Irene Kaltenborn discusses The Mother Age, her sensory documentary which premiered in CPH:DOX’s NEXT:WAVE competition. Inspired by Ursula K. Le Guin’s The Carrier Bag Theory of Fiction, which explores a different approach to storytelling that questions our fixation on heroes, conflict, and competition in favor of coexistence, care, and connection.
We also discuss Irene’s intuitive filmmaking process, creating the film in the Finnish forest, and the cinema that inspires her, including Robin Petré’s Only on Earth. At its core, our conversation asks what might change if we begin questioning the stories we’ve inherited and stop seeing life as something that has to be won.
What Movies Are You Watching?
The Past Present Feature Film Festival returns Saturday, November 21, 2026, at Eastwood Revival in Hollywood, California.
Join us for features, shorts, and convos with filmmakers, including an in-person Q&A with Shih-Ching Tsou following a screening of her acclaimed film Left-Handed Girl.
Festival lineup, schedule, and reservations coming soon.
https://pastpresentfeature.com/film-festival/
Revival Hub is your guide to specialty screenings in Los Angeles - classics on 35mm, director Q&As, rare restorations, and indie gems you won't find on streaming. We connect moviegoers with over 200 venues across LA, from the major revival houses to the 20-seat microcinemas and more.
Visit revivalhub.com to see what's playing this week.
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The Past Present Feature Film Festival - Nov. 21, 2026 in Hollywood, CA - Submit at filmfreeway.com/PastPresentFeature
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