Directors Jon Alpert and Matt O’Neill discuss their Academy Award-nominated documentary short “Redemption.” They’re also joined by Susan, who is featured in the film, about New York City’s growing “canning” profession—more and more men and women survive redeeming bottles and cans they collect from curbs, garbage cans and apartment complexes. “Redemption” is an unexpected and intimate look at New York City’s post-industrial gleaners, struggling at the edge of society. "Redemption" is playing at IFC Center through February 14.

We've spoken with a number of actors, directors, and writers of some of the films nominated for Oscars this year. The Academy Awards will be held Sunday, February 24. In the meantime, you can listen to those interviews here!

John Gatins was here in November to discus "Flight," with the film's director Robert Zemeckis. Gatins wrote the screenplay, which has been nominated for Best Original Screenplay. Listen to that interview here.  

"Silver Linings Playbook" has been nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay. David O. Russell was on the Lopate Show in January to discuss the film, which he wrote and directed. Listen to that interview here.

"Django Unchained" has been nominated for Best Picture. we spoke with Samuel L. Jackson about his role in the film and his career. Listen to that interview here.

"Argo" is up for Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay. We spoke with former CIA agent Antonio Mendez, who wrote the book on which the movie is based—listen to that interview here. And Chris Terrio, who wrote the screenplay, is coming on the show Tuesday, February 12. 

The documentary "How to Survive a Plague," about AIDS activists in the early 1980s, has been nominated for Best Documentary Feature. Director David France was on our show in September, along with activist Peter Staley, who is featured in the film. Listen to that interview here. 

"Searching for Sugarman" is also up for Best Documentary Feature. We spoke with director Malik Bendjelloul and Rodriguez, the subject of the film, in July. Listen to that interview here.

Jon Alpert and Matt O'Neill were here February 8 to discuss "Redeption," which has been nominated for Best Documentary Short. Listen to that interview here.

The Brian Lehrer Show kicks off its yearly series on Oscar nominated feature documentaries. Today: Brian talks with "Searching for Sugarman" director Malik Bendjelloul.

Every Friday, The Takeaway’s Movie Date team, Rafer Guzman and Kristen Meinzer, weigh in on the weekend's film releases. This week, there are three: the crime drama “Side Effects,” the vigilante road trip movie “Identity Theft,” and the 3D re-release of the eighties action classic, “Top Gun.”

Director Fisher Stevens talks about his new film, “Stand Up Guys.” It stars Academy Award winners Al Pacino, Christopher Walken ,and Alan Arkin as retired gangsters who reunite for one epic last night.

Fisher Stevens was on the Leonard Lopate Show recently to talk about directing Al Pacino, Christopher Walken, and Alan Arkin in "Stand Up Guys." He also told us what his favorite comfort food is. Should we be surprised it's popcorn?

Filmmaker Alex Gibney was on the Leonard Lopate Show recently to talk about his latest film, "Mea Maxima Culpa." He also told us what he's been reading and watching -- and his rather fishy favorite comfort food!

Jeanine Basinger is a legend at Wesleyan University, where she's a professor of film. She taught Joss Whedon, creator of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," and Benh Zeitlin, who directed the Oscar-nominated film "Beasts of the Southern Wild."

National Book Award-winning author Edward Ball tells the true life/true crime story of the partnership between the murderer who invented the movies and the robber baron who built the railroads. The Inventor and the Tycoon: A Gilded Age Murder and the Birth of Moving Pictures tells how Eadweard Muybridge, who invented stop-motion photography and his patron Leland Stanford created the modern media age.

Elijah Wald talks about folk icon Dave Van Ronk, whose memoir served as source material for the new Coen brothers film.

Director Dror Moreh talks about his new documentary, “The Gatekeepers,” nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. Six former heads of the Shin Bet, Israel’s Secret Service, reflect on their successes and failures to maintain security in the midst of shifting politics and imperatives of the “peace process.” Each man weighs in candidly on topics from preemptive strikes to confronting terrorists. “The Gatekeepers” opens at Lincoln Plaza February 1 and at Film Forum February 20.

It’s been said that truth is stranger than fiction. But when is fiction actually truth? Several Oscar-nominated films this season are inspired by true events.

Herman Wouk, appearing in this 1955  Books and Authors Luncheon, contests what he perceives as the common view of his being "a conformist." 

David O. Russell talks about his latest film, Silver Linings Playbook, which he wrote and directed, based on the bestselling novel by Matthew Quick. It has been nominated for eight Oscars, including Best Director.

Filmmaker David O. Russell was on the show January 24, 2013, to talk about his movie "Silver Linings Playbook." He shared his guest picks with us. Find out what he's reading, watching, and listening to.

Steve Maing discusses his documentary about citizen reporters in China, “High Tech, Low Life.” It follows the journey of two of China’s first citizen reporters as they travel the country covering underreported news and social issue stories. Armed with laptops, cell phones and digital cameras, they become independent one-man news stations while learning to navigate China’s new social media landscape and censorship regulations. “High Tech, Low Life” is playing at the IFC Center through January 15.

Dena Kaye was on the Leonard Lopate Show recently to talk about the 100th anniversary of the birth of her father, the entertainer Danny Kaye. She also told us what she's been reading and watching recently.

The year 2013 marks the centennial of Danny Kaye’s birth, and Danny's daughter Dena Kaye talks about the legendary entertainer’s career and upcoming 24-hour marathon of Danny Kaye’s films.