Catalyst and Witness

2025 Festival Dispatch #2

newsnayr@gmail.com (Ryan Swen) — Wed, 12 Nov 2025 17:25:19 -0800

The second 2025 festival dispatch of the Catalyst and Witness podcast, devoted to exploring the films and format of the New York Film Festival, hosted by Ryan Swen. This covers the last week of the 2025 New York Film Festival, and features guest Kenji Fujishima.

2025 Festival Dispatch #1

newsnayr@gmail.com (Ryan Swen) — Thu, 2 Oct 2025 15:23:00 -0700

The first 2025 festival dispatch of the Catalyst and Witness podcast, devoted to exploring the films and format of the New York Film Festival, hosted by Ryan Swen. This covers the first week of press screenings of the 2025 New York Film Festival, and features guest Alex Lei.

2024 Festival Dispatch #2

newsnayr@gmail.com (Ryan Swen) — Fri, 8 Nov 2024 16:16:00 -0800

The second 2024 festival dispatch of the Catalyst and Witness podcast, devoted to exploring the films and format of the New York Film Festival, hosted by Ryan Swen. This covers the middle week of the 2024 New York Film Festival, and features guests Soham Gadre and Esther Rosenfield.

2024 Festival Dispatch #1

newsnayr@gmail.com (Ryan Swen) — Wed, 9 Oct 2024 11:23:00 -0700

The first 2024 festival dispatch of the Catalyst and Witness podcast, devoted to exploring the films and format of the New York Film Festival, hosted by Ryan Swen. This covers the first week of the 2024 New York Film Festival, and features guests Forrest Cardamenis and Jackson Kim Murphy.

2023 Festival Dispatch

newsnayr@gmail.com (Ryan Swen) — Fri, 10 Nov 2023 01:32:00 -0800

The 2023 festival dispatch of the Catalyst and Witness podcast, devoted to exploring the films and format of the New York Film Festival, hosted by Ryan Swen. This covers the 2023 New York Film Festival, and features guest Dan Schindel.

2022 Festival Dispatch

newsnayr@gmail.com (Ryan Swen) — Sun, 30 Oct 2022 18:23:00 -0700

The 2022 festival dispatch of the Catalyst and Witness podcast, devoted to exploring the films and format of the New York Film Festival, hosted by Ryan Swen. This covers the 2022 New York Film Festival, and features guest Nick Newman.

2021 Festival Dispatch #2

newsnayr@gmail.com (Ryan Swen) — Tue, 19 Oct 2021 15:43:00 -0700

The second 2021 festival dispatch of the Catalyst and Witness podcast, devoted to exploring the films and format of the New York Film Festival, hosted by Ryan Swen. This covers the second week of the 2021 New York Film Festival, and features guests Forrest Cardamenis, Edo Choi, Soham Gadre, Susannah Gruder, Jeva Lange, and Jason Miller.

0:00-54:44 - Part One
54:45-1:55:41 - Part Two

2021 Festival Dispatch #1

newsnayr@gmail.com (Ryan Swen) — Tue, 5 Oct 2021 18:16:00 -0700

The first 2021 festival dispatch of the Catalyst and Witness podcast, devoted to exploring the films and format of the New York Film Festival, hosted by Ryan Swen. This covers the first week of the 2021 New York Film Festival, and features guests Forrest Cardamenis, Soham Gadre, Susannah Gruder, and Patrick Preziosi. (Edo Choi was also on the call but could not be included due to technical difficulties.)

0:00-34:08 - Part One
34:09-1:11:09 - Part Two

18th (1980): "The Earth Strikes Back"

newsnayr@gmail.com (Ryan Swen) — Thu, 23 Sep 2021 21:51:00 -0700

The eighteenth episode of the Catalyst and Witness podcast, devoted to exploring the films and format of the New York Film Festival, hosted by Ryan Swen. This covers the eighteenth edition of the festival in 1980, and features special guest Shawn Glinis, host of the Wiseman Podcast.

