THE DARKEST LIGHT (documentary) Director Simon Mendes in Conversation with Robert Aaron Mitchell DOC NYC 2026

 

Prior to The Darkest Light premiering at DOC NYC on November 15, 2026 I was able to sit down over zoom and have a conversation with Director Simon Mendes about his first feature documentary that chronicles Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach's legacy. His music that transformed and celebrated Jewish faith and the allegations of sexual abuse that surfaced after Lilith magazine in the Spring issue in 1998 published allegations of sexual assault. Resounding silence followed. With the rise of the #metoo movement so too did the allegations resurface about Shlomo Carlebach. Here is our conversation:

BEHIND THE LINES Director John B. Benitz Historian Andrew Carroll in Conversation with Robert Aaron Mitchell

In two decades of conducting interviews with filmmakers last week I did something I had never done before. I partnered with U.S. History teacher Dr, Sarah Mitchell and we had her Junior classes pose questions to filmmaker John B. Beritz and historian Andrew Carroll about their documentary. As we had a conversation about the film I asked the questions students had written. I also conducted the interview from the classroom. Behind The Lines follows Carroll who has spent over three decades collecting war correspondence.
 

SICK Director Agata Trzebuchowska in Conversation with Robert Aaron Mitchell (Sitges 2026 Fantastic Fest 2026)

 

Sick is the debut feature film from writer and director Agata Trzebuchowska. It was a much talked about movie after it's world premiere last month at Fantastic Fest. The movie is rooted in some dark themes seldom talked about in cinema. The film is anchored by the strong performances of it's two young lead actors, Konrad Kakol and Katarzyna Lubik. I was able to speak with Agata about the film, their writing process as well as the performances and the cinematography of the film as well as what the current film scene is like in Poland.

FANTASTIC FEST 2026: The Complete Robert Aaron Mitchell Interviews with Quarxx, Jorge Thielen Armand, Luka Marčetić,Lara Wolf,Brad Abrahams,Simon Ennis, Markus Lehmusruusu

 The dust, blood, guts from Fantastic Fest 2026 has settled. I spent the week watching movies, exchanging emails with publicists, conducting zoom interviews with filmmakers. When it was all said and done I conducted over two hours of conversations with filmmakers over seven interviews. I spoke with people in Slovenia, Italy, France, Canada and the United States. That is one of the greatest things about a film festival, it gathers cinema from all over the world. Here are the Fantastic Fest 2026 conversations: 

 

GIMME TRUTH Dirs Brad Abrahams & Simon Ennis in Conversation with Robert Aaron Mitchell Fantastic Fest 2026

Gimme Truth a documentary about conspiracy theories and the people that go down rabbit holes in search of them just premiered at Fantastic Fest 2026. I was able to have a conversation with directors Brad Abrahams & Simon Ennis about the genesis of the documentary, the people they documented as well how to bring people out of these theories. Here is that conversation:

FANTASTIC FEST 2026: TERMS & CONDITIONS Director Kev Dooley in Coversation with Robert Aaron Mitchell

 

Terms & Conditions is one of the short films playing Fantastic Fest 2026. The incident was directed and adapted from the short story The Devil's Code by Frank M. Taylor. I was able to talk with Kev about the making of the film prior to it's world premiere.Here is that interview:

GIRL IN THE NIGHT Fantastic Fest 2026 Best Picture Luka Marčetić, Lara Wolf, Urban Kuntarič with Robert Aaron Mitchell

 Girl In The Night just won best picture at Fantastic Fest 2026. I was able to sit down once again and have a conversation with director Luka Marčetić actor Lara Wolf and joining us this time fellow actor Urban Kuntarič. Here is that conversation: