“Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead” Review

Creating bucket lists to achieve goals or experience new things is a common occurrence for many individuals, but what stops us from fulfilling them? These problems are reflected in the 2023 film adaptation of Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead. Based on the popular manga comics first created in 2018, the narrative follows Akira…

“Home for Rent” Review

2023’s Home for Rent might not immediately strike you as a terrifying choice for your watchlist, but as the old adage goes, “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” In this case, the same applies to a Netflix thumbnail. Thai horror films have a knack for unsettling Western audiences by expertly blending jump scares and…

38th BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival – “Heavy Snow” Review

Heavy Snow, written and directed by Yun Su-ik, is a subtle, heartwarming, and delicate narrative that depicts a friendship and budding romance between two teenage girls and their tumultuous journey through adolescence. At the centre of the story is Seol (Han So-hee: Nevertheless, My Name), a teenage actress whose world is transformed when she encounters…

74th Berlin International Film Festival: “REAS” Review

As we plough through this cursed era of remakes and unnecessary sequels, any film or TV series that features a brand new story is a blessing – and there’s nothing more original than real life. Lola Arias directs Argentinian self-proclaimed hybrid musical REAS, which sources its material from the charming inmates of Ezeiza prison a…

74th Berlin International Film Festival: “Young Hearts” Review

Warning: Spoilers ahead. Set amongst the fairytale-like rural landscapes of Belgium, Anthony Schatteman’s Young Hearts takes us into the lives of Elias (Lou Goossens) and Alexander (Marius De Saeger) as they pry open their feelings for one another – and navigate first love. With musical magic from Ruben De Gheselle, the film suffocates you with…

The Human Rights Watch Film Festival to Open with “Mediha” by Hasan Oswald

The Human Rights Watch Film Festival, now in its 28th year in London, has revealed a line-up of 10 award-winning, international feature-length films in partnership with Barbican Cinema and Rich Mix and generously supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery. The festival programme, presented at the Barbican and Rich Mix from 14-22 March, 2024, includes…

17th Asian Film Awards Nominations Announced

Celebrating its 17th anniversary, the Asian Film Awards (AFA) has unveiled the nominees for its 16 award categories ahead of the ceremony scheduled for March 10, 2024 (Sunday). The Asian Film Awards Academy (AFAA), established by the Busan, Hong Kong, and Tokyo International Film Festivals, aims to honour excellence in Asian cinema. AFAA plays an…

13th London Korean Film Festival: The Princess and the Matchmaker Review

A long wait for a premiere of a film never bodes well, even though it might be because the producers want to avoid the film clashing with the releases of other big productions, or because the progress has been slowed down by a prolonged post-production. The latter especially implies that the producer isn’t sure about…