Frankie, Maniac Woman - Jennie Kermode - 20293
Pierre Tsigaridis’s latest indie slasher, Frankie, Maniac Woman, follows Frances – a self‑destructive singer‑songwriter haunted by fat‑shaming and a murderous alter ego. Co‑written and headlined by Dina Silva, the film mixes graphic gore with dark comedy while exposing misogyny and body‑image trauma. Its narrative is deliberately fragmented, trading conventional plot logic for mood‑driven chaos, yet Silva’s performance provides the emotional core. Though uneven, the movie pushes the genre’s boundaries by confronting Hollywood’s treatment of female bodies through visceral satire.
The Mighty Amazon by Paul Risker
Brazilian filmmaker Gabriel Mascaro’s new drama *The Blue Trail* follows 77‑year‑old Tereza as she rebels against a government‑mandated relocation of seniors to remote colonies, turning the Amazon river into a road‑trip of self‑discovery. The film blends dystopian and coming‑of‑age tropes,...
Bugboy - Amber Wilkinson - 20292
Bugboy, a coming‑of‑age documentary by Lucas Paleocrassas, follows shy teenager Yorgos, whose eye disorder and parents’ divorce drive him toward a deep fascination with insects. The film intertwines his bug companionship—particularly with crickets named Isabella and Ferdinand—with his evolving relationship...
Tirrenica - Amber Wilkinson - 20291
Rosario Minervini’s documentary Tirrenica follows the 268‑mile Salerno‑Reggio Calabria highway, a route that took over 60 years to build, and captures the lives of people who live and work along it. Filmed over four years, the film blends present‑day character portraits...
'You Let People See What's Happening and It Makes Its Own Argument' By Amber Wilkinson
Veteran journalist Tony Jones’s debut documentary *Sentient* premiered at Sundance, exposing unprecedented undercover footage of monkey testing in an undisclosed English lab. The film was funded by the Growing Kindness foundation, an Animals Australia initiative, which secured full editorial independence...
We Are Stardust - Edin Custo - 20289
We Are Stardust, a Norwegian documentary by Elisabeth Rasmussen, follows musician‑turned‑stardust hunter Jon Larsen as he spends a decade sifting urban gutters, roofs and roadsides for micrometeorites. The film documents his quest to prove that extraterrestrial dust can be collected in...
Mr. Burton - Jennie Kermode - 20286
Marc Evans’ new biopic “Mr. Burton” follows the Welsh teacher who sparked Richard Burton’s acting career, focusing on his 1942 Port Talbot classroom and the student Richie Jenkins, a poetry‑loving teen from a troubled home. Toby Jones delivers a restrained...
Body Of Our Own - Jennie Kermode - 20287
Rahemur Rahman and Lily Vetch’s short documentary *Body Of Our Own* premiered at BFI Flare 2026, focusing on three hijra women in Bangladesh. Filmed over seven years and trimmed to 25 minutes, the observational film captures their traditional roles in...
Mariinka - Amber Wilkinson - 20283
Belgian director Pieter‑Jan De Pue’s 2026 documentary "Mariinka" chronicles a decade of life in the frontline Ukrainian town of the same name, focusing on four brothers torn apart by the Russia‑Ukraine war and the women who navigate the conflict’s daily hazards....
Night Stage - Jennie Kermode - 20282
Night Stage, directed by Filipe Matzembacher and Marcio Reolon, is a noir‑styled indie drama that follows flatmates Matias and Fabio as they vie for a coveted TV role while navigating a fraught romantic tension. The film’s visual palette, crafted by...
Mother's Baby - Marko Stojiljkovic - 20281
Johanna Moder’s latest horror‑thriller Mother’s Baby marks her first foray into genre filmmaking, shifting from romantic comedy‑dramas to a chilling exploration of motherhood. The story follows conductor Julia and her husband Georg, who turn to an unorthodox clinic for a...
Four Minus Three - Marko Stojiljkovic - 20280
Adrian Goiginger’s new film Four Minus Three debuts at Berlinale Panorama, adapting Barbara Pachl‑Eberhart’s bestselling autobiographical novel about a widow’s grief after her husband’s fatal train accident. The Austrian director continues his true‑story focus, collaborating with screenwriter Senad Halilbašić to translate the...
Power and Desire by Paul Risker
Canadian director Gloria Mercer’s feature debut A Safe Distance premiered at SXSW 2026, starring Bethany Brown, Tandia Mercedes and supporting actors. The film follows Alex, who after rejecting a romantic proposal, joins off‑grid fugitives and confronts themes of female desire,...
Boorman And The Devil - Jennie Kermode - 20277
The new documentary "Boorman And The Devil" by David Kittredge examines John Boorman’s ill‑fated 1977 horror sequel "Exorcist 2: The Heretic", piecing together interviews, production archives, and technical analysis into a 112‑minute film. It reveals the behind‑the‑scenes challenges—including early Steadicam use,...
What Will I Become? - Edin Custo - 20278
"What Will I Become?" is a documentary co‑directed by Lexie Bean and Logan Rozos that examines the alarming suicide crisis among transgender boys, where more than half attempt self‑harm. The film intertwines the directors’ own survivor experiences with the stories...
Rose - Marko Stojiljkovic - 20275
Markus Schleinzer’s new film *Rose* follows a woman who disguises herself as a man to fight in the Thirty Years’ War, motivated by personal opportunism rather than patriotism. Sandra Hüller’s nuanced performance anchors the story, while stark black‑and‑white cinematography amplifies...
Chimney Town: Frozen In Time - Amber Wilkinson - 20276
"Chimney Town: Frozen In Time" returns the pint‑sized sweep Lubicchi for a sequel that thrusts him into the surreal Millennium Fortress, a realm where clocks symbolize human lives. Director Yûsuke Hirota blends CGI with hand‑drawn animation, delivering richly detailed visuals...
Empire Of Lies - Jennie Kermode - 20273
Empire of Lies, Matthew Hope’s low‑budget thriller, unfolds with just two actors, a caravan and an open field. Joseph Millson and Natalie Spence deliver a tense, balanced performance that sustains the film’s suspense. The review notes a looming twist and...
The Snake - Jennie Kermode - 20271
Jenna MacMillan’s indie drama "The Snake" debuted at SXSW 2026, following the turbulent life of Jamie, a homeless woman navigating codependency and petty crime. The film blends gritty realism with dark comedy, highlighting queer‑chosen families and the struggle against a fading...
Lunar Sway - Edin Custo - 20270
Nick Butler’s sophomore film Lunar Sway follows Cliff, a bisexual neon sign maker in a desert town, as he confronts haunting memories of past intimacy and a sudden claim from a woman alleging to be his birth mother. The movie...
Candidates Of Death - Amber Wilkinson - 20272
"Candidates Of Death" is a 17‑year documentary chronicling director Maciej Cuske and his son Stansiu’s annual horror‑short projects with friends across the Polish countryside. The film stitches together footage from childhood water fights to teenage filmmaking seriousness, creating a collage...
Around Paradise - Amber Wilkinson - 20269
"Around Paradise" is a 2026 documentary by Russian filmmaker Yulia Lokshina that explores El Paraíso Verde, a 14.23 sq km gated enclave in southern Paraguay. Founded by Erwin and Sylvia Annau, the community markets to affluent conspiracy theorists, right‑wing extremists and anti‑vaxxers,...
Cruel Tale Of Bushido - Donald Munro - 20268
Tadashi Imai’s 1965 film *Cruel Tale Of Bushido* follows salaryman Iikura, who discovers his ancestors’ tragic fates during the Edo period and sees how the samurai code still haunts modern Japan. The narrative shifts from a contemporary hospital scene to...
Don't Be Prey - Jennie Kermode - 20266
The documentary "Don’t Be Prey" follows Mark Sowerby’s quest to conquer the Oceans Seven—seven notoriously dangerous straits—after a 2018 financial scandal shattered his reputation. The film details the physical hazards of open‑water swimming, including sharks, hypothermia, jellyfish stings, and extreme currents,...
Dua Ji - Amber Wilkinson - 20267
Yu‑Han Tsai’s 18‑minute short “Dua Ji” debuted at SXSW, earning a four‑star review. The film follows a Taiwanese family grieving their matriarch, exposing how tradition places ritual responsibility on the male line. Lead actress Kuei‑Mei Yang portrays the mother’s suppressed emotions...
Glasgow Short Film Festival Opens by Andrew Robertson - 2026-03-19 22:52:44+00:00
The 19th Glasgow Short Film Festival opened with a surprise feature, “Downriver A Tiger,” a Catalan‑Glasgow co‑production directed by Victor Diago. Festival director Matt Lloyd used the opening to lament the recent closure of the Centre for Contemporary Arts and...
A Place to Belong by Jennie Kermode
Irish filmmaker Liam O Mochain’s new anthology film “Abode” opens in UK cinemas on March 20, 2026. The movie stitches together five distinct stories about the many meanings of home, selected from ten concepts he developed. O Mochain self‑financed the project over four years,...
Abode - Jennie Kermode - 20265
Liam O Mochain’s new anthology "Abode" strings together five short films set in Dublin, each probing a different facet of what home means. The pieces swing from gritty realism to darkly comic sci‑fi, anchored by meticulous set design that makes every...
Project Hail Mary - Andrew Robertson - 20263
The new "Project Hail Mary" film, starring Ryan Gosling, translates Andy Weir’s bestselling novel into a two‑and‑a‑half‑hour sci‑fi adventure that blends practical effects with heartfelt alien companionship. Director duo Phil Lord and Chris Miller lean heavily on tangible set pieces,...
Children No More: Were And Are Gone - Edin Custo - 20258
Children No More: Were and Are Gone, a 36‑minute documentary by Hilla Medalia, follows a group of Israelis holding weekly silent vigils in Tel Aviv after a March 2025 airstrike killed 193 children in Gaza. The film juxtaposes the mournful ceremony—photographs...
The Devil Is Busy - Edin Custo - 20259
The documentary *The Devil Is Busy*, co‑directed by Geeta Gandbhir and Christalyn Hampton, follows a single day at an Atlanta women’s health clinic, exposing the intense security measures required for abortion care. It centers on Tracii, the clinic’s head of...
Hunky Jesus - Edin Custo - 20261
Jennifer M. Kroot’s documentary *Hunky Jesus* examines the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, a queer‑focused ministry that emerged in San Francisco in 1979. By weaving archival footage with contemporary interviews, the film shows how the Sisters turned drag, humor, and ritual into...
The Land Of Sometimes - Jennie Kermode - 20262
The Land Of Sometimes is a family‑fantasy film starring Ewan McGregor, Helena Bonham‑Carter and a cameo by Mel Brooks, backed by Terry Davies’ West‑End‑style musical score. The story follows twins Elise and Alfie as they chase a wish‑granting watch into a precarious island...
Fifteen - Jennie Kermode - 20257
Fifteen is a horror‑drama that follows two 14‑year‑old girls, Ligia and Mayet, as their quinceañera approaches while a supernatural pregnancy transforms their lives. The film blends visceral gore with the anxieties of adolescence, using the myth of La Llorona to...
Eructation - Amber Wilkinson - 20255
Eructation, a six‑minute documentary directed by Victoria Trow, follows Oregonian Kaylee Kotlins as she trains to break the world record for the loudest female belch, currently 107.3 decibels. The film employs meticulous set dressing, Wes Anderson‑inspired visuals, and precise sound...
Pizza Movie - Jennie Kermode - 20256
Pizza Movie premiered at SXSW 2026, following two college misfits who stumble upon a mysterious designer drug while waiting for a pizza delivered by a stair‑incapable robot. The film starts as a series of disjointed comedy sketches but gradually coalesces...
Golden Night for Closure in Thessaloniki by Amber Wilkinson - 2026-03-16 12:52:44+00:00
Michał Marczak’s documentary *Closure* captured the Golden Alexander at the 28th Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival, earning a €12,000 prize and positioning the film as an Oscar documentary contender. The jury praised its immersive portrayal of a grieving father’s search for...
Stay-at-Home Seven: March 16 to 22 by Amber Wilkinson, Jennie Kermode, Mateusz Tarwacki
The "Stay‑at‑Home Seven" column for March 16‑22 curates a weekly slate of films and documentaries streaming across BBC iPlayer, Film4 and BBC2, with commentary from Amber Wilkinson, Jennie Kermode and Mateusz Tarwacki. Highlights include the war‑propaganda documentary “Mr Nobody Against Putin,” the satirical series...
Bearing Witness by Amber Wilkinson
Filmmakers Gabriela Osio Vanden and Jack Weisman have turned their Oscar‑shortlisted documentary short into a feature debut, Nuisance Bear, which premiered at Sundance and screened at Thessaloniki. The film examines the contentious practice of air‑lifting polar bears from Churchill, Manitoba,...
Forevergreen - Jennie Kermode - 20251
Forevergreen, a 13‑minute animated short nominated for this year’s Best Animated Short Oscar, dazzles with a woodcut‑style visual aesthetic that blends hand‑drawn textures and modern CGI. Despite Disney animators shaping a cute bear protagonist, reviewers criticize the thin storyline and...
The Perfect Neighbor - Amber Wilkinson - 20245
The Perfect Neighbor, an Oscar‑nominee documentary by Geeta Gandbhir, reconstructs the June 2023 killing of Black mother AJ Owens by white neighbor Susan Lorincz using police body‑camera footage, interview‑room video, and phone clips. The film’s editing, led by Viridiana Lieberman, weaves these...
Butcher's Stain - Jennie Kermode - 20252
Butcher’s Stain, a 26‑minute Israeli short directed by Meyer Levinson‑Blount, earned an Oscar nomination and a four‑and‑a‑half star rating from Eye for Film. The narrative follows Samir, an Arab employee in an Israeli supermarket, who is accused of removing Hamas...
Come See Me In The Good Light - Edin Custo - 20247
Ryan White’s documentary *Come See Me In The Good Light* chronicles Colorado poet‑laureate Andrea Gibson’s final year, premiering at Sundance 2025 and released before Gibson’s July death. The film intertwines Gibson’s candid poetry, humor, and humility with the stark reality...
The Alabama Solution - Amber Wilkinson - 20246
“The Alabama Solution,” an Oscar‑nominated documentary by Andrew Jarecki and Charlotte Kaufman, exposes severe overcrowding and violence in Alabama’s prisons, where facilities operate at 200 % capacity with only a third of needed staff. Using contraband‑smuggled phones, inmates provide first‑person testimony...
Armed Only With A Camera: The Life And Death Of Brent Renaud - Jennie Kermode - 20250
Armed Only With A Camera: The Life And Death Of Brent Renaud is a 2025 documentary directed by Brent’s brother Craig, weaving archival footage and new scenes to trace Brent Renaud’s career and his fatal ambush in Ukraine. The film...
All The Empty Rooms - Jennie Kermode - 20248
Steve Hartman and photographer Lou Bopp’s short documentary All The Empty Rooms captures the personal spaces left behind by victims of U.S. school shootings. By filming preserved bedrooms, the project humanizes the 420 children killed in 2025, shifting focus from...
Never After Dark - Jennie Kermode - 20242
Never After Dark, screened at SXSW 2026, follows professional psychic Airi and her deceased sister Miku as they investigate a haunted house owned by a mother‑son duo planning a property flip. The film blends classic J‑horror motifs with a modern...
Two People Exchanging Saliva - Jennie Kermode - 20244
Two People Exchanging Saliva, an Oscar‑nominated short by Natalie Musteata and Alexandre Singh, depicts a dystopian society where kissing is illegal and punished by being sealed in a box and dropped from a cliff. The film blends noir‑style black‑and‑white visuals...
Edie Arnold Is A Loser - Jennie Kermode - 20241
"Edie Arnold Is A Loser" debuted at SXSW 2026, chronicling a Catholic schoolgirl who discovers punk drumming against strict curfew, anti‑punk authority, and a lack of instruments. The film blends teen romance with a DIY music narrative, highlighting the protagonist...
'Our Present Is Barbara’s Future' By Edin Custo
Documentary "Barbara Forever" by Brydie O’Connor spotlights pioneering lesbian filmmaker Barbara Hammer, whose five‑decade career is introduced to new audiences at Sundance and Berlinale. The film resonates with both early‑twenties queer viewers and senior lesbians discovering Hammer for the first...