In Episode 581 of Meet Me at the Movies, Thomas Manning sits down with breakout star Carlos Diehz, who portrays Cardinal Benítez in Edward Berger’s gripping drama Conclave. From the soul of his performance to the spiritual undercurrents of the film, Diehz opens up about the craft of acting, the nuances of working under Berger’s visionary direction, and the meaningful ways faith intersects with storytelling on screen.

A scene in director Edward Berger’s CONCLAVE, a Focus Features release. Photo Credit: Focus Features. ©2024 Focus Features, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Whether you’re drawn to character-driven cinema, fascinated by behind-the-scenes journeys, or simply looking for an engaging film conversation—this is one not to miss.

Meet Me at the Movies airs weekly on C19 TV. Thomas and Noel Manning are registered film journalists with the Critics Choice Association, SEFCA, and the North Carolina Film Critics Association.

Clips are used by permission for review, commentary, and editorial purposes.

Official Synopsis:

From director Edward Berger (All Quiet on the Western Front), Conclave follows one of the world’s most secretive and ancient events – selecting the new Pope. Cardinal Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes) is tasked with running this covert process after the unexpected death of the beloved Pope. Once the Catholic Church’s most powerful leaders have gathered from around the world and are locked together in the Vatican halls, Lawrence uncovers a trail of deep secrets left in the dead Pope’s wake, secrets which could shake the foundations of the Church.

Available on digital November 26th, 2024.
Available on Blu-ray and DVD December 17th, 2024.
Available on 4K UHD Blu-ray February 11th, 2025.

For more information, head to the official Focus Features Conclave webpage.

Thomas Manning is a member of the NCFCA, SEFCA, and CCA, and also the co-host of the television show and radio program Meet Me at the Movies. He has served as a production assistant and voting member on the Film Selection Committee for the Real to Reel Film Festival. Additionally, he manages his own film review and interview site, The Run-Down on Movies. Manning is a graduate of Gardner-Webb University with a double-major in Communications and English. His passion for cinema and storytelling is rivaled only by his love for the music of Taylor Swift.

Categories: Filmmaker Interviews

Tags: Access Entertainment, acting, adaptation, based on a book, Brían F. O’Byrne, Carlos Diehz, Cleveland Community College Broadcasting Program, Conclave, drama, Edward Berger, Elevation Pictures, FilmNation Entertainment, Focus Features, House Productions, Indian Paintbrush, interview, Isabella Rossellini, John Lithgow, Lucian Msamati, Meet Me at the Movies, Merab Ninidze, mystery, Open Dialogue, Peter Straughan, Ralph Fiennes, Robert Harris, Sergio Castellitto, Stanley Tucci, streaming, The TARO Group, thriller, WGWG, Wildside