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On this episode of Indie Film Weekly, Glen Reynolds and Jason Connell speak with Colette Ghunim about her debut feature documentary Traces of Home, which follows her taking her Mexican mother and Palestinian father back to the homes they were forced to leave as children, evolving into an exploration of displacement, intergenerational trauma, and healing.

Ghunim explains the project’s origins in cultural-root seeking, its deepening during the 2017 refugee ban and border separations, her parents’ differing comfort levels returning, and how the camera enabled difficult family conversations, aided by her father’s 100+ hours of VHS footage and animated sequences created by Lebanese and Mexican animators.

They discuss mentorship via Kartemquin Films, festival responses, DOC NYC Grand Jury Prize, and distribution with Watermelon Pictures.

Traces of Home begins a theatrical rollout on Sept. 16 in New York (Angelika) and Sept. 25 in Los Angeles (Laemmle), with further cities listed at tracesofhome.com.

00:00 Welcome and Setup
01:14 Meet Colette Ghunim
01:52 Origins of the Film
03:01 Convincing Her Parents
04:36 Becoming a Filmmaker
06:00 Mentors and Influences
07:17 Camera as Healing Tool
09:37 VHS Archive Deep Dive
10:31 Finding the Story in Edit
11:49 Personal Meets Political
13:43 Family Feedback and Aftermath
17:09 Animation Choices
18:41 Festivals and Audience Reactions
20:38 Distribution and Producers
22:50 What’s Next for Collette
23:54 Quick Cuts Moviegoing Game
26:28 Final Cut What Is Home
27:08 Release Dates and Farewell

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This week on Indie Film Weekly, Glen Reynolds highlights five indie films worth knowing about: three in theaters, one on demand, and one classic.

🎥 Indie Film Reviews:
Traces of Home (2026)
The History of Concrete (2026)
The Weight (2026)
Kneecap (2024)
My Brother’s Wedding (1983)

Get the free Indie Film Weekly newsletter here - https://newsletter.CircusRoadFilms.com/

Companies:
Circus Road Films - https://www.CircusRoadFilms.com/
Just Curious Media - https://www.JustCuriousMedia.com/

Listen:
Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/indie-film-weekly/id1786274754
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7i8CzZ19BfM6lRfFAobxRu?si=29bf8ec6da5b44d0
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#indiefilmweekly #independentfilm #indiemovies #filmreviews #movierecommendations #circusroadfilms #justcuriousmedia #glenreynolds

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On this episode of Indie Film Weekly, Glen Reynolds and Jason Connell speak with writer-director Michael Paradies Shoob and producer and story collaborator Joe Mealey about their new indie film, Road to Everywhere.

The film follows Los Angeles cab driver Jason Skyler as he takes Jake, a casino dealer returning to the Navajo Nation after 30 years, on a long-distance journey to see his grandson compete in a Native American rodeo.

Shoob and Mealey met at AFI and previously made the 1996 cab-driver ensemble Driven, which was shot and edited on film. They discuss returning to that world with Whip Hubley once again playing Skyler, their original plans involving Tony Todd, Shoob’s experiences driving a cab, the decision to use black-and-white with color flashbacks, and how low-budget flexibility helped shape several key scenes.

They also discuss the film’s unusual roadshow release, which paired screenings with live performances and Q&As featuring Grammy-winning musician and lead actor Robert Mirabal. The tour reached 26 theaters in 21 cities.

Road to Everywhere will be available September 15 on Amazon, Apple TV, and other TVOD platforms through Twin Engines Global.

00:00 Welcome and Setup
01:46 Origins of the Sequel
03:03 Casting Changes and Whip Returns
04:17 Cab Life Inspiration
07:37 Why Revisit Now
08:18 Partnership and Producing
10:29 Tech Shifts and Growth
12:10 Black and White Choice
14:16 DP and Shooting the Cab
16:26 Title Meaning and Themes
19:35 Roadshow Release Strategy
22:24 Distribution and Audience Impact
24:47 Quick Cuts Game
27:33 Final Cut and Wrap

Get the free Indie Film Weekly newsletter here - https://newsletter.CircusRoadFilms.com/

Companies:
Circus Road Films - https://www.CircusRoadFilms.com/
Just Curious Media - https://www.JustCuriousMedia.com/

Listen:
Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/indie-film-weekly/id1786274754
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7i8CzZ19BfM6lRfFAobxRu?si=29bf8ec6da5b44d0
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#indiefilmweekly #independentfilm #indiemovies #filmreviews #movierecommendations #circusroadfilms #justcuriousmedia #glenreynolds