Rachel Griffiths (Muriel’s Wedding, Six Feet Under) and Ruth Madeley (Years and Years) give exclusive interviews about their work in this special uncut version of our latest video show on the BFI YouTube.

Actor Ruth Madeley talks to Anna about Diversity In Ability and her latest film, Verisimilitude, in which she plays a wheelchair user training an able bodied actor for a role as a character with disabilities. She talks about the practice of casting able bodied actors and explains her views about the urgent need for change.

Rachel Griffiths shares the inside track on her directorial debut, Ride Like A Girl, and explains how important it is to cast actors with Downs Syndrome. She also shares hilarious stories about filming Muriel’s Wedding, talks about her intense role in Six Feet Under, and brings her French bulldog in for a chat!

An uplifting summer camp doc and a hard-hitting death row drama are explored in a special episode with Birds’ Eye View.

Our first guest is Chinonye Chukwu, writer director of Sundance Grand Jury Prizewinner Clemency. It follows the story of prison warden Bernadine Williams – played by Alfre Woodard – who is forced to confront the psychological impact of her profession as she prepares to execute yet another inmate, played by Aldis Hodge.

Next we hear from the directors of Crip Camp, a documentary about equal opportunities, activism and teenagers having fun. Co-directed by Nicole Newnham and Jim LeBrecht, it goes back to the 1970s when LeBrecht had the summer of his life at a hippy camp for teens with disabilities – a summer that would inspire lasting change in the disability community.

We are also joined by Mia Bays, the Director At Large of Birds’ Eye View.

This episode is a deep dive into the hit show Little Fires Everywhere. Based on the novel by Celeste Ng, it’s the gripping story of artist Mia (Kerry Washington), who upsets the suburban life of controlling mother Elena (Reese Witherspoon).

US journalist Valerie Complex and British broadcaster Rhianna Dhillon join Anna to explore the show’s themes including privilege, racism, microaggressions, adoption and abortion. Avoiding major spoilers, they share their favourite moments from the series and pay tribute to the late, great director Lynn Shelton. They also bond over their love of classic British sitcoms. Little Fires Everywhere Season 1 is on Amazon Prime Video now.

It’s Pride season!

And we’re bringing you a packed Pride special. Actress and vocal LGBTQ+ advocate Bella Thorne joins Anna to talk pansexuality, love and support in the queer community, and the power of social media to make real social change. She also unpacks her starring role in Bonnie & Clyde-style crime thriller Infamous, as well as quirky college comedy The Duff.

Plus, guest critic and Dr of Film Becca Harrison drops in to review three brilliant queer films you can stream for a Pride celebration on your sofa: bittersweet political Brit-flick Pride, Todd Haynes’ Oscar-nominated lesbian love story Carol, and recent Girls On Film guest Desiree Akhavan’s bisexual comedy drama Appropriate Behaviour.

Young Irish actor Lola Petticrew (A Bump Along The Way) joins Anna to chat about her new comedy Dating Amber, directed by David Freyne. She plays Amber, a lesbian schoolgirl who pretends to date Eddie (Fionn O’Shea – Normal People) so the pair can pose as straight. As Eddie struggles with his sexual identity, he and Amber grow closer. Lola talks frankly about the film, her friendship with her co-star and her own journey to coming out as queer. Carrie Lyell, the editor of DIVA magazine, is our guest reviewer and discusses Dating Amber with Anna. The two critics also revisit the 1999 film But I’m A Cheerleader, a comedy set in a gay conversion camp and starring Natasha Lyonne. They also pay tribute to Girls On Film favourite Booksmart.

Empire film critic Helen O’Hara and broadcaster Wendy Lloyd take a deep dive into Greta Gerwig’s Little Women in this uplifting episode celebrating the joys of the award-winning classic.

Along with host Anna Smith, they take a look at the themes, the performances and the enduring feminist message, examining Gerwig’s clever use of structure and time.

The critics also review the new thriller Ema, Michelle Obama doc Becoming, the Netflix film Carrie Pilby and the Margot Robbie starrer Birds of Prey, all available to watch now at home.

Inspired by real-life stories, The Assistant is a day in the life of a young woman (Julia Garner) who’s working for a powerful film producer. Writer-director Kitty Green joins host Anna Smith for an in-depth interview about power dynamics in the workplace, and making this film in the wake of the Weinstein scandal. Kitty also offers advice for filmmakers who are starting out.

Observer film critic Simran Hans returns to Girls On Film to give her views on The Assistant, and recommends two more films for home viewing: the foodie documentary Diana Kennedy – Nothing Fancy and a vintage rom com gem, Crossing Delancey.