When Spring Came to Bucha ★★★★★ – Human Rights Watch Film Festival 2023
Safe Place ★★★★ 1/2 – Glasgow Film Festival 2023
Koromousso: Big Sister ★★★★★ – Human Rights Watch Film Festival 2023
Seven Winters in Tehran ★★★★★ – Human Rights Watch Film Festival 2023
Rubikon ★★★ watchAUT Austrian Film Festival
The Fox – ★★★★ watchAUT Austrian Film Festival
I Like Movies ★★★ 1/2 – Glasgow Film Festival 2023
Pawnshop – ★★★ 1/2 – Kinoteka 2023
I Didn’t See You There ★★★★ – Human Rights Watch Film Festival 2023
No U-Turn ★★★ 1/2 – Human Rights Watch Film Festival 2023
After delaying and delaying, I finally decided to pull the trigger and post up Upcoming On Screen’s first podcast, this went through multiple weeks of trying to decide what to talk about, (the first incarnation had Oscar night predictions) It was decided just to keep it simple and talk about
An important and heart-piercing documentary, When Spring Came to Bucha provides a glimpse of the war destruction Russia is leaving in Ukraine, a film that fills you with not only sorrow, but hope – a vital film. In early 2022, the Russian army occupied the small Ukrainian town of Bucha
Juraj Lerotić’s impressive debut Safe Place is a gut-wrenching film. A purposely challenging viewing experience as we watch a mother and son pick up the shattered pieces of their family. Set over the course of one day, Bruno, alongside his mother, sets out to help his brother, Damir, who has
In their exceptional and personal documentary Habibata Ouarme and Jim Donovan gives a voice to those women who have been victims of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in Koromousso: Big Sister—an immensely powerful film. Canada-based co-directors Habibata Ouarme and Jim Donovan capture personal stories and profound moments of support in a
Seven Winters in Tehran hits you like a tonne of bricks. This utterly fantastic documentary shows the medium’s power, providing us with a glimpse at a resilient and inspirational woman—an impactful and unforgettable film. In 2007, Reyhaneh Jabbari, 19, was sentenced to death in Iran for the murder of a man who
A gorgeous-looking film, Rubikon struggles with a lack of urgency and a script that doesn’t quite engage as you desperately want it to. It remains a thoughtful science fiction film but a frustrating one.
For a multitude of reasons, sometimes we simply cannot convey what we want to say, but in animals, somehow we can pour our souls out to them without realising it; Adrian Goiginger presents this beautifully in his profound film The Fox.
A charming dramedy, I Like Movies knows knows precisely how to get that goofy smile out of a cinephile who grew up in the same era, while doing more than enough for those who weren’t. A great indie film that won’t disappoint. and is full of heart. Socially inept 17-year-old
A bittersweet documentary, Pawnshop shows that even in the most difficult of moments, kindness always prevails for a community – an unexpected treat of a film. Wiesek runs Poland’s largest Pawnshop with his wife Jola. It used to be a profitable business, but times have changed, and they are struggling –
A remarkably affecting film, Reid Davenport’s I Didn’t See You There places us in the frustrated position of seeing what the daily struggles are for wheelchair users. A bold and hopefully eye-opening film. When a circus tent is put up outside his apartment, filmmaker Reid Davenport, a wheelchair user, reflects
Engaging from beginning to end, Ike Nnaebue’s No U-Turn details the journey that many West Africans take to get into Europe. We listen to moving stories from those trying to make the journey, showing the determination of those who feel they have no other options left to them. As a
Category: Woman is a powerful and vital viewing, shedding light on the urgent issue regarding the humiliating discrimination female athletes are having to endure just to compete in the sport they love.
