I talk with filmmaker Sierra Urich about her film JOONAM, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 21, 2023 and has gone on to win several awards as well as nominated for an Independent Spirit Award.In this episode, we talk about the deeply personal film she made; how to make a documentary film stand out in the crowded doc landscape; the fact that making Sundance is only the start of your journey, not the end; what you should be doing at any film festival you attend; and the importance of making a story that's true to you rather than trying to figure out what to sell.Sierra engaged with the tough questions, and what emerges from this conversation is an extraordinarily thoughtful examination of what it's like as a documentary filmmaker today.Check the link to the film on Instagram for screening times and locations.Sierra's Indie Film Highlight: Camden International Film Festival; True/False Film FestLinks:JOONAM WebsiteJOONAM on InstagramSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/first-time-go/exclusive-content