Film Festival
GFF Review: Once Upon a Time in Uganda
While everyone has heard of Hollywood and Bollywood, much, much less is known about the smaller film industries around the world. Indeed, the whole continent of Africa is often forgotten. Overlooked for many reasons, not least due to the lack of structure, financial and government support in most countries. Uganda has one of the most …
GFF Review: A Quiet Girl
Traditionally, films made within Britain, or even in the British Isles, are filmed in English. The logic being that they will be easier to sell to UK and international markets, there’s a much better chance of financing and almost everyone domestically speaks the language. Thankfully, we’re starting to see more productions made in other native …
GFF Review: Yuni
All people are born equal. It’s a nice sentiment but ludicrous to believe that it’s actually true in practice. Where you’re born in the world makes a huge difference to your life prospects. What standard of living you can expect. Your life expectancy. Then there’s the socio-economic level of your family, which dictates the opportunities …
IFFR Review: EAMI
Climate and habitat change might be a political discussion point for most of us but for those living within the canopies of the rainforests of South America it’s a daily reality. While most conversations about the environment focus on future states, many communities are being decimated by deforestation and global warming. Indeed, while pledges have …
IFFR Review: El gran movimiento
Our exposure in the UK to the cultures and politics of South America is limited, to say the least. This is, in part, due to geography. Relatively few people from the continent arrive on our shores and it’s not like it’s a viable holiday destination for many. Bolivia, for example, is not a country which …
IFFR Review: Life Of Crime 1984-2020
Wherever you stand on the nurture versus nature debate, it’s a given that the environment in which you grow up in has a huge impact on your future prospects. Where you live can be as important in determining your life chances as education or health, but in reality they’re all interconnected. Once you have a …
IFFR Review: A Human Position
Most filmmakers look for a story with a hook. A narrative heft which will make it stand out from the crowd and leave a lasting impression. If there are twists and turns with breathtaking cliffhangers and high stakes, all the better. In reality, our lives are full of little things and if tragedy should strike, …
IFFR Review: Freaks Out
Through the annals of history, people who are viewed as ‘different’, in some way, have never had it easy. Anyone suspected of possessing ‘special powers’ has been singled out and treated like something not quite human. If they happened to live at the ‘right time’, this could have meant being respected as a wise person …
IFFR Review: Assault
While personal achievement is always good, there’s something special about being part of a successful team. The camaraderie. The friendship. And while some tasks are just one-person jobs, bigger challenges often require a team of trained individuals who all bring their individual skills, experience and abilities to the party. Perhaps the most famous cinematic example …
Sundance Review: The Cow Who Sang A Song Into The Future
Considering how much evolution we’ve gone through to get where we are today, it’s more than a little amusing that, as a species, we’re often resistant to change. So, when we’re faced with a major upheaval or challenge, we’re likely to bury our heads in the sand and hope it simply goes away of its …