EPISODE · Aug 25, 2025 · 32 MIN
025: Deep Dive with Sam Jennings: Developing the Next Generation of Feature Directors
from We Interrupt This Broadcast · host We Interrupt This Broadcast
In this episode, Kirsty Stark talks to Samantha Jennings, Producer at Causeway Films - whose credits include Talk to Me, Cargo, Buoyancy and Of An Age.Sam breaks down the commitment that she and fellow Causeway producer Kristina Ceyton have to nurturing new Australian talent, and supporting them to direct internationally successful feature films.From the importance of authenticity in storytelling to the common traits amongst the diverse group of feature directors that Causeway has worked with, Sam’s advice is invaluable for anyone looking to build a career as a director in the screen industry.Key Takeaways:The importance of building relationships over timeHow to approach casting and packaging for featuresThe ideal budgets for feature films that Causeway will look to take onThe detail to which the directors they work with understand the audiences for their projectsWhy proof of concept shorts aren’t always the best pathway to directing featuresWhy you should build your own community of collaboratorsWhy the Australian industry needs to invest in building our next generation of cinemagoersSamantha Jennings and Kristina Ceyton co-founded Causeway Films with globally acclaimed THE BABADOOK in 2014, and produced Jennifer Kent’s follow up THE NIGHTINGALE. Causeway has launched many debuts on the global stage over the last decade, including Netflix Original CARGO starring Martin Freeman, Berlinale prize winner BUOYANCY by Rodd Rathjen, and Goran Stolevski’s YOU WON’T BE ALONE, OF AN AGE and HOUSEKEEPING FOR BEGINNERS, all released by Focus Features. In 2023, Causeway premiered Danny and Michael Philippou’s TALK TO ME at Sundance, which went onto become A24’s highest grossing genre release to date and earn over $140 million international box office. This year saw the release of the Philippous’ sophomore feature BRING HER BACK starring Sally Hawkins, distributed worldwide by A24 and Sony Pictures. Causeway is currently completing Dario Russo’s THE FOX starring Jai Courtenay and Emily Browning, and Adrian Chiarella’s LEVITICUS starring Joe Bird, Stacy Clausen and Mia Wasikowska.Follow Sam and her work:Causeway Films: http://www.causewayfilms.com.auCauseway Films on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/causeway_films Samantha Jennings on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-jennings-89674621/Samantha Jennings on IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1209992 This Deep Dive interview is hosted by Kirsty Stark, and proudly brought to you by CrewHQ & Expanding Media.If you’re enjoying the podcast, please leave a rating on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, and we’d love you to forward this episode to a friend!Follow us on: Instagram | YouTube | LinkedIn
What this episode covers
In this episode, Kirsty Stark talks to Samantha Jennings, Producer at Causeway Films - whose credits include Talk to Me, Cargo, Buoyancy and Of An Age.Sam breaks down the commitment that she and fellow Causeway producer Kristina Ceyton have to nurturing new Australian talent, and supporting them to direct internationally successful feature films.From the importance of authenticity in storytelling to the common traits amongst the diverse group of feature directors that Causeway has worked with, Sam’s advice is invaluable for anyone looking to build a career as a director in the screen industry.Key Takeaways:The importance of building relationships over timeHow to approach casting and packaging for featuresThe ideal budgets for feature films that Causeway will look to take onThe detail to which the directors they work with understand the audiences for their projectsWhy proof of concept shorts aren’t always the best pathway to directing featuresWhy you should build your own community of collaboratorsWhy the Australian industry needs to invest in building our next generation of cinemagoersSamantha Jennings and Kristina Ceyton co-founded Causeway Films with globally acclaimed THE BABADOOK in 2014, and produced Jennifer Kent’s follow up THE NIGHTINGALE. Causeway has launched many debuts on the global stage over the last decade, including Netflix Original CARGO starring Martin Freeman, Berlinale prize winner BUOYANCY by Rodd Rathjen, and Goran Stolevski’s YOU WON’T BE ALONE, OF AN AGE and HOUSEKEEPING FOR BEGINNERS, all released by Focus Features. In 2023, Causeway premiered Danny and Michael Philippou’s TALK TO ME at Sundance, which went onto become A24’s highest grossing genre release to date and earn over $140 million international box office. This year saw the release of the Philippous’ sophomore feature BRING HER BACK starring Sally Hawkins, distributed worldwide by A24 and Sony Pictures. Causeway is currently completing Dario Russo’s THE FOX starring Jai Courtenay and Emily Browning, and Adrian Chiarella’s LEVITICUS starring Joe Bird, Stacy Clausen and Mia Wasikowska.Follow Sam and her work:Causeway Films: http://www.causewayfilms.com.auCauseway Films on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/causeway_films Samantha Jennings on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-jennings-89674621/Samantha Jennings on IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1209992 This Deep Dive interview is hosted by Kirsty Stark, and proudly brought to you by CrewHQ & Expanding Media.If you’re enjoying the podcast, please leave a rating on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, and we’d love you to forward this episode to a friend!Follow us on: Instagram | YouTube | LinkedIn
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025: Deep Dive with Sam Jennings: Developing the Next Generation of Feature Directors
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