Translations | romantic vulnerability and resolve
Translations, a film from Keith Kop is a romance that explores what brings us together, and pulls us apart
Enys Men | ‘psychedelic, folk-arthouse dreamscape’
Enys Men by Mark Jenkin calls for you to leave linear certainty at the door. Bex Philips immersed herself in the beautiful imperfections
Covetous greed and folk-inspired spirits | Into The Mine
Into The Mine is a psycho horror thriller by Sam Beamish about wanting to escape, and it tantalises in the dark. Here’s our review
Awakening From Silence | revolutionary optimism
Awakening From Silence is a short film about climate action that is offers revolutionary optimism, says director Alex Falconer
Neptune Frost | neon-tinged inclusive resistance
Neptune Frost is an Afrofuturist vision that looks beautiful, sounds wonderful and spreads of vision of inclusive resistance
Long Way Back | intelligent and unique road movie
Long Way Back is a rarity, a UK road movie that is intelligently told with an emotional punch and a coming of old age
Amor y Vida | upbeat lesson on life
Amor y Vida, the new short frilm from John Tomkins, is a colourful and straightforward look at fate and being true to yourself
Plantasia | magical and self-affirming trip by Justin McAulay
In Plantasia, Justin McAulay has created a dramatic short that explores existing and comfort, with a charismatic succulent
Ali & Ava | Triumphant (Regional Preview)
A regional preview of Ali & Ava at the Exeter Phoenix reveals a gentle, tender grown up love story that is an ultimate triumph
I’m Not Ready | a monumental emotional journey
I’m Not Ready, a short film by Gino Tarabotto, has physical distance give space to a personal emotional journey. Here’s our review
Language Lessons | platonic Rom-Com excels in chemistry
A platonic Rom-Com played out remotely. Simon Roger Key is impresses by the chemistry of Langua Lessons at the London Film Fest
Mark Cousins | The Storms of Jeremy Thomas
Mark Cousins’ documentary The Storms of Jeremy Thomas is “90 minutes of two cinephiles in a car discussing cinema”
Ali & Ava | Authentic, multicultural Britains in triumphant film
There’s hardship, abuse and racism, but Simon Roger Key ultimately found hope in Clio Barnard’s triumphant Ali & Ava
Sundown | Tim Roth magnificent in Franco’s challenging film
Tim Roth is magnificent as lacklustre company in Sundown, directed by Michel Franco. Simon Roger Key reviews it at the Toronto Film Festival
Cowboys | Anna Kerrigan’s Western is layered with empathy
Anna Kerrigan’s Cowboys takes the traditional genre and embues it with strong performances and inspiring, eye-opening empthay
Scapelands | the intricate ability of choreography to explore
Scapelands is a dance film from Le Moon that evokes the need for the freedom of the natual environment. Here’s our review
Wake review | dance film inspires emotional release
Wake is a short dance film that takes you on a journey through stages of grief that is ultimately an uplifting emotional release
Druk review / alcohol experiment lacks gravity
In Druk / Another Round four men undertake an experiment to maintain blood alcohol level for a happier life. Simon Roger Key reviews
Supernova review / powerfully sensitive and confident
Supernova follows Colin Firth and Stanley Tucci as a couple facing dementia that will leave you longing for just one more moment (review)
Relic review/horror hangs heavy on the metaphor
The horror Relic tugs heavily on metaphor and seems to take plenty of pointers from The Babadook to make its point. Simon Roger Key reviews
Shuttlecock review / exquisite, witty wiffs of homoeroticism
Tommy Gillard’s Shuttlecock is a witty discussing on the fluidity of masculinity. Simon Roger Key reviews the short at the London Film Fest
Mogul Mowgli review / powerful tour de force from Riz Ahmed
Mogul Mowgli sees a tour de force performance by Riz Ahmed as a rapper determined to make it to the top. Simon Roger Key reviews
Patrick: intimacy and distance in charged short
In the micro short film Patrick a clandestine photo shoot takes a look at the relationship between two girls and the images that surround them
Sphere of Fear 2: more balls out guerrilla filmmaking for sequel
Sphere of Fear returns in Sphere of Fear 2, and the ante is upped. Allegiances are divided and switched in this demon search for God’s bedside box
Cleanin’ Up The Town: ecto-plasmic romp through Ghostbusters
Cleanin’ Up The Town: Remembering Ghostbusters is a fascinating look into the creative innovation of the film which became a classic
Dormant review: brooding menace of an ideal prequel
Dormant is a film of brooding darkness and twists ‘n’ turns. It’s an ideal, low-key prequel to a webseries and entertains on its own terms
Dragonflies Only Live For 24 Hours: tough and nuanced
Dragonflies Only Live For 24 Hours is a tough and nuanced police crime thriller that hardens its lead characters on the way
Beard Envy: a smile-enducing surreal journey on a beard quest
This is a journey into beard. Beard Envy is a short surreal film from director John Tomkins based on Robert Garnham’s spoken word poem
Unearthed: viscerally naturalistic supernatural drama (review)
Unearthed, a short film by Daniel Bergeson, has a very natural feel for a story that deals with guilt and the supernatural
Paranoia and psychological fear with bells on: Hell’s Bells review
In Hell’s Bells Luke Jeffery has managed to combine age-old paranoia and present-day fears with a deft prescience that’s sure to have an enduring appeal.