The feeling of anger doesn’t leave you long after watching Delikado. Karl Malakunas’ documentary refuses to hold back as it pointedly shows us the violence both to humans and nature on the island of Palawan. A documentary that shows the bravery of those willing to protect nature and how low
The Hamlet Syndrome, by filmmakers Elwira Biewiera and Piotr Rosołowski, is a raw documentary that brilliantly captures the pain that young people in Ukraine have been experiencing for years. A film that will stay with you. A group of young Ukrainians are preparing a modern stage version of Hamlet. Their
Monica Dolan’s honest portrayal of artist Audrey Amiss locks you into Typist Artist Pirate King. This fictional road trip is full of sympathy for its lead, with writer-director Carol Morley unafraid to give us a rye smile along the way. The growing friendship between a schizophrenic artist and her carer
I will be honest, I think this is the easiest Oscars to predict in absolute yonks. Bar one or two categories, I firmly believe the rest are easy locks. So lets so what I chose and if I am right. Best Picture Everything Everywhere All at Once Momentum is a
Ramona is an engaging debut feature from writer/director Andrea Bagney. This (mostly) black-and-white love letter to French New Wave hits all the right notes with a particularly strong performance from Lourdes Hernández. Aspiring actor Ramona (Lourdes Hernández) passes a lazy afternoon in a bar, striking up a lively conversation with
Anna Jadowska’s character study of an older woman neglected by her loved ones in Woman on the Roof is a compelling, if bleak watch. A quiet film that shows us that life after your children have grown up is not as rosy as we hope it will be. Mira, a
Without a shadow of a doubt, this is the Agnieszka Grochowska show in Anna Kazejak’s dark, dramedy F*cking Bornholm. A film that has chaos etched into its core, a film rife with discontent while managing to sneak in the right amount of laughs to keep us engaged. An entertaining storm
Alauda Ruiz De Azúa’s feature debut Lullaby is a packed portrait of a mother and daughter dynamic. This empathetic drama may tread on familiar grounds, but the more personal intimate nature of the film shines through. Thanks to the performances of Laia Costa and Susi Sanchez, we see the open
A promising debut from director Damian Kocur, Bread and Salt is a fly-on-the-wall story of xenophobia that, for the most part, is highly effective. It doesn’t wholly stick the landing, but there are a lot of positives layered in throughout to know he has a strong career ahead. When Tymek,
Odyssey is the largest film festival in conversation with Greater China and overseas Chinese communities in the UK. The 2023 edition will take place between May and June. Stay tuned and make sure you don’t miss out on any exciting updates this year! Odyssey celebrates ‘Global Sustainability’ as our main
The Austrian Cultural Forum London in cooperation with the Austrian Film Institute and Austrian Films present the second edition of watchAUT Austrian Film Festival, featuring the best new films to emerge from Austria. Running 23 – 26 March at Ciné Lumière, watchAUT provides a glimpse of the world as perceived by the
The Kinoteka Polish Film Festival, organised by the Polish Cultural Institute and supported by the Polish Film Institute, will return to cinema screens for its 21st edition from 9 March to 27 April 2023, presenting an exciting line-up that spans over 60 years of Polish cinema. Showcasing a finely curated selection
GSFF23 will open on 22 March with a homage to Scotland’s untold Black history, a screening of OMOS, with live performances from cabaret performer Rhys Hollis and opera singer Andrea Baker. The festival will also host the Scottish premiere of Australian duo Soda_Jerk’s hotly anticipated new mainstream cinema mash-up Hello
LONDON – Wednesday 15th February 2023: The 37th edition of BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival, one of the world’s most significant and long-standing queer film events in the LGBTQIA+ calendar, today reveals its full programme. BFI Flare will take place at BFI Southbank, and also offer a selection of
The Human Rights Watch Film Festival, now in its 27th year in London, presents a line-up of 10 award-winning, international documentary films in partnership with Barbican Cinema, and generously supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery. The festival programme, presented in person at the Barbican from 16-24 March, includes in-depth
Nothing like getting it in under the wire right? Without further ado, my predictions for what the academy voters will chose as the nominations for the 2023 Academy Awards. (My list would look hella different, but it is what it is I guess). I will come back later today with
Full of tenderness, heartache & cruelty, Beautiful Beings is a must-watch film that offers a portrait of friendship despite abandonment. You will gain something with each viewing – brutally fantastic.
Tuesday 13 December 2022, London. The BFI today announces the dates for the 2023 edition of the UK’s largest queer film event, BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival. The Festival, which screens the best in contemporary LGBTQIA+ cinema from around the globe, in addition to a rich selection of events and
Barbican Cinema is delighted to announce the Emerging Film Curators Series developed by up-and-coming film curators who took part in the second Emerging Film Curators Lab at the Barbican in June 2022. This five-part series, which explores the notion of ‘community’ across Africa, Asia and Europe through film screenings, spoken
Welcome back to our horror list! We have moved onto the first part of the letter P, we have some great ones in here and maybe a surprise or two as well. Enjoy. Poltergeist (1982) The film where everyone has an open suspicion that Spielberg wanted to direct a horror
23rd November 2022, London UK – Mediumrare Entertainment announces the crime drama EMILY THE CRIMINAL is being released on DVD and Blu-ray on 16 January 2023. An extraordinarily assured debut from writer/director John Patton Ford, EMILY THE CRIMINAL sees Aubrey Plaza (Parks and Recreation) as a young woman driven to credit card fraud in Los Angeles. Plaza is
Edouard Philipponnat is outstanding as the doomed Aiden in Michelle Danner’s solid The Runner. A film that does some great work at making her latest a warning for those tempted by the allure of drugs.
Directed by Marc Fouchard, Out Of This World is a stylish and twisted tale of violence that takes you inside the troubled mind of a serial killer. The very private Leo has issues communicating with others due to past trauma and only lives for his music. For now, not able to have
An empathetic glance at the damage of addiction, To Leslie like its lead Andrea Riseborough, transfix you. Careful and powerful, there is so much to love about Michael Morris’ film, making it one that should not be ignored.
Much like Courtney Barnett’s music, there is a fantastic personal touch to Danny Cohen’s documentary Anonymous Club that entices you. He captures an artist in her purest and most honest form – a wonderfully thoughtful doc.
Monday, 14th November 2022, London, UK: London/Singapore-based international content investment studio 108 Media will finance, co-develop, and produce the upcoming premium live-action supernatural-action returning series NIGHTSHADE (6 x 60’) with co-showrunners Simon Uttley and Neil Marshall, who will be directing the pilot. Sprung from the deep genre wellspring of the
What should be a standard mystery thriller, Most Horrible Things becomes a muddled endeavour. A film that never really gets going the way you want it to, and by the time it tries, it is far too late. When six young strangers are invited to a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity – an exclusive dinner
What could spiral into a chaotic film, Roving Woman actually ends up becoming an insightful meditative piece. A breakup road trip movie that, at times, wanders rather aimlessly but, like its lead character, finds its way in the end. A breakup leaves Sara reeling and directionless, standing alone on her ex’s doorstep
As important a documentary as you will see this year, Tracey Arcabasso Smith’s Relative knocks you clear off your feet. Harrowing and brave, she gives sexual abuse survivors the voice they may have lost long ago in this unforgettable film that leaves you stunned. Unravelling a complex tapestry of vulnerability,
A gorgeous debut from Charlotte Le Bon, Falcon Lake is a haunting coming-of-age tale. She has created a stunning, emotional and captivating film that you won’t soon forget – you will love this film. Bastien (Joseph Engel) and Chloé (Sara Montpetit) spend their summer vacation with their families at a
Pinball: The Man Who Saved the Game is as fresh and confident a film as you will see. With bags of charm throughout, there is so much to love in Austin and Meredith Braggs directorial feature debut that you have a massive smile planted on your face. An unsettled writer with a fantastic
Writer/director Julianna Notten has nailed it with her feature debut, Erin’s Guide to Kissing Girls, a positively refreshing, funny and authentic tale. An integral coming-of-age story for young LGBTQ+ people, but most importantly, just a really good film. As middle school comes to an end, Erin (Elliot Stocking), the only out
A frustrating film, that is elevated by performances from Sadie Sink & Theo Rossi, Dear Zoe has just too much going on in the wrong places at times. Gren Wells gives her film a lot of heart making it still worth a viewing. When Tess and her family suffer an
Deliciously dark and gloriously gory, this might just be one of the Most Horrible Things you’ve seen in a long time… Hiroshi Katagari – who has worked on a slew of Hollywood blockbusters including Jurassic Park, A.I., War of the Worlds, Wolverine, The Hunger Games, Avatar: The Way of Water,
Paloma feels like a daydream slowly eroding into reality; Marcelo Gomes’ film will affect you a great deal. This is a tender yet painful film about a woman fighting for her place in society.
Another gem of a picture from Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead, Something in the Dirt, is possibly their biggest triumph. A film that fans of the duo will wholeheartedly adore. With it also becoming a wonderful jumping-in point for new audiences. Benson and Moorhead have firmly cemented themselves as the filmmakers to watch with
A talented young runner races headlong into trouble in this gripping, award-winning thriller. On your marks, get set for The Runner, an adrenaline-fuelled, heart-racing thrill ride. This award-winning, action-packed potboiler sees a troubled teen get involved with drugs way over his head… This slick and suspenseful coming-of-age thriller from Hollywood
AVAILABLE FROM WARNER BROS. DISCOVERY AND UNIVERSAL PICTURES HOME ENTERTAINMENT ON 4K ULTRA HD AND BLU-RAY DECEMBER 12th THE FILM VAULT is launched this December, a brand new collector’s range featuring titles across the Warner Bros. Discovery and Universal Pictures catalogues, with four highly-collectable and beautifully packaged titles on 4K
The Sleep Experiment is a frustrating watch. Some moments work very well, yet the faults are sadly too front and centre to ignore. A film that hinders itself when it has everything going for it. Two detectives begin investigating the ethics involved in the top-secret research facility, Porton Down. One
A fantastically effective horror, The Deep House works on your fears of being underwater with limited oxygen and amplifies it tenfold with a haunted house. As fresh as it comes, this isn’t one to miss.
