Impure Nuns | Kegareta Nikutai Seijo (1958)
Michiyoshi Doi’s 1958 drama Impure Nuns (Kegareta Nikutai Seijo) is now recognized as one of Japan’s earliest feature films to portray lesbian desire. Produced by the low‑budget Shintoho studio, the film was released under sensational titles like Dirty Flesh Body and vanished from mainstream distribution after the studio’s 1961 bankruptcy. Film scholar James Cooper rediscovered the print in 2025, oversaw a meticulous restoration, and secured its debut at the 2026 BFI FLARE LGBTQIA Film Festival in London. The work’s melodramatic visual language draws on Douglas Sirk, Leontine Sagan and Powell & Pressburger, offering a rare glimpse into mid‑century Japanese queer cinema.
The Last Spy (2025)
The Last Spy, directed by Katharina Otto‑Bernstein, is a 2025 documentary that follows the extraordinary life of Peter Sichel, the CIA’s first post‑war Berlin station chief dubbed the “Jewish James Bond.” Drawing on extensive archival footage and in‑depth interviews, the film...
Primavera (2025)
Primavera, directed by opera‑theater veteran Damiano Michieletto, adapts Tiziano Scarpa’s novel “Stabat Mater” into a visually striking Italian costume drama. Set in 18th‑century Venice, it follows orphaned teen Cecilia as she becomes a pupil of composer Antonio Vivaldi, intertwining her...
Normal (2026)
British filmmaker Ben Wheatley debuts his first major American picture, "Normal," premiering in UK and Irish cinemas on May 15, 2026 before becoming a Sky Cinema Original. The thriller follows Sheriff Ulysses, played by Bob Odenkirk, as he confronts corporate...
The Wizard of the Kremlin (2025)
The Wizard of the Kremlin, directed by Olivier Assayas, debuted at the Venice Film Festival 2025 and is now playing in UK cinemas. The political thriller follows former Putin adviser Vadim Baranov, portrayed by Paul Dano, as he navigates the...
Kinaesthesia at the Bfi London
Kinaesthesia, a documentary celebrating the centenary of the "dream film," debuted at BFI Southbank from April 17‑19, 2026. The film weaves newly digitised silent‑era sequences—including Metropolis, A Page of Madness, and The Fall of the House of Usher—into a narrative...
Perro Perro (2026)
Marco Berger’s Argentine drama *Perro Perro* premiered at the 2026 BFI FLARE LGBTQIA+ Film Festival. The film is shot in lush monochrome, following two couples on a river holiday while a stray dog becomes a metaphor for male infatuation. Lead actors...
Cannes: Behind the Palme D’Or 2026
The Cannes Film Festival 2026 showcases a eclectic slate, with out‑of‑competition titles ranging from Antonin Baudry’s two‑part Charles de Gaulle biopic to Andy Garcia’s self‑written noir "Diamond." Emerging auteur Sandra Wollner returns to Un Certain Regard with the surreal thriller...
Cannes Film Festival 2026 | 79th Edition
The 79th Cannes Film Festival will take place from May 12‑23, 2026, showcasing 21 titles in the main competition. International independent cinema leads the slate, with veteran auteurs such as Andrei Zvyagintsev, Hirokazu Kore‑eda and Pedro Almodóvar returning, while France...
Days Are Numbered (1962)
Elio Petri’s 1962 Italian drama "Days are Numbered" follows a 54‑year‑old plumber who, after witnessing a commuter’s sudden death, abruptly abandons his lifelong trade to explore art, youth culture, and existential freedom. The film chronicles his brief rebellion—gallery visits, Vespa...
The Blue Trail (2025)
Gabriel Mascaro’s fourth feature, *The Blue Trail*, follows 77‑year‑old Tereza as she rebels against Brazil’s futuristic policy that forces seniors into remote “wrinkle wagons.” Set against a surreal Amazon backdrop, the sci‑fi drama blends satire with vivid cinematography as Tereza...
Rebuilding (2026)
“Rebuilding” follows Dusty Fraser, a Colorado rancher whose home and family are shattered by a wildfire. He and his estranged daughter live in a FEMA‑run trailer park, where he attempts to restore the ruined farmhouse while bonding with a grieving,...
Compostelle (2026)
Compostelle, directed by Yann Samuell, follows Fred (Alexandra Lamy), a dismissed teacher who volunteers to mentor a troubled teen, Adam, on the historic Camino de Santiago. The story blends personal redemption with the physical challenges of the pilgrimage from Le...
La Femme De (2025)
David Roux’s 2025 French drama La Femme de, adapted from Hélène Lenoir’s novel ‘Son nom d’avant’, follows the bleak life of Marianne, a 40‑year‑old housewife trapped in a loveless marriage. The film leans heavily on noir aesthetics, with muted visuals and...
Jaripeo (2026)
Jaripeo, a 2026 Mexican documentary directed by Efrain Mojica and co‑directed by Rebecca Zweig, examines the traditional rodeo carnival of Michoacán as a rite of passage for masculinity while foregrounding queer gender identities. Funded in part by the Sundance Production...