Dakota Arsenault

Dakota Arsenault (he/him) is the creator, producer and host of Contra Zoom Pod, a film based podcast that has been on the air since 2015. The show covers a variety of topics and has covered film festivals such as TIFF, VIFF, SXSW, Hot Docs, Fantasia, Cinefest Sudbury and more! Over 200 episodes have been produced and fellow That Shelf contributor Rachel Ho co-host's. Dakota currently resides in Vancouver but Toronto is his hometown. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram, both @contrazoompod.

Articles by Dakota Arsenault:


  • September 9, 2024
    The Last Showgirl: TIFF 2024 Review

    Every once in a while, a role seems so intrinsically tied to the public perception of its star that the lead performance will literally feel like the part they were born to play. The Last Showgirl, directed by Gia Coppola, has crafted such a character for Pamela Anderson.

  • July Talk prepares for drive-in concerts in July Talk Love Lives Here
    May 7, 2023
    Hot Docs 2023: July Talk — Love Lives Here Review

    When the Covid pandemic hit the world, July Talk got creative in order to promote their latest album; they played at a drive-in theatre. July Talk: Love Lives Here captures the process of putting on these shows.

  • May 4, 2023
    Satan Wants You Review

    Satan Wants You, making its Canadian premiere during Hot Docs 2023, revisits Michelle Remembers-a lurid memoir that helped set off the Satanic Panic of the ’80s