International: Middle East
JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 4 Review: It's Big. Really Big. For JOHN WICK Fans That's Great.
In his ongoing quest to defeat The High Table, John Wick discovers a way to earn his freedom once and for all. In order to do so he must defeat his most formidable foe yet, a ruthless, high ranking member...
Series Mania 2023 Preview: Retro Nostalgia, 80s/90s Wave, Female Power Dominate World Television Series
French series festival Series Mania grew to become an important event dedicated uniquely to TV series in Europe. The festival brings world premieres of the intriguing international series to big screens throughout eight days of discoveries. The 2023 edition will...
Rotterdam 2023 Review: ENDLESS BORDERS Aims For Humanism
Directed by Abbas Amini, the drama from Iran blends social melodrama and refugee thriller in an audience-driven narrative depicting a flight for freedom.
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...
Venice 2022 Review: WORLD WAR III, Slapstick Iranian Thriller Unveils Trickling Terror
Directed by Houman Seyyedi, the wartime adventure is Iran's submission for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film.
TetroVideo September Releases: PHILOSPHY OF A KNIFE, ECHOES FROM THE GRAVE And PROFANE
Time for another round of extreme horror from the good folks at TetroVideo. This month they're releasing Andrey Iskanov's Philosophy of a Knife, Usama Alshaibi's Profane and the horror anthology Echoes From The Grave. If you like your horror...
Neuchâtel 2022 Daily: Dario Argento and DARK GLASSES, Ali Abbasi and HOLY SPIDER, Lorenz Merz and SOUL OF A BEAST
The back half of any festival can turn up some unexpected gems, as I'm sure attendees of the Neuchâtel International Fantastic Film Festival in Switzerland will discover today through Saturday, when the festive occasion wraps up. Allow me first, please,...
Neuchâtel 2022 Review: ASHKAL, Fire Without End
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,...
Criterion in September 2022: EXOTICA, SOUND OF METAL, TAKE OUT Lead the Pