative fields. Full Frame is very committed to working with artists in the lead up to the event. For example, we are working with this incredible Durham based artist named Ann Mouser who did all of our festival campaign materials. Additionally, we are. We often find, celebrate and are excited when we have North Carolina who are in our festival lineup. So for example, this year we are screening a film called Kikuyu Land that will be on, I believe it is Saturday morning. Oh, hold on. Nope, it is Friday.

13:46
Emily Foster
On Friday of the festival we are screening Kikuyu Land and that is directed by a local filmmaker, Andrew Brown. And it's always exciting when we find that talent here in our festival. Additionally, we love. We want to make. One of the big goals, as I've mentioned, is like we want the festival and we want the documentary art form to be accessible to a wider audience. So we host a variety of year round screenings through a series called Full Frame Presents and a series called the Full Frame Roadshow. We have been at the Carolina Theater, the Cary Theater, we've been at the Durham Public Library and we're always seeking new interesting spaces to host these screenings. And importantly, those screenings are free and Open to the public.

14:34
Emily Foster
And that is so important to us, so that as many people can not just discover full frame, but can have easy access to these incredible films and incredible stories. And that also goes through our festival, into the festival. We always have free opportunities for people to attend. You do not have to go. You do not have to pay for a ticket. But we have four free screenings this year, all of which I'm very excited for. They include a film called Luther Never Too Much, which is about R B artist Luther Van Ross. I was dancing the first time I saw it. We also have the Ladybird Diaries, which is about one of our former first ladies. We will. Oh, my gosh, it's all set. And then I lost my list.

15:26
Emily Foster
But we love creating opportunities for people to engage with full frame without having to spend money. Additionally, our panel conversations, which are called Speakeasy Conversations, take place at the Durham Hotel in those films or those panel conversations are also free and open to the public to attend. No ticket required.

15:45
Sophia Magnanini
That's so awesome. And yeah, it just shows how much you guys are like community, the local scene. Like, you guys just want everyone to be able to see these amazing things and become inspired and come out and support, which is really cool. Also. Yeah. That you guys do the different screenings and the road show. That's really awesome. Kind of going around different places because, yeah, like you said, it's sometimes hard for people to get over there or find the time or the money, but it's really cool that you guys are have those free screenings and then those other free screenings throughout the years as well as the panels. That is, like, really interesting.

16:28
Sophia Magnanini
And I feel like that's also a really important thing for, like, anyone who is interested in film or just anything of the sorts to kind of listen to filmmakers talk about it, which I love that. That's so awesome.

16:44
Emily Foster
Yeah, the panels are cool too, because again, we call them a speakeasy conversation. And they take place in the beautiful Durham Hotel, just there in the lobby in the coffee bar area. And they really are just these candid, open conversations about a variety of topics. And they often provide opportunity for people in attendance to also ask questions. So it's a very cool, intimate space.

17:12
Sophia Magnanini
No, that's amazing. Yeah. Just kind of bouncing off one another and just. Yeah. I love how you guys call it the speakeasy, because that's also like. It kind of takes the pressure off. It seems like much more like chill and everyone can kind of be heard.

17:27
Emily Foster
Absolutely. Again, speak.

17:29
Sophia Magnanini
Yes. Throughout your years working with the Full Frame Film Festival. What have been some of your best moments? What are your favorite moments? Any favorite films, any favorite filmmakers, or just anything that's kind of stuck out to you throughout the years? I know this might kind of be hard.

17:50
Emily Foster
Oh, it. Oh yeah. It's always hard. Let me think for a moment. You know, something that comes to mind immediately is a screening we had last year. So we screened a film called When Full Frame was founded in 1998. The first winner of the Grand Jury award was a film called Travis. And we had the opportunity to re screen that film last year and at the festival because we honored the editor of the film, Gene Chen. But so Travis follows a young boy who is born with aids. And it's a very moving film, but it's been 20 years. And like, when I talk about like those moments that we try to create at the festival of connecting people with participants or artists, people got to the end of this film.

18:43
Emily Foster
And then when we introduced Travis, who is still alive and still with us today, to participate in the Q and A, there was a roar from the audience of applause. It was so cool to see that a film that was more than 20 years old had such an impact on our attendees. And it was just a reminder of how powerful documentary is, but specifically how powerful these stories are and how lasting they are over many years and decades even.

19:16
Sophia Magnanini
That's awesome. That, that's so cool. And especially because like you were saying, for the filmmakers and the people that are helping to create this is such an important thing. And for so many people to be able to witness that and take it in, especially 20 years later, is so cool and like very important on showing how much film kind of connects to us as people. And it is really such a great medium, especially documentaries, to kind of portray these different things. Especially I feel like right now in, I mean the US and the world all together, there's kind of been this like there's like the two sides or there's always like sides and stuff. But showing, helping, like seeing these different films helps you to see all these different things. Different, different people, different feelings. And that's really cool.

20:16
Sophia Magnanini
If you had to sell Full Frame in one sentence to our listeners, what would you say?

20:24
Emily Foster
Oh, good question. You know, Full Frame is a four day celebration of urgent and essential storytelling. It spotlights some of the best new documentaries with the chance to hear directly from the artist and the participants. And there's truly nothing else like it in this area. It's a, it's such a unique, wonderful experience that builds a unique and wonderful community.

20:49
Sophia Magnanini
That's awesome. And before I go on to my last thing where we kind of can tell people how to get involved, are there any specific documentaries that you're excited about this year?

21:03
Emily Foster
Oh, my God, yes. There's so many. So I am very excited for the opening night film called the Oldest Person in the World. It's directed by Sam Green, who is an Academy Award nominated filmmaker. He will be joining us. He lives in Italy and he's flying all the way from Italy to come join us in this festival or this film is surprising. It's called the Oldest Person in the World and you certainly get to meet multiple people who have held that title throughout the duration of the story and. But it ends up becoming so much bigger and more meaningful of a story that's about life and what brings meaning to life. So I just, I have to spotlight that film. I'm also very excited for, as I mentioned, Kikuyu Land, directed by Andrew Brown, because that is a local filmmaker who.

21:54
Emily Foster
But the film is not local. The film actually takes place looking at a village in Kenya. And then I'm also really excited for When A Witness Recants, which is going to play on Saturday evening. It is one of Dom Porter's new films. The film follows three men who were wrongfully incarcerated for nearly 30 years. And we will have special guests in attendance. And I'm very excited. I think that's just going to be such a powerful, moving film. And then I know it was selling quickly, so tickets might be out. But one thing that I love that I have to pitch to any young people who are listening is we are screening for free the entirety of season two of the rehearsal. Oh, my goodness.

22:41
Sophia Magnanini
Yes, I know.

22:43
Emily Foster
And it's a free screening. So anyone who missed that or is interested in Nathan Fielder's form of humor, I think it's so cool that were able to kind of find a way to position that special screening at the festival. I think it's. I think it's so fun that we. This year in the festival, we have films that span from 1917 to 2025 through our thematic program that was curated by Robert Greene. Oh, my gosh. Who I should totally tell you about. So Robert Greene, he is this incredible filmmaker and we asked him to curate a special side program for the festival, our thematic program. But Robert is an NC State alum. He's from Charlotte, and we're so thrilled to have him join us at the festival.

23:30
Emily Foster
And he's the one who brought the rehearsal to the festival this year, along with a host of other really interesting films that look at constructed scenes in documentary film and how narrative techniques are used in documentary cinema.

23:43
Sophia Magnanini
That's awesome. It's really just so cool, like you were saying, the span of different documentaries, like the times they were created and just also the genres and the. So many different stories to be told and to hear, and it's just so awesome. So any listeners should definitely go and try and check this out. And so my next and last question before we kind of leave off is where can listeners learn more or get involved with the Full Frame Festival?

24:16
Emily Foster
Yeah, well, I hope everyone will. If you've never come, I hope you'll take a chance and come out and if you have been, come buy an extra ticket, see multiple films this year. We look forward to seeing you again. More information and tickets can be [e-mail] awesome.

24:35
Sophia Magnanini
Well, thank you so much. And if there's anything else you'd like to say before we kind of end this up.

24:44
Emily Foster
Nope. I think we covered so much and I'm just really excited for next week and looking forward to welcoming audiences.

24:50
Sophia Magnanini
So me, I am most definitely going to bring a lot of my friends and we're going to go check this out. The Nathan Fielder rehearsal, too. That's. That's so funny. And also just a nice little, like, side. A little extra thing. But that's really funny and just. I think so because it kind of, like, shows all the different. Because there's so many different types of. Although these are all documentaries, there's so many different types of ways to kind of create and like, frame a documentary. So it's. It would be. It's going to be really cool to see the different, like, themes and creations throughout the festival.

25:36
Emily Foster
Yeah, well, that's just it. You. You touched on a really important point, which is I think so many people grow up in their experience with documentary film is maybe more traditional, like what they. What they saw in school or what they saw in maybe like the History Channel. But the documentary form is so much more expansive and so much more flexible and nuanced than what I think many people's first introductions to it are. And what I love about Full Frame and about our programming is that it really does span such a wide variety of the genre. And so when I say, like, come in and take a chance on a film, I really encourage people to do so because there are. There's such beautiful and incredible filmmaking happening throughout all of these stories. And I think it.

26:31
Emily Foster
Any of these films that you're going to see will expand anyone's definition of the word documentary.

26:37
Sophia Magnanini
That's incredible. So, listeners, you guys better show up because this is going to be so cool and such an amazing thing to experience. As we wrap up our chat, I just want to thank Emily again for coming in and telling us all about the awesome full frame documentary film festival. You guys should definitely all check that out because it sounds so cool, so fun and I think you guys would love it. You guys would love it. If you're listening to this, you would love it. But thank you guys all for listening to Oak City Move once again. I'm your host Sofia Magnanini and if you are interested in listening to this episode again or to past episodes of the show, you can go to wknc.org podcast and make sure to tune into our show every other Monday on WKNC 88.1 FM Raleigh.

27:29
Sophia Magnanini
Have a great day. All right.