75th Berlin International Film Festival: “We Believe You” Review

Child custody battles are among the most emotionally taxing and legally complex issues in family law. The courtroom, meant to be a place of justice, can often become a space where trauma is perpetuated, particularly for victims of domestic violence and abuse. The protracted and repetitive nature of legal proceedings, where children are repeatedly asked…

75th Berlin International Film Festival: In Conversation with Florian Pochlatko, Director of “How to Be Normal and the Oddness of the Other World”

Mental health film narratives are arguably among the most challenging to bring to the big or silver screen due to their complexity, requiring a delicate balance between authenticity, artistic interpretation, and emotional sensitivity. Yet, Florian Pochlatko rises to the occasion with How to Be Normal and the Oddness of the Other World, a film that…

75th Berlin International Film Festival: “The Message” Review

Screened in Competition at this year’s Berlinale and winner of the Silver Bear Jury Prize, Iván Fund’s The Message is an unconventional coming-of-age story that balances the ethereal with the tangible, creating a narrative about family, perception, and connection. At its core, The Message captures the defining moment when a child gains the awareness that…

75th Berlin International Film Festival: “Hysteria” Review

A study in humanity might be one good way of summarising Mehmet Akif Büyükatalay’s 2025 film Hysteria. Where is the line between a righteous act and a performative spectacle? Büyükatalay attempts to answer the question when a dishonourable burning of a Quran for a shoot sparks conflict between parties, and Hysteria becomes a meta film…

Inside t024’s Journey: The Story Behind “TRACE” – Exclusive Interview

There is no doubt that music is a universal language that connects people across the globe. While some artists achieve massive mainstream success, countless talented musicians remain under the radar, many of whom hail from Asia. Beyond the global phenomenon of K-pop, South Korea, in particular, boasts a rich and diverse music scene that spans…

Cinema and Myth: Riar Rizaldi Discusses “Monisme” and the Enigma of Mount Merapi – Exclusive Interview

Indonesian multimedia artist and filmmaker Riar Rizaldi, known for his blend of documentary fiction and essay films, has recently completed his latest work, Monisme (2024). The film delves into themes of duality—human and non-human, nature and technology—while questioning their interconnectedness. Born from years of extensive research on Mount Merapi, one of Indonesia’s most significant volcanoes,…

Takeuchi Hideki Returns to the Far East Film Festival

Historically, cinema has predominantly engaged with the human body through the lens of science fiction, often depicting miniature characters – reduced to the size of ants – who embark on fantastical journeys within our physical form, confronting its mysteries and the limited special effects technology of bygone eras. Iconic films like Richard Fleischer’s Fantastic Voyage,…