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Academy Award®–nominated filmmaker Connie Field Talks Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán Documentary on THE SOUNDS OF FILM Academy Award®–nominated and Emmy-winning filmmaker Connie Field joins The Sounds of Film to discuss her urgent new documentary Democracy Noir. The film examines how Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán systematically dismantled democratic institutions while maintaining power through popular support, nationalist rhetoric, and constitutional manipulation. Field highlights the stories of three women—a politician, a journalist, and a nurse—who risk everything to expose corruption and resist authoritarian rule. Democracy Noir has already made a global impact, earning nominations and awards at leading festivals. With unflinching detail, the film shows how Orbán’s playbook of consolidating power, controlling the media, and stoking nationalist sentiment has become a model for rising movements worldwide. The documentary not only sheds light on Hungary’s struggles but also reflects urgent parallels with political developments in the United States and beyond. In this

The Gardens of Piet Oudolf – Award-Winning Director Thomas Piper on The Sounds of Film This week on The Sounds of Film, host Tom Needham speaks with award-winning filmmaker Thomas Piper about his acclaimed documentary Five Seasons: The Gardens of Piet Oudolf. The film immerses viewers in the work of Piet Oudolf, the world’s most celebrated garden designer, whose visionary projects include New York’s The High Line and Chicago’s Millennium Park. Through stunning cinematography and rare access to Oudolf’s process, Piper captures the designer’s philosophy of beauty, ecology, and the poetry of plants. The conversation highlights the artistry behind Five Seasons, which follows Oudolf across four seasons in his own gardens at Hummelo, on visits to far-flung landscapes that inspire his work, and during the creation of what he considers his greatest achievement—the garden at Hauser & Wirth Somerset in England. Piper shares insights into documenting a living, ever-changing art

Fred Mollin Talks Jimmy Webb, Disney Music & More on the SOUNDS OF FILM The Sounds of Film welcomes Grammy-nominated producer, composer, and author Fred Mollin for an intimate conversation about his remarkable career. From producing timeless hits like Dan Hill’s “Sometimes When We Touch” to crafting music for Disney’s beloved children’s albums, Mollin has left a profound mark on multiple generations of listeners. His work spans collaborations with icons such as Billy Joel, Jimmy Webb, Johnny Mathis, and Michael McDonald, as well as memorable scores for television and film. Long Island’s Mollin opens up about the highs and lows revealed in his new memoir Unplugged: Stories and Secrets from a Life of Making Records, Scoring Film, and Working With the Legends of Music. He shares candid reflections on the art of producing, the surprises of working with legendary performers, and the creative risks that defined his path. Listeners will

Internationally Acclaimed Director Yeo Siew Hua Talks Surveillance & Singapore on the SOUNDS OF FILM The latest episode of The Sounds of Film spotlights director Yeo Siew Hua, whose new film Stranger Eyes is a gripping meditation on voyeurism, surveillance, and the fragility of family. Known internationally for his Locarno Golden Leopard–winning A Land Imagined, Yeo returns with a story that begins as a mystery about a missing child but evolves into a profound reflection on intimacy and identity in a world where someone is always watching. Set in modern Singapore, Stranger Eyes follows a young couple who, after the disappearance of their baby daughter, discover unsettling video recordings of their most private moments. As the police place them under surveillance to catch the voyeur, the family begins to fracture under the weight of exposure. The film raises urgent questions about what it means to exist as an image, how

John Turturro Celebrates 20th Anniversary of ROMANCE & CIGARETTES on SOUNDS OF FILM Acclaimed actor, writer, and director John Turturro will be a featured guest on The Sounds of Film this week to discuss the 20th anniversary screening of his musical dramedy “Romance & Cigarettes.” The special event takes place on Thursday, August 21 at 6:30pm at the Southampton Playhouse, marking the theater’s first-ever 35mm screening. Turturro has long been recognized as one of the most versatile artists in American film. He has delivered unforgettable performances in films such as “Do the Right Thing,” “Barton Fink,” and “The Big Lebowski,” while also making his mark behind the camera with projects like “Mac,” “Fading Gigolo,” and “The Jesus Rolls.” On television, he earned an Emmy Award for “Monk” and is currently celebrated for his role as Irving on Apple TV+’s “Severance.” “Romance & Cigarettes” tells the story of a New York

Thrilled to spend some time with British Invasion star, Billy J. Kramer, and Broadway/TV/Film legend, Will Chase, the director of Coming Home: The Guggenheim Grotto Back in Ireland at the Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame Music Documentary Film Festival.

Congratulations to Will Chase, whose movie won Best Short Film, and Billy J Kramer, who was featured in the movie Building the Beatles, which won the Long Island Filmmaker Award by director John Rose.

Photo: Billy J. Kramer, LIMEHOF Music Doc Film Festival Executive Director Tom Needham, and Will Chase

Photo Credit: Ed Shin

Exclusive LIMEHOF Music Doc Film Festival Coverage on Tom Needham’s SOUNDS OF FILM Hear interviews with the directors and stars of movies featured at the Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame Music Documentary Film Festival on the next Sounds of Film. Hear conversations with Lee Child about If Jack Reacher Could Sing, Claire Jeffreys about Garland Jeffreys: The King of In Between, and Jake Sumner about Ron Delsener Presents. The LIMEHOF Music Documentary Film Festival runs August 8th-10th from 10:30 AM-10:00 PM each day. There will be 24 films including movies about The Zombies, Steppenwolf, Harry Chapin, Public Enemy’s S1W’s, Beethoven, Brady Rymer, and more. Spend the weekend seeing movies and grabbing something to eat in beautiful Stony Brook Village. Don’t miss film Q&A’s, live performances and opening/closing night parties! THE SOUNDS OF FILM airs on WUSB on Thursdaysat 6 pm. Check out the SOUNDS OF FILM podcast

Lee Child Talks If Jack Reacher Could Sing Screening at the Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame Documentary Film Festival on SOUNDS OF FILM The Sounds of Film welcomes best-selling author and literary icon Lee Child, the creator of the Jack Reacher series, for a captivating conversation with host Tom Needham. Often hailed by The New York Times as “the best thriller writer of the moment,” Lee Child joins the show to discuss the intriguing new short film, “If Jack Reacher Could Sing,” which will be featured at the Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame’s Music Documentary Film Series on Saturday, August 9th at 1:15 PM. The screening will be followed by a Q&A and performance by Naked Blue. “If Jack Reacher Could Sing” is part of a double-feature with “Garland Jeffreys: The King of In Between” at the LIMEHOF Music Doc Film Festival. In this

Really excited about the upcoming Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame Music Documentary Film Festival Friday, August 8th-Sunday, August 10th (10:30 AM - 10:00 PM each day)

24 Feature and Short Music Documentaries from all over the world!

Can’t wait to see performances by the Billy J. Kramer, Guggenheim Grotto’s Mick Lynch, Public Enemy’s Johnny Juice and From Good Homes’ Brady Rymer and more.

Also really looking forward to Q&A’s with Blotto, Garland Jeffreys: The King of In Between director Claire Jeffreys, Public Enemy’s S1W’s, and Hung Up on a Dream: The Zombies director Robert Schwartzman, among many others.

Film party tickets for Friday and Sunday night also available online.

Check out the full schedule and reserve your seat ahead of time at the LIMEHOF website.

Hope to see you there!

Director Gala Gracia Talks REMNANTS OF YOU & Stony Brook Film Festival This week on The Sounds of Film, host Tom Needham speaks with director Gala Gracia about her powerful debut feature, The Remnants of You. Set against the backdrop of a rural Aragonese Pyrenees life, the film tells the story of a young jazz musician who returns home following the sudden death of her father. What unfolds is a poignant exploration of grief, self-discovery, and the quiet strength of women rooted in agricultural communities. Drawing from her own life, Gracia crafts a visually stunning and deeply personal meditation on loss, legacy, and resilience in the most unexpected of places. The Remnants of You is the Closing Night Film at the Stony Brook Film Festival, screening at the Staller Center for the Arts on Saturday, July 26, 2025, at 7:00 PM (ET). The SOUNDS OF FILM with Tom Needham is