3.85-Filmmaker Interview with Elham Ehsas

3.85-Filmmaker Interview with Elham Ehsas

Author: Jonathan Ytreberg October 21, 2025 Duration: 15:34

Send us Fan Mail

In today's episode, I interview Elham Ehsas, director of the short film "There Will Come Soft Rains," a story of a young woman confronting the personal implications of rising sea levels resulting from global warming.

Listen to hear about the importance of understanding the personal stories of people impacted by climate change, the importance of layered identities in creating a complex character, and the poem that inspired the film's title.

Books mentioned in this episode include:

Films and TV shows mentioned in this episode include:

Follow Elham on Instagram @zoradzo and the film @softrainsfilm. You can also find Elham on his website at https://elhame.co/.

Find out more about Climate Spring and the work they do on their website.

Support the show


There's a whole century of stories waiting in the Academy's archives, and The Oscar Project Podcast is digging through every single one. Instead of just focusing on the current awards season, this show takes the long view, working its way through every film ever nominated for an Oscar starting all the way back in 1929. Each episode is a deep dive into a specific year or a particular film, unpacking not just the cinematic craft on screen but the historical context that shaped it. You'll hear about forgotten gems, surprising snubs, and how the art of filmmaking has evolved over decades. Alongside these detailed reviews and discussions, the podcast regularly features conversations with filmmakers, historians, and authors who provide unique insights into the industry's past and present. It’s for anyone who loves film history as much as the movies themselves, offering a structured but fascinating journey through Hollywood's most celebrated-and sometimes controversial-moments. Tune in to this thoughtfully crafted podcast for a richer understanding of how the Oscars have reflected, and sometimes directed, the entire trajectory of modern cinema.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 226

The Oscar Project Podcast
Podcast Episodes
3.78-Disraeli with Jeff Kramer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:53
Send us Fan MailToday's episode is my conversation about the 1929 film Disraeli. I'm joined by Jeff Kramer from The Death Star Human Resources Department Newsletter and we talk about British politics in the late 1800s, h…
3.76-Hallelujah with Jonathan Hammond [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:27
Send us Fan MailToday's episode is my conversation about the 1929 film Hallelujah. I'm joined by Jonathan Hammond, film director who has multiple shorts on the festival circuit this fall. We talk about many of the proble…
3.74-Bulldog Drummond with Gareth Bradwick [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:00
Send us Fan MailToday's episode is the first film discussion episode of the 3rd Academy Awards and my conversation about the 1929 film Bulldog Drummond. I'm joined by Gareth Bradwick from the "Popped" newsletter and we t…
3.72-Kicking Off the 3rd Oscars with Beth Lisogorsky [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:49
Send us Fan MailToday's episode is the beginning of my conversations about the films nominated at the 3rd Academy Awards. I'm joined by Beth Lisogorsky who writes the Beth's TV & Film Recommendations newsletter and we br…
3.70-The General with Joshua Ytreberg [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:27
Send us Fan MailToday's special episode is a conversation I had with my son Joshua about the 1926 film The General, written by, directed by, and starring Buster Keaton. Joshua recommended this film to me after he saw it…