0:00-16:20 - Opening
16:21-55:27 - Part One
55:28-1:33:05 - Part Two
1:33:06-2:27:51 - Part Three
2:27:52-3:20:37 - Part Four
3:20:38-3:26:19 - Closing

17th (1979): "Film Capital of the World"

newsnayr@gmail.com (Ryan Swen) — Sat, 26 Dec 2020 14:42:00 -0800

The seventeenth episode of the Catalyst and Witness podcast, devoted to exploring the films and format of the New York Film Festival, hosted by Ryan Swen. This covers the seventeenth edition of the festival in 1979, and features special guest Jake Cole, freelance film critic for Slant Magazine.

0:00-15:35 – Opening
15:36-1:08:42 – Part One
1:08:43-2:16:06 – Part Two
2:16:07-3:13:08 – Part Three
3:13:09-4:11:27 – Part Four
4:11:28-4:17:25 – Closing

2020 Festival Dispatch #4

newsnayr@gmail.com (Ryan Swen) — Sat, 17 Oct 2020 12:23:00 -0700

The fourth 2020 festival dispatch of the Catalyst and Witness podcast, devoted to exploring the films and format of the New York Film Festival, hosted by Ryan Swen. This covers the third week of the 2020 New York Film Festival, and features guests Forrest Cardamenis, Soham Gadre, and Jason Miller.

0:00-1:01:03 – Part One
1:01:04-2:06:23 – Part Two

2020 Festival Dispatch #3

newsnayr@gmail.com (Ryan Swen) — Wed, 7 Oct 2020 12:36:00 -0700

The third 2020 festival dispatch of the Catalyst and Witness podcast, devoted to exploring the films and format of the New York Film Festival, hosted by Ryan Swen. This covers the second week of the 2020 New York Film Festival, and features guests Forrest Cardamenis, Jeva Lange, Jason Miller, and C.J. Prince.

0:00-1:07:45 - Part One
1:07:46-2:07:51 - Part Two

2020 Festival Dispatch #2

newsnayr@gmail.com (Ryan Swen) — Tue, 29 Sep 2020 13:15:00 -0700

The second 2020 festival dispatch of the Catalyst and Witness podcast, devoted to exploring the films and format of the New York Film Festival, hosted by Ryan Swen. This covers the first week of the 2020 New York Film Festival, and features guests Forrest Cardamenis, Max Carpenter, Susannah Gruder, Jeva Lange, Chloe Lizotte, and C.J. Prince.

0:00-1:05:18 – Part One
1:05:19-2:06:11 – Part Two

2020 Festival Dispatch #1

newsnayr@gmail.com (Ryan Swen) — Wed, 19 Aug 2020 09:20:00 -0700

The first 2020 festival dispatch of the Catalyst and Witness podcast, devoted to exploring the films format of the New York Film Festival, hosted by Ryan Swen. This covers the announcement of the 2020 main slate, and features guest Jason Miller.

0:00-1:28:41 - Part One

16th (1978): "A Thousand and One Details"

newsnayr@gmail.com (Ryan Swen) — Sun, 26 Jul 2020 10:36:00 -0700

The sixteenth episode of the Catalyst and Witness podcast, devoted to exploring the films and format of the New York Film Festival, hosted by Ryan Swen. This covers the sixteenth edition of the festival in 1978, and features special guest Evan Morgan, critic and co-host of the dormant Snakes & Funerals podcast.

0:00-18:45 – Opening
18:46-1:13:12 – Part One
1:13:13-2:10:51 – Part Two
2:10:52-3:16:50 – Part Three
3:16:51-4:22:38 – Part Four
4:22:39-4:28:57 – Closing

15th (1977): "A Real Smash"

newsnayr@gmail.com (Ryan Swen) — Sat, 22 Feb 2020 17:15:00 -0800

The fifteenth episode of the Catalyst and Witness podcast, devoted to exploring the films and format of the New York Film Festival, hosted by Ryan Swen. This covers the fifteenth edition of the festival in 1977, and features special guest Keith Uhlich.