The BBC gives over a whole evening to an ‘investigation into the supernatural’. Four respected presenters and a camera crew attempt to discover the truth behind ‘The most haunted house in Britain’, expecting a light-hearted scare or two and probably the uncovering of a hoax. They think they are in
The sense of dread has a firm grasp of you throughout Youssef Chebbi’s Ashkal. A haunting film that never reveals its hand too much, it is one that will undoubtedly linger in your mind. In the Gardens of Carthage, a district of Tunis initiated by the former Regime whose construction
Of all the horror films that came out last year, Censor was perhaps the most striking. Prano Bailey-Bond’s film has been given an unbelievable Blu-ray release from Second Sight, making an already must-buy film an absolute essential purchase. Enid (Niamh Algar) spends her days meticulously watching and assessing gruesomely violent and disturbing movies, taking
One of our favourite films from 2021 Externo is out now via digital release via Amazon Prime Video Externo is the story of Joseph, a revolutionary businessman that wants to conquer the world financially and politically. He does it starting with an initial amount of U$S 2,000 and ends up building
12th Annual Queens World Film Festival (QWFF) 2022 HIGHLIGHTS: Screening 157 films from 27 nations including 2 from Ukraine, 7 from Iran, 8 from Canada, 10 from India, 3 from Asia, 11 from Spain. + We screen the best of NYC Boroughs: featuring 29 films from Queens, 19 from Brooklyn,
The undeniably brilliant, Sadie Sink, who recently stunned audiences with her powerhouse performance in the latest series of Stranger Things, gives another awe-inspiring, powerful turn as the lead in brand-new feature Dear Zoe. This heart–wrenching, endearing and compelling coming-of-age drama is set to receive its UK premiere this November, courtesy
Lightbulb Film Distribution is thrilled to confirm that the surreal, critically acclaimed sci-fi / horror Something In The Dirt will be in UK Cinemas from 4th November and then available on Digital Download from 28th November and Blu-ray from 5th December. Something In The Dirt is the latest title from
‘Sketches out the sinister dread just under the happy-family surface; she is in expert control ofher film, achieving her effects with economy and force. It is really unnerving.’ The Guardian ★★★★ A feast for the eyes, A Banquet, Ruth Paxton’s critically acclaimed directorial feature debut is released on Bluray in
Arnold Schwarzenegger was on one hell of a run in the 80s, then came Raw Deal, a misfire of a film that ended up an explosion-filled shoot ’em up. Pure sheer charisma alone, though, Arnold almost saves it. Almost. Dishonoured and forcibly retired from the FBI on the grounds of
Opening Gala: Jon Hamm In The Corner Office Closing Gala: Pinball – The Man Who Saved The Game Raindance Goes Maverick With Film Premieres + Special Screenings From The Festival Archive Including Pulp Fiction & Blair Witch Project 26 October – 5 November, in London cinemas and online throughout the
For 13 perfect minutes, Honey (Madhu) has you, becoming the type of short with a situation and characters you yearn to have more time with. However, Tanmay and Tanvi Chowdhary know exactly what they are doing and instead give us a wonderful glance at the longing that can exist in
Like an artist painting a picture leisurely yet with a strong purpose, Helena Wittmann’s Human Flowers of Flesh never hurries itself while it absorbs you with its gorgeous textures. Ida lives on a sailing yacht with a crew of five men. While on shore leave in Marseilles, she becomes fascinated
Haulout is a powerful documentary that shows the sheer overwhelming scale of the consequences of climate change on beautiful animals in the Arctic. Tragic and sobering, Evgenia Arbugaeva and Maxim Arbugaev’s film is essential viewing. A lonely man waits to witness an ancient gathering on a remote coast of the
A quasi-documentary that is as charming as it is contemplative, The Adventures of Gigi the Law has some very strong moments of emotion that catch you off guard. Alessandro Comodin has made a film that you can’t help but gravitate towards. Gigi, a good-natured, contemplative policeman in a small village
A film of discovery, Katherine Propper’s Birds is a lovely look at a time when summer could feel like a never-ending dream. A wonderful exploration into connection with friends, love, nature and everything in between. You can’t but adore this film. Moments in the lives of Austin teenagers during the
Through some top-notch performances and cinematography, Leyla Josephine Coll-O’Reilly’s Groom is a cautionary tale that hits home for those who wanted to fit in when they were teenagers – a great debut
