This week we’re talking with two outstanding filmmakers from this year’s 2025 Los Angeles Diversity Film Festival.

Lyla Mzayek discusses her film, The Rain Lady, a beautiful love letter to immigrant mothers. Lyla talks about her approach to the project, her courage to make it, and how it became a family affair.

We also interviewed Faranak Sahafian from Iran. From poet to filmmaker, her short film Kisses and Bullets perfectly captures the urgency of the moment and the importance of love in the face of hate.

Both Lyla and Faranak also partake in a Gimme Three segment, where they each share three film recommendations!

Join us at LADFF 2025, where you can see both of these amazing films.

Tickets are on sale now at LADFF.com

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Shout out to contributor and producer Sonja Mereu. A special thanks to Anselm Kennedy for creating Gimme Three's theme music. And another special thanks to Zoe Baumann for creating our exceptional cover art.

This week we’re talking with two outstanding filmmakers from this year’s 2025 Los Angeles Diversity Film Festival.

Lee Ott discusses their journey to filmmaking and stop-motion animation, which led them to their directorial debut, Dragfox. A wildly impressive short film loaded with heart, design, and a fox in… you guessed it, DRAG! The short also features the voice-over work of Sir Ian McKellan.

We also interview Bijon, a remarkable filmmaker from Bangladesh. Bijon chats about the Bengali film community and his jaw-dropping short film, A Thing About Kashem. His approach to direction, and the brilliant use of color in his film, are all subjects of conversation.

Both Lee and Bijon also partake in a Gimme Three segment, where they each share three film recommendations!

Join us at LADFF 2025, where you can see both of these fantastic films.

Tickets are on sale now at LADFF.com

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Support the show

Sign up for our Patreon for exclusive Bonus Content.

Follow the podcast on Instagram @gimmethreepodcast

You can keep up with Bella on Instagram @portraitofacinephile or Letterboxd
You can keep up with Nick: on Instagram @nicholasybarra, on Twitter (X) @nicholaspybarra, or on Letterboxd

Shout out to contributor and producer Sonja Mereu. A special thanks to Anselm Kennedy for creating Gimme Three's theme music. And another special thanks to Zoe Baumann for creating our exceptional cover art.

As we gear up for the Los Angeles Diversity Film Festival, Bella and Nick explore the work of some of the most important figures in Black Independent Cinema and Independent Cinema in general.

These powerful voices are a huge reason why this podcast and the Los Angeles Diversity Film Festival exist today - so tune in for our discussion on these bold movies.

• We start with A Symbol of the Unconquered by the legendary Oscar Micheaux. Nick and Bella discuss this impressive silent-film work by Micheaux, as well as the inspiring journey of getting the film made and distributed.
• Second, independent-film icon Melvin Van Peebles dips his toe in the studio pool with his audacious and unforgettable film, Watermelon Man.
• Finally, Cheryl Dunye takes the torch and creates a film that blends genres, presents ideas, and remains uniquely her own in her debut feature film, The Watermelon Woman.

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Sign up for our Patreon for exclusive Bonus Content.

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You can keep up with Bella on Instagram @portraitofacinephile or Letterboxd
You can keep up with Nick: on Instagram @nicholasybarra, on Twitter (X) @nicholaspybarra, or on Letterboxd

Shout out to contributor and producer Sonja Mereu. A special thanks to Anselm Kennedy for creating Gimme Three's theme music. And another special thanks to Zoe Baumann for creating our exceptional cover art.

Earlier this month, the cinephile community lost another tremendous performer. In this episode, Nick & Bella pay tribute to the ever-cool and always hypnotic Michael Madsen.

The duo discusses Madsen’s unique approach to the art and craft of acting and delves into some of his most famous roles, as well as some of his lesser-known performances.

• We start with Quentin Tarantino’s debut feature film, Reservoir Dogs, which features Madsen’s iconic and psychotic dance/torture scene.
• Second, a hidden gem: Trouble Bound, where Michael Madsen plays the romantic lead opposite Patricia Arquette in an endearing crime-rom-com.
• Lastly, we discuss 1995’s wildly successful sci-fi thriller Species.

Let us know what your favorite Michael Madsen performance is!

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Follow the podcast on Instagram @gimmethreepodcast

You can keep up with Bella on Instagram @portraitofacinephile or Letterboxd
You can keep up with Nick: on Instagram @nicholasybarra, on Twitter (X) @nicholaspybarra, or on Letterboxd

Shout out to contributor and producer Sonja Mereu. A special thanks to Anselm Kennedy for creating Gimme Three's theme music. And another special thanks to Zoe Baumann for creating our exceptional cover art.

