BTL Radio Show - 02/17/2025 - A Slamdance Special with filmmakers CAMERON MITCHELL and CORY SANTILLI

It’s a Slamdance Special on BEHIND THE LENS this week as we take a look at two films marking their world premieres at Slamdance Film Festival (www.slamdance.com) this week and chat with their respective filmmakers. First up is my exclusive interview with Cameron S. Mitchell talking about his documentary DISPOSABLE HUMANITY, followed by Cory Santilli discussing the wonderfully quirky narrative feature IN THE MOUTH.

Kicking things off is my interview with CAMERON MITCHELL writer/director/cinematographer and co-editor of DISPOSABLE HUMANITY, an eye-opening documentary about how the Nazis used disabled people to train killing staff and design the concentration camp apparatus for the Holocaust. Listen as Cameron discusses "Disposable Humanity" and exploring the Action T4 program during the Third Reich. His parents, who researched American eugenics, inspired him to document the T4 centers, where disabled individuals were systematically killed. The film features Mitchell's family home movies and interviews with survivors and historians. The score, composed by Andre Barros, enhances the cinematic experience. As you'll hear, Cameron emphasizes the importance of remembering T4's role in catalyzing the Holocaust and the need for inclusive memorialization.

DISPOSABLE HUMANITY premieres on February 21 with an encore screening on February 22.

Turning our attention to something lighter is my exclusive interview with CORY SANTILLI talking about his world premiere feature narrative IN THE MOUTH. Shot in black and white, IN THE MOUTH boasts some wonderful production elements as well as outstanding performances from Colin Burgess and Paul Michael. As you’ll hear in our conversation, Cory talks about how his own agoraphobia led to this story, shooting in black and white, and amassing a total of 164 scenes shot in 11 days. Cory and cinematographer Mike Magilnick meticulously planned the visual grammar, emphasizing shadows and negative space. The music score, created by composer Kubilar Uner, blends whimsy and genre elements. And of course, you'll discover what Cory learned as a filmmaker in making IN THE MOUTH.

IN THE MOUTH premieres on February 21 with an encore performance on February 24.