The 73rd Berlin International Film Festival is the first fully in-person Berlinale event since 2020. Before the festival, Executive Director Mariette Rissenbeek and Artistic Director Carlo Chatrian spoke about their objectives this year. Overcoming the impact of the pandemic and closer ties with the U.S. are two such challenges. Meanwhile, there has also been a …
Category Archives: Cinema
Which Decisions?
Iranian Luxembourg filmmaker Cyrus Neshvad’s work THE RED SUITCASE recently received an Academy Award Nomination for Best Short Film. The Paris educated director’s somber story of forced decisions builds a subtle rush. Click below for the Chat Cinema podcast.
The Future Talks to Today Part 2
Short listed for the 2023 Oscar, ALMOST HOME is a futuristic sci-fi short film with moral resonates today, responsibility for a life and death decision. An interview with Producer Jonas Lembeck. A sci-fi short film, not an easy assignment, why did you decide on this one project? Where there times you had to say, “NO”? …
The Future Talks To Today
Short listed for the 2023 Oscar, ALMOST HOME is a the present day topical sci-fi short film from Nils Keller explores decisions and relationships in the future on spaceship. A interview with director Nils Keller. A very today reference set in the future, how did you develop this storyline? The idea for ALMOST HOME was …
On Tap at IFFR 2023
I never know what to expect at the International Film Festival Rotterdam. The Dutch fest always provides twists and turns with a program that challenges my views on cinema.
A Punch from Chile
Fast Review-Fernando Guzzoni’s Blanquita hits the a viewer a with punch to the face. After viewing the Chilean Oscar entry on the country’s child sex traffic scandal I needed a moment. The Venice Film Festival winner is now playing in New York City and Los Angeles. 4 maybe 4.5 stars out of 5. Running Time …
The Oscar Race For Short Films in 2022
Presenting varied International Short films that are Oscar eligible. The standard of these films are original and mostly excellent. Starting with Tech to the Future by Sandro Monetti, not surprisingly, it is something otherworldly. The only non-fiction film here, the mood is like a news item straight out of Robocop. On-screen narrator Francis Hellyer proclaims …
Who Could Forget Black Is Beautiful?
As a cinema lover and child of the seventies I watched many films from the “Blaxploitation”(a term I never liked) era. Netflix just released IS THAT BLACK ENOUGH FOR YOU from historian and filmmaker Elvis Mitchell.
Wakanda and Coel
Emmy Winner Michaela Coel has become an entertainment juggernaut. Starring in the much talked about series “I May Destroy You” to this month’s highly anticipated Black Panther sequel, Wakanda Forever. We had the pleasure of interviewing Coel at the Shooting Stars event at the Berlinale a few years ago. The multi-hyphenate actress is on the …
A Laugh Came From There, REALLY!
A mockumentary from a South African filmmaker seemed a bit of a long shot. Attending a film festivals is about viewing cinema outside of one’s comfort zone. Part of the International Film Festival Rotterdam Return of the Tiger Section, Daryn’s Gym was a curious title with an unusual premise. Surprisingly, the work from director Brett …