International: Africa
MAMI WATA Review: A Singularly Enthralling Experience
Directed by CJ "Fiery" Obasi, the Nigerian film stars Rita Edochie, Uzoamaka Aniunoh, Evelyne Ily Juhen, and Emeka Amakeze.
Vlissingen 2023 Review: SIRA Survives
One of the nice surprises at the Film by the Sea Festival in Vlissingen was the unexpected warm weather, a nice little hot after-Summer. A less nice surprise was that some of the venues at the festival did not have...
ASHKAL: THE TUNISIAN INVESTIGATION Review: Riveting Supernatural Noir
If a person sets themselves alight and no one sees it, does the act lose its meaning? Is a half-built housing complex still a potential home, or a constant reminder of impermenance? Can justice be served only through the law,...
MAMI WATA Teaser: CJ "Fiery" Obasi's Fantasy Adventure at Fantasia's Opening Weekend
When the harmony in a village is threatened by outside elements, two sisters must fight to save their people and restore the glory of a mermaid goddess to the land.
Exclusive: Poster & Trailer for Tunisian Supernatural Thriller ASHKAL
With a slightly new title, Ashkal: The Tunisian Investigation, this eeri mystery was something of a sleeper hit on the festival circuit in 2022. We're seeing a rise in more genre.leaning work coming from MENA countries; considering the rich folkloric...
ONCE UPON A TIME IN UGANDA Review: A Love Letter to the Power of Cinema
Cathryne Czubek directed the documentary, opening this week as part of Alamo Drafthouse's Fantastic Fest Presents series.
Fantasia 2023: Second Wave Announced! Pascal Plante's RED ROOMS Will Open The Fest
Our thoughts turn to Summer as our friends over at Fantasia are gearing up for another year of summer camp for genre film nerds. Over thirty more feature length films are being announced today. Pascal Plante's Red Rooms has...
Cannes 2023 Review: OMEN (AUGURE) Paints Kaleidoscopic Africa Here and Now
Belgian rapper Baloji's film stars Marc Zinga, Eliane Umuhire and Marcel Otete Kabeya.
Lighthouse 2023: Final Wave Announced, Brittany Snow's PARACHUTE To Open
Tickets go on sale tomorrow for this year's edition of the Lighthouse Film Festival in Long Beach Island, New Jersey. We already highlighted the midnighter program, led by Ted Geoghegan's Brooklyn 45, the other day. The final wave of titles...
First Look 2023 Preview: Survey of New World Cinema
Once again, First Look Festival at the Museum of the Moving Image is upon us, showcasing new, adventurous films from around the world. Encompassing features, shorts, narratives and non-narratives, this year's wide ranging selections include Tori and Lokita, a new film...
Sundance 2023 Review: MAMI WATA, West African Folktale Stuns, Mesmerizes
In West African folklore, Mami Wata (“Mother Water”) represents a water-based deity of relatively recent vintage to the continent. Traditionally a life-giver and life-bringer, Mami Wata isn’t without her ambiguities, however. She can take as well as give in equal...
Sundance 2023 Review: ANIMALIA, Abstract, Metaphysical Sci-Fi Drama
For writer-director Sofia Alaoui, winning the Short Film Grand Jury Prize for Qu’importe si les bêtes meurent (So What If the Goats Die) at the Sundance Film Festival and the Best Short Film at the César Awards three years ago...
STAR WARS: VISIONS: Disney+ And Lucasfilm Announce Animators And Release Date For Volume 2
Arguably one of the best things that Disney+, Star Wars and Lucasfilm released last year was Star Wars: Visions. The collection of short films created by animation studios in Japan offered a staggering variety of animation styles and stories...
Blu-ray Review: THIS IS NOT A BURIAL, IT'S A RESURRECTION, The Poetics of Resistance
With only one or two 'big' names known, even among cinephines, cinema from sub-saharan Africa has often been neglected both on the festival and the art house cinema circuit. Perhaps also because of the way the filmmakers use the...
International Genre Focused Hub 'Fantastic Pavilion' to Launch at Marche du Film at Cannes
Variety had the exclusive yesterday, an announcement of the creation of Fantastic Pavilion, "... a significant booth and exhibition space located at the Cannes Marché du Film in the Palais des Festivals". Announced this week during Ventana Sur in...
South African Horrorfest 2022: THE HARBINGER, KING OF SCREEN And LIFE WITH CHUCKY Highlight African Genre Fest Lineup
After an unforeseen scheduling setback our friends at the South African Horrorfest picked up their bootstraps and were able to reschedule their annual event for this coming week and a half. While its always nice to be able to hold...
Criterion in January 2023: THE ADVENTURES OF BARON MUNCHAUSEN and Some Other Movies
Also out in the new year: 'Bergman Island,' 'Imitation of Life,' 'This Is Not a Burial, It's a Resurrection' and Lars von Trier's 'Europe Trilogy.'
Toronto 2022 Review: THE ETERNAL DAUGHTER, Mirrors and Memories
It might be something bred into us when we're in the womb, a need to please our parents. Or at least, to have some kind of effect on them. The memory of how we either succeeded or failed can haunt...
Toronto 2022 Review: HOLY SPIDER, A Taut and Stark Social Thriller
It might be the world's oldest profession, but prostitution has always been treated with disdain, or far worse, depending on the society and time period. Prostiutes, who are mainly women, are both wanted and reviled; treated as though they are...
Review: In SALOUM, Rules Are Bent and Broken With Aplomb
Yann Gael, Evelyne Ily Juhen and Roger Sallah star in a thriller from Senegal, directed by Jean Luc Herbulot, and now streaming on Shudder.