As relatable a story about your sexual awakening as you will see, My Year of Dicks is a wonderful short film that tells a sincere, funny and honest tale. A female-driven animation than harmonises exceptionally well with the story – a must-watch. It’s 1991, and Pam is trying very hard
Dry Ground Burning is an absorbing film with a lot to say and punches each of those points home without hesitation. Bold throughout, this hybrid documentary is a film like a few others. Sisters Chitara and Léa are the leaders of an all-female gang who steal oil from pipelines to
Filmmakers John Campopiano and Chris Griffiths present audiences with their definitive look back at the much-loved IT miniseries in Pennywise: The Story of IT. Full of details the avid fan will love, there is a lot here to enjoy. Exploring the 1990 miniseries, based on Stephen King’s iconic novel IT,
After presenting mostly digital editions for the past two years the UK Jewish Film Festival is pleased to be returning to cinemas in London and across the nation, with screenings running from 10 – 20 November 2022, and with a selection of films available online from 21 – 27 November 2022. Offering an outstanding
Instead of mourning the tragedy of Marilyn Monroe’s death in Blonde, Andrew Dominik revels in her misery. Never does he appear interested in the woman and more just the despair she faces. While Blonde looks fantastic and has a passionate performance from Ana de Armas yet thise can’t save this tasteless, exhausting endeavour that never lets you in.
Absurd, funny, chaotic, self-aware and most importantly heartwarming, Martika Ramirez Escobar’s Leonor Will Never Die an absolute treat for those who love cinema – a clever film that takes you by delightful surprise. After creating a string of successful action films, Leonor Reyes was once a major player in the
A decent feature documentary that would be better suited to being a series, Maya and the Wave connects well but feels rushed. Maya Gabeira is a force; a longer format is needed to showcase that. Maya Gabeira grew up in Brazil with a dream to surf competitively. Like any surfer,
The trio of Martin McDonagh, Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson strike gold again with the utterly fantastic The Banshees of Inisherin. A sublime film, it knows precisely what it is doing. Quite possibly the filmmaker’s best film yet. On a remote island off the coast of Ireland, Pádraic (Colin Farrell)
A film that strikes you at your core Nisha Pahuja’s harrowing and uncomfortable To Kill A Tiger shows us that hope can always grow, even in the most hopeless of situations -utterly fantastic.
Director Makbul Mubarak challenges how far loyalty will go in his debut film, Autobiography. A confident film that never loses its way, strengthened by two strong performances from its leads. A young man working as a housekeeper in an empty mansion. When its owner returns to start his mayoral election
What shines through when watching the anthology film We Are Still Here is how important the scope is of what we are viewing. This is a film that will resonate with you in a multitude of ways, and despite the continual pain that indigenous people go through, hope blossoms through
As much a history lesson about ink processes as it is a humanist journey via art, The Colour of Ink is an unexpected treat of curiosity for a craft we are perhaps willfully ignorant to. What an absolute must-watch. Ink is our primal medium. It has always been with us,
A lovely story about escaping one’s situation for something brighter, Canary switches up its light-hearted tone for something all the more serious and never misses a step in doing so. A gorgeous and affecting short film. In 1922, a young boy named Sonny worked in an underground coal mine with
Vita Smachelyuk blows you away in Michal Blaško’s increasingly stressful Victim. Full of socio-political narratives, his film drives through the point that even the most well-intentioned of people can be forced into horrible positions—a great feature debut film. Irina lives with her son Igor in a small Czech border town.
There is an evocative command to Sophy Romvari’s It’s What Each Person Needs that engrosses you with the greatest of ease. She has perfectly encapsulated the power and importance of connecting with another person – just a fantastic short. A portrait of a young woman providing companionship for juxtaposing demographics. Conversations come in
Healing is never easy, and in Jub Clerc’s Sweet As , we see how a young group try to figure that out in the gorgeous setting of Pilbara. A sentimental coming-of-age film that hits all the right notes.