This week, we’re stepping away from the cinema and turning our attention to the world of music videos.

Joined by returning guest and producer Sonja Mereu, we dive into nine standout videos that span genres, decades, and styles—each one iconic in its own right and packed with amazing visual storytelling.

Check out the lineup:

• Take On Me by A-ha
• Express Yourself by Madonna
• Telephone by Lady Gaga ft. Beyoncé
• Doin’ Time (cover) by Lana Del Rey
• Baby Got Back by Sir Mix-a-Lot
• California Love by 2Pac, Roger, & Dr. Dre
• November Rain by Guns N’ Roses
• Black Hole Sun by Soundgarden
• Locket by Crumb

In this episode, Sonja shares her love for Madonna, Nick unpacks the dark story behind November Rain, and Bella introduces the crew to the groovy—and underappreciated—psychedelic rock band, Crumb.

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You can keep up with Nick: on Instagram @nicholasybarra, on Twitter (X) @nicholaspybarra, or on Letterboxd

Shout out to contributor and producer Sonja Mereu. A special thanks to Anselm Kennedy for creating Gimme Three's theme music. And another special thanks to Zoe Baumann for creating our exceptional cover art.

It’s summer! And for the cinephile community, that means it’s blockbuster season. In this episode, we tip our hat to the godfather of the summer blockbuster, Mr. Steven Spielberg. To commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the industry-changing classic, Jaws, we highlight three of Spielberg’s most iconic blockbusters.

• We start with 1975’s Jaws, the summer blockbuster that started it all.
• Second, Spielberg warms hearts and sparks imaginations with his sci-fi family classic, E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial.
• Finally, another industry-altering picture in the innovative thrill-ride, Jurassic Park.

These just scratch the surface of Spielberg’s summer blockbusters, but they are quintessential, not only to his career, not only to the term blockbuster, but to cinematic history itself.

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Shout out to contributor and producer Sonja Mereu. A special thanks to Anselm Kennedy for creating Gimme Three's theme music. And another special thanks to Zoe Baumann for creating our exceptional cover art.

This week, in a really fun compilation episode, we travel back to 1995! Thirty years ago! Nick and Bella (and a friend or two along the way) chat about the magical year of ’95 and some of the blockbuster movies that accompanied it.

On the list today:

• From our Pixar Films episode, guest Max Sopkin and the gang discuss the OG Pixar movie, Toy Story.
• From our Val Kilmer Tribute episode, we revisit the highest-grossing film of 1995, Batman Forever.
• Finally, from our Holiday Romances episode, we bring it home with a lovely rom-com, While You Were Sleeping.

We also revisit our very first episode of the Gimme Three Podcast for Sonja’s Movie Minute, where she discusses the Film That Defines Her (also happens to be from 1995).

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Sign up for our Patreon for exclusive Bonus Content.

Follow the podcast on Instagram @gimmethreepodcast

You can keep up with Bella on Instagram @portraitofacinephile or Letterboxd
You can keep up with Nick: on Instagram @nicholasybarra, on Twitter (X) @nicholaspybarra, or on Letterboxd

Shout out to contributor and producer Sonja Mereu. A special thanks to Anselm Kennedy for creating Gimme Three's theme music. And another special thanks to Zoe Baumann for creating our exceptional cover art.

We’re keeping the Pride celebration going this week with an episode all about the history of drag!

Bella Efstratis is joined by a very special returning guest, Bailey Katler, to break down three essential documentaries that celebrate the art, power, and evolution of drag culture.

• First up: The Queen, which takes us inside the 1967 Miss All-America Camp Beauty Contest in New York City.
• Then, it’s Paris Is Burning — the iconic deep dive into the underground drag ball scene of the late ’80s.
• And finally, we close with the ultimate showstopper: I Am Divine, chronicling the life and legacy of one of the most legendary drag queens of all time.

Together, these films explore different eras and subcultures of drag — from ballroom competitions and voguing to Divine’s rule-breaking rise to stardom — and unpack the legacy, beauty, and stories that still resonate today.

If you love the art of drag and queer history, these are must-watch films — and this is a conversation you won’t want to miss!

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Support the show

Sign up for our Patreon for exclusive Bonus Content.

Follow the podcast on Instagram @gimmethreepodcast

You can keep up with Bella on Instagram @portraitofacinephile or Letterboxd
You can keep up with Nick: on Instagram @nicholasybarra, on Twitter (X) @nicholaspybarra, or on Letterboxd

Shout out to contributor and producer Sonja Mereu. A special thanks to Anselm Kennedy for creating Gimme Three's theme music. And another special thanks to Zoe Baumann for creating our exceptional cover art.