Steven Mears

(André Téchiné, France, 2014)

The big country: the brothers behind border documentary Western talk about today's John Waynes

The writer/director returns to adapting Shakespeare (and working with Ethan Hawke) in his latest, Cymbeline

The director of Rendez-Vous selection 3 Hearts and Farewell, My Queen reminisces about Nouvelle Vague influences and working with Marguerite Duras

Cult leader: the director of Faults discusses his first feature, screening at Film Comment Selects, and the not-so-fine art of deprogramming

The director of Birdman and Amores Perros discusses artistic torment and the politics of superhero franchises

Freaks and geeks: the director of The Imitation Game and Headhunters discusses his passion for history and outsiders

(Angelina Jolie, U.S., 2014)

(Peter Strickland, U.K., 2014)

True grain: the cinematographer for Unbroken and regular collaborator with the Coen Brothers discusses embracing chance and not being afraid of the dark

Does Black or White confirm Kevin Costner's embrace of character actordom? A talk with the director of this timely race drama

Choose your own adventure: the mystery of Ned Benson's triptych

(Hossein Amini, U.K./U.S./France, 2014)

Spheres of influence: intergalactic follies with Soviet cult hit Kin-dza-dza! and East German space adventures Eolomea and In the Dust of the Stars

(John Carney, U.S., 2013)

Young Adult: The Mafia Only Kills in Summer and Those Happy Years get at the heart of adolescence

Or, From Godard to Sirk: tracing the evolution of Fassbinder's style

Furious inertia: Fassbinder's behind-the-scenes look at a film's un-making

All in a year’s work: Pioneers in Ingolstadt and The Merchant of Four Seasons

Brother against brother: character battles convention in this fraught Civil War–era coming-of-age tale