Sweetness, which had its Canadian premiere at Fantasia Festival last night, opens on 16-year-old Rylee (Kate Hallett, Woman Talking), who is sitting on her bed underneath the warm glow of fairy lights. She’s watching a video on how to seduce men and practicing the lines herself. Above her, the walls and ceiling are plastered with…
Festivals
Fantasia 2025: My Most Anticipated Films
Fantasia International Film Festival, held in the heart of Montreal, is back for its 29th edition next week, running from 16 July to 3 August, and I’m delighted to be back providing remote coverage for my fourth year. Described as a juxtaposition between pop culture and alternative cinema, the festival showcases a broad range of…
LFF Review: Wildfire
In memory of Nika McGuigan. Set on the fractious Irish border, Cathy Brady establishes the tone of her feature-length debut, Wildfire, by opening with archival footage of the conflict and terrorism linked to The Troubles, and more recently, the divide caused by Brexit. The social and political unrest simmers in the background of the film’s main story,…
LFF Review: A Love Story
In Jennifer Sheridan’s original debut feature, Rose: A Love Story, husband Sam (screenwriter Matt Stokoe) and wife Rose (Sophie Rundle) live a secluded life together in England’s snowy woods. Sam spends his days in the freezing cold gathering wood, setting rabbit traps, and looking after them both, whereas Rose stays inside writing novels, on a typewriter…
Celluloid Screams Horror Film Festival 2016
Last month, I had the pleasure of volunteering at Sheffield’s horror film festival Celluloid Screams. The festival takes place the weekend before Halloween every year. It shows a selection of feature length films, some of them UK premieres, as well as short films which are screened before the features. Not to mention, they have a…
Joanna Lumley: “Banish Fear and Fill Your Heart with Love” | Doc/Fest 2016
Sheffield’s world leading documentary film festival, Doc/Fest, celebrates both the art and business of documentary. They offer a film programme full of exceptional international screenings, alternative realities which aid digital and interaction innovation, talks and sessions with various, talented people which help to inspire, inform and provoke thought as well as a marketplace for international business….