0:00-18:22 – Opening
18:23-1:23:16 – Part One
1:23:17-2:45:25 – Part Two
2:45:26-3:48:38 – Part Three
3:48:39-4:50:18 – Part Four
4:50:19-5:39:23 – Part Five
5:39:24-6:54:08 – Part Six
6:54:09-7:02:59 – Closing

2019 Festival Dispatch #3

newsnayr@gmail.com (Ryan Swen) — Sun, 3 Nov 2019 20:41:00 -0800

The third 2019 festival dispatch of the Catalyst and Witness podcast, devoted to exploring the films and format of the New York Film Festival, hosted by Ryan Swen. This covers the second half of the 2019 New York Film Festival, and features guests Graham L. Carter, Beatrice Loayza, and Dan Schindel.

0:00-26:36 – Part One
26:37-48:14 – Part Two

2019 Festival Dispatch #2

newsnayr@gmail.com (Ryan Swen) — Sat, 12 Oct 2019 11:46:00 -0700

The second 2019 festival dispatch of the Catalyst and Witness podcast, devoted to exploring the films and format of the New York Film Festival, hosted by Ryan Swen. This covers the first half of the 2019 New York Film Festival, and features guests Forrest Cardamenis, Lena Houst, Jake Pitre, and Etan Weisfogel.

0:00-57:26 – Part One
57:27-1:49:38 – Part Two

2019 Festival Dispatch #1

newsnayr@gmail.com (Ryan Swen) — Tue, 6 Aug 2019 20:27:00 -0700

The 2019 festival dispatch of the Catalyst and Witness podcast, devoted to exploring the films format of the New York Film Festival, hosted by Ryan Swen. This covers the announcement of the 2019 main slate.

0:00-1:02:25 - Part One

14th (1976): "Artistic Freedom"

newsnayr@gmail.com (Ryan Swen) — Fri, 31 May 2019 17:17:00 -0700

The fourteenth episode of the Catalyst and Witness podcast, devoted to exploring the films and format of the New York Film Festival, hosted by Ryan Swen and Dan Molloy. This covers the fourteenth edition of the festival in 1976.

0:00–27:53 – Opening
27:54–1:11:17 – Part One
1:11:18–1:55:04 – Part Two
1:55:05–2:34:08 – Part Three
2:34:09–3:20:25 – Part Four
3:20:26–3:26:08 – Closing

13th (1975): "Celluloid Guerillas"

newsnayr@gmail.com (Ryan Swen) — Tue, 30 Apr 2019 18:13:00 -0700

The thirteenth episode of the Catalyst and Witness podcast, devoted to exploring the films and format of the New York Film Festival, hosted by Ryan Swen and Dan Molloy. This covers the thirteenth edition of the festival in 1975, and features special guest Alyssa Heflin, George Eastman Museum film preservation graduate student and cinephile.

0:00-23:22 - Opening
23:23-1:30:07 - Part One
1:30:08-2:20:05 - Part Two
2:20:06-3:03:28 - Part Three
3:03:29-3:49:41 - Part Four
3:49:42-3:57:22 - Closing

12th (1974): "A World Phenomenon"

newsnayr@gmail.com (Ryan Swen) — Thu, 28 Feb 2019 20:53:00 -0800

The twelfth episode of the Catalyst and Witness podcast, devoted to exploring the films and format of the New York Film Festival, hosted by Ryan Swen and Dan Molloy. This covers the twelfth edition of the festival in 1974, and features special guest Jason Miller, New York cinephile and kind of a Twitter guy.

0:00-23:16 - Opening
23:17-1:23:06 - Part One
1:23:07-3:04:18 - Part Two
3:04:19-4:03:18 - Part Three
4:03:19-5:08:57 - Part Four
5:08:58-5:13:31 - Closing

11th (1973): "Trains in the Night"

newsnayr@gmail.com (Ryan Swen) — Thu, 31 Jan 2019 18:36:00 -0800

The eleventh episode of the Catalyst and Witness podcast, devoted to exploring the films and format of the New York Film Festival, hosted by Ryan Swen and Dan Molloy. This covers the eleventh edition of the festival in 1973.

0:00-1:19:01 - Introduction [2018 Top Tens]
1:19:02-1:37:58 - Opening
1:37:59-2:18:45 - Part One
2:18:46-3:18:08 - Part Two
3:18:09-4:14:49 - Part Three
4:14:50-4:20:34 - Closing

10th (1972): "The Next Picture Show"

newsnayr@gmail.com (Ryan Swen) — Mon, 24 Dec 2018 00:59:00 -0800

The tenth episode of the Catalyst and Witness podcast, devoted to exploring the films and format of the New York Film Festival, hosted by Ryan Swen and Dan Molloy. This covers the tenth edition of the festival in 1972.

0:00-47:30 – Introduction
47:31-1:02:44 – Opening
1:02:45-1:41:57 – Part One
1:41:58-2:20:13 – Part Two
2:20:14-3:00:17 – Part Three
3:00:18-3:51:03 – Part Four
3:51:04-3:56:45 – Closing

9th (1971): "This Year, Who Knows?"

newsnayr@gmail.com (Ryan Swen) — Wed, 31 Oct 2018 16:44:00 -0700

The ninth episode of the Catalyst and Witness podcast, devoted to exploring the films and format of the New York Film Festival, hosted by Ryan Swen and Dan Molloy. This covers the ninth edition of the festival in 1971.

0:00-28:52 - Opening
28:53-1:27:08 - Part One
1:27:09-2:10:52 - Part Two
2:10:53-3:19:36 - Part Three
3:19:37-3:25:01 - Closing

2018 Festival Dispatch #3

newsnayr@gmail.com (Ryan Swen) — Sat, 27 Oct 2018 19:20:00 -0700

The third 2018 festival dispatch of the Catalyst and Witness podcast, devoted to exploring the films and format of the New York Film Festival, hosted by Ryan Swen and Dan Molloy. This covers the second half of the 2018 New York Film Festival, and features guests Forrest Cardamenis, Courtney Duckworth, Caden Mark Gardner, Jeva Lange, Jason Miller, and Kyle Pletcher.

0:00-58:56 - Part One
58:57-1:48:21 - Part Two

2018 Festival Dispatch #2

newsnayr@gmail.com (Ryan Swen) — Tue, 9 Oct 2018 19:13:00 -0700

The second 2018 festival dispatch of the Catalyst and Witness podcast, devoted to exploring the films and format of the New York Film Festival, hosted by Ryan Swen and Dan Molloy. This covers the first half of the 2018 New York Film Festival, and features guests Aret Frost, David Neary, and Kyle Pletcher.

0:00-52:36 - Part One
52:37-1:41:27 - Part Two

8th (1970): "The Deluge"

newsnayr@gmail.com (Ryan Swen) — Sun, 30 Sep 2018 19:35:00 -0700

The eighth episode of the Catalyst and Witness podcast, devoted to exploring the films and format of the New York Film Festival, hosted by Ryan Swen and Dan Molloy. This covers the eighth edition of the festival in 1970.

0:00-17:13 - Opening
17:14-1:19:40 - Part One
1:19:41-2:19:33 - Part Two
2:19:34-2:53:46 - Part Three
2:53:47-3:56:36 - Part Four
3:56:37-4:04:55 - Closing

7th (1969): "New Site, Same Scene"

newsnayr@gmail.com (Ryan Swen) — Fri, 31 Aug 2018 20:16:00 -0700

The seventh episode of the Catalyst and Witness podcast, devoted to exploring the films and format of the New York Film Festival, hosted by Ryan Swen and Dan Molloy. This covers the seventh edition of the festival in 1969, and features special guest Caden Mark Gardner, critic and co-publisher of Body Talk.

0:00-21:56 - Opening
21:57-1:21:11 - Part One
1:21:12-2:27:41 - Part Two
2:27:42-3:13:51 - Part Three
3:13:52-4:00:43 - Part Four
4:00:44-4:09:52 - Closing

2018 Festival Dispatch #1

newsnayr@gmail.com (Ryan Swen) — Fri, 10 Aug 2018 16:01:00 -0700

The first 2018 festival dispatch of the Catalyst and Witness podcast, devoted to exploring the films and format of the New York Film Festival, hosted by Ryan Swen and Dan Molloy. This covers the announcement of the 2018 main slate.

0:00-1:03:40 - Part One
1:03:41-2:08:35 - Part Two

6th (1968): "High Drama in Low Key"

newsnayr@gmail.com (Ryan Swen) — Tue, 31 Jul 2018 19:59:00 -0700

The sixth episode of the Catalyst and Witness podcast, devoted to exploring the films and format of the New York Film Festival, hosted by Ryan Swen and Dan Molloy. This covers the sixth edition of the festival in 1968, and features special guest Etan Weisfogel, cinephile and Twitter personality.

0:00-15:06 - Opening
15:07-1:18:27 - Part One
1:18:28-2:39:26 - Part Two
2:39:27-3:33:45- Part Three
3:33:46-4:47:58 - Part Four
4:47:59-4:59:07 - Closing

5th (1967): "To See and Be Seen"

newsnayr@gmail.com (Ryan Swen) — Fri, 29 Jun 2018 17:32:00 -0700

The fifth episode of the Catalyst and Witness podcast, devoted to exploring the films and format of the New York Film Festival, hosted by Ryan Swen and Dan Molloy. This covers the fifth edition of the festival in 1967.

0:00-12:42 – Opening
12:43-1:00:37 – Part One
1:00:38-1:34:58 – Part Two
1:34:59-2:03:23 – Part Three
2:03:24-2:38:47 – Part Four
2:38:48-2:45:04 – Closing

4th (1966): "An Exceptionally Personalized Point of View"

newsnayr@gmail.com (Ryan Swen) — Sun, 20 May 2018 14:10:00 -0700

The fourth episode of the Catalyst and Witness podcast, devoted to exploring the films and format of the New York Film Festival, hosted by Ryan Swen and Dan Molloy. This covers the fourth edition of the festival in 1966, and features special guest Evan Morgan, critic and co-host of the Snakes & Funerals podcast.

0:00-12:09 - Opening
12:10-51:17 - Part One
51:18-1:33:20 - Part Two
1:33:21-2:16:45 - Part Three
2:16:46-3:08:35 - Part Four
3:08:36-3:15:54 - Closing

3rd (1965): "Films: Fashion of the Fashionable"

newsnayr@gmail.com (Ryan Swen) — Thu, 19 Apr 2018 02:44:00 -0700

The third episode of the Catalyst and Witness podcast, devoted to exploring the films and format of the New York Film Festival, hosted by Ryan Swen and Dan Molloy. This covers the third edition of the festival in 1965.

0:00-9:08 - Opening
9:09-54:11 - Part One
54:12-1:31:16 - Part Two
1:31:17-2:18:36 - Part Three
2:18:37-3:10:38 - Part Four
3:10:39-3:17:39 - Closing

2nd (1964): "All Over the World"

newsnayr@gmail.com (Ryan Swen) — Mon, 12 Mar 2018 08:25:00 -0700

The second episode of the Catalyst and Witness podcast, devoted to exploring the films and format of the New York Film Festival, hosted by Ryan Swen and Dan Molloy. This covers the second edition of the festival in 1964.

0:00-9:58 - Opening
9:59-1:21:50 - Part One
1:21:51-2:21:44 - Part Two
2:21:45-3:04:05 - Part Three
3:04:06-3:44:17 - Part Four
3:44:18-3:50:37 - Closing

1st (1963): "The Film As Art"

newsnayr@gmail.com (Ryan Swen) — Thu, 1 Feb 2018 04:55:00 -0800

The first episode of the Catalyst and Witness podcast, devoted to exploring the films and format of the New York Film Festival, hosted by Ryan Swen and Dan Molloy. This covers the first edition of the festival in 1963, and includes an introduction to the mission of the podcast as a whole.

0:00-16:07 - Introduction to the Podcast
16:08-26:27 - Opening
26:28-1:09:45 - Part One
1:09:46-1:48:11 - Part Two
1:48:12-2:39:48 - Part Three
2:39:49-2:48:06 - Closing