Native cinema, whether from the Americas, Australia, the Pacific Islands, or any other region, plays a vital role in today’s film industry by serving as a powerful medium for storytelling, cultural preservation, and social advocacy. For far too long, Indigenous communities have been underrepresented or misrepresented in mainstream media. Native filmmakers are now reclaiming their…
Category: Foreign Films
19th London Korean Film Festival: “The Truth Beneath” Review
Lee Kyoung-mi’s The Truth Beneath, a superb dark thriller, served as the Opening Night film at the London Korean Film Festival in 2016, and now it has returned to the festival once more. Co-written by Park Chan-wook, The Truth Beneath takes audiences on a harrowing journey through the grimy underbelly of politics and the personal…
19th London Korean Film Festival: In Conversation with Kim Hye-young, Director of “It’s Okay!”
With the 19th London Korean Film Festival on the horizon, audiences will be able to experience many wonderful films, and one of those films is It’s Okay! (Also known as It’s Okay It’s Okay It’s Okay! – 괜찮아 괜찮아 괜찮아!), a tender coming-of-age story that presents Kim Hye-young’s impressive directorial debut. First premiering internationally on…
19th London Korean Film Festival: “It’s Okay!” Review
It’s Okay!, the directorial debut of Kim Hye-young, is a coming-of-age film centered around the trials and tribulations of In-young (Lee Re), who in a cruel twist of fate loses her mother and sole caretaker during a triumphant performance of a traditional fan dance by the Seoul International Arts Company. As the beat of the…
9th London East Asia Film Festival: “Exhuma” Review
What do a Feng Shui master, a mortician, and a shaman all have in common? No, this isn’t the setup for a terrible joke; instead, it’s the main plot of the Korean supernatural horror film Exhuma. Although the film starts off slowly, it effectively introduces the main characters and their backgrounds. Additionally, it provides an…
Um Tae Goo: Finding Depth in Every Role – Exclusive Interview
To be an actor is to walk a fine line between reality and illusion, between self and character, and nowhere is this delicate dance more visible than in roles that challenge and stretch the frame of identity. The beauty of acting lies in the ability to entertain and in the subtle journey of transformation –…
The 29th BIFF announces Special Program in Focus “Teen Spirit, Teen Movie”
Compilation of the Best Asian Coming-of-Age Stories Garnering Global Attention in 2024 This program brings together films that have been acclaimed at major international film festivals over the past two years, highlighting the growing global interest in Asian coming-of-age stories. Notable films in the lineup include Tiger Stripes (2023), winner of the Grand Prix Prize…
The 29th BIFF Announces Selections for ‘Korean Cinema Today – “Special Premiere” & “On Screen”
The 29th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) has announced its lineup for the ‘Korean Cinema Today – Special Premiere’ section, featuring five films, and the ‘On Screen’ section, which includes six drama series. The ‘Korean Cinema Today – Special Premiere’ section highlights and debuts the newest and most significant contemporary Korean commercial films, recognized for…
Inside China: How Two Emerging Talents Are Getting Their Movies Made – Interview with Lu Dan and Fan Zhang
Lu Dan says she entered the film industry to find an outlet for her emotions, and the Chinese filmmaker’s debut feature certainly feels deeply personal. The director was born in the northwest Chinese province of Xinjiang, and in The Absent, she returns there to explore notions of family and home. “I like to tell stories…
An Escapade of Wistful Souls: “Camper” Review
Polish film is often some flavour of extreme. It’s brought us revered historical retellings, adored comedies, and sometimes just the deep-red scandalous. But it’s also brought us the beautiful gems missed by those who don’t dare step foot into the broad, imaginative world that is non-English cinema. Katyń (2007), The Peasants (2023), and The Hater…
VIEW OF THE ARTS 