From Pain to Purpose: The Quiet Power of RISE

Jessica J. Rowlands’ RISE is not only a monumental moment in Zimbabwean cinema—being the first film from the country selected for a premiere at the prestigious Tribeca Festival—but also a deeply moving piece of storytelling that resonates far beyond its local setting. Rooted in the true story of Tobias Mupfuti, a boxing coach who turned personal pain into collective purpose, RISE is a short film that punches far above … Continue reading From Pain to Purpose: The Quiet Power of RISE

Jonathon Hammond’s FIREFLIES IN THE DUSK – Sharp, Witty and Wondrously Wacky

In the whimsical, time-bending romantic comedy Fireflies in the Dusk, director and writer Jonathon Hammond delivers a delightfully quirky and thought-provoking narrative that crosses time and space. This enchanting short film, which premiered at the Cleveland International Film Festival, showcases a romance that is as much about love as it is about challenging historical perceptions. The story follows Charlotte (Emily Goss), a late-Victorian maiden whose … Continue reading Jonathon Hammond’s FIREFLIES IN THE DUSK – Sharp, Witty and Wondrously Wacky

CLEVELAND INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL – Florence Bouvy’s WHERE WE STAY takes a poetic look on love and loss

Florence Bouvy’s Where We Stay (2024) is an intimate portrait of unspoken love that is finally brought into the open through tragic circumstances. The story centers on Carry and Daniel, two close friends who have spent their lifetimes skirting around their true feelings for each other, but now as Carry lies on his deathbed, time is running out for them to finally confront what has … Continue reading CLEVELAND INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL – Florence Bouvy’s WHERE WE STAY takes a poetic look on love and loss

Festival spotlight: 3rd watchAUT Austrian Film Festival presents the best new films from Austria alongside an influential title from the past

The third edition of watchAUT Austrian Film Festival brings to London the best new films to emerge from Austria, alongside a shorts programme plus an influential and controversial Austrian film from the 1980s. Presented by the Austrian Cultural Forum London in cooperation with the Austrian Film Institute, and running 13 – 16 March at Ciné Lumière and the ICA Cinemas, the festival provides a glimpse … Continue reading Festival spotlight: 3rd watchAUT Austrian Film Festival presents the best new films from Austria alongside an influential title from the past

Philippe Grenier’s MUSCAT – a painful story of self discovery

Philippe Grenier’s Muscat is a powerful and emotionally charged short film that delves into themes of incommunicability, sexual awakening, and the harsh realities of societal taboos. Set against the backdrop of Morocco, where the persecution of LGBTQ+ individuals remains a poignant issue, the film follows 16-year-old Samir, a fisherman struggling with his emerging attraction to men. His world is turned upside down when he meets Louis, a … Continue reading Philippe Grenier’s MUSCAT – a painful story of self discovery