Film Festival
Sheffield Doc/Fest Preview: The Silence of Others
The Spanish Civil War was bitterly contested by the Republicans and Nationalists between 1936 and 1939. It was a bitter and bloody conflict, with atrocities committed on both sides. The Nationalists, led by Francisco Franco, were eventually triumphed. He ran Spain with an iron fist until his death in 1975. Francoist Spain became a right-wing …
Sheffield Doc/Fest Preview: Boys Who Like Girls
Gender-based violence is rife in countless places around the world. It’s shocking that in many cultures, women and girls are considered to be second-class citizens. Whilst men/boys get the opportunities, their lives are strictly governed by expected norms, whether they’re based on religious or social conventions. This is something which is commonplace and affects their …
Sheffield Doc/Fest Preview: The Lonely Battle of Thomas Reid
As the saying goes, a man’s home is his castle. And like castles some houses are passed down from generation to generation. However, the fact that you own something doesn’t necessarily mean that it can’t be taken away from you. When big multi-nationals come calling they’re often not asking but telling. There are struggles taking …
Film Festival Preview: Sheffield Doc/Fest 2018
2018 marks the 25th anniversary of Sheffield Doc/Fest, the UK’s leading documentary film festival and one of the biggest in the world. This year’s programme features 37 world premieres, 18 International, 24 European and 70 UK premieres and takes place at various venues across Sheffield between 7-12 June. Along with a great Alternative Realities line-up, …
EEFF Review: Charismata
When it comes to crime drama, modern British TV series often offer a no-nonsense approach to investigating murders. In many way, that’s part of their charm. Real people trying to unmask real criminals. Life isn’t always that straightforward, however. Neither is the human brain. It’s liable to play tricks on us. With the right stimulus, …
EEFF Review: Blue My Mind
The teenage years are one of the most difficult periods in everyone’s lives. Memories of that period can resemble a horror film which is too traumatising to ever think about, let alone mention. It must be doubly-hard going through it as a girl. Without even contemplating the the myriad changes taking hold of the body, …
EEFF Review: Another News Story
Whilst the profession of journalism has never exactly had a good reputation, its kudos is probably at a record low at the moment. UK journalists are often referred to as ‘parasites’. However, foreign reporters largely escape this criticism. The refugee crisis, which is still ongoing but you’d hardly know it as it no longer seems …
EEFF Review: The Outsider
Tom Meadmore made small waves with his debut film, the rip-roaring How to Lose Jobs & Alienate Girlfriends. Working as a television editor in his native Australia, he was determined to make his own film. So much so that he ended up making a documentary about two musicians chasing their dream. Unfortunately for Tom, they …
Film Review: The Marriage
It would be naïve to think that, despite the major steps forward taken over the past couple of decades in the UK, there’s no longer any stigma attached to homosexuality. However, we’re a long way ahead of many other countries and states. Whilst Kosovo, for example, may have legalised same-sex marriage in 2014, it doesn’t …
EEFF Review: Punk Voyage
In 2012, a door was opened into a strange universe. A domain only known to a small but vocal number of initiates. The phenomenon that is Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät, Finland’s most bad-ass punk band, were introduced to the world in the brilliant Punk Syndrome. Pertti, Kari, Toni and Sami taught us to avoid pedicures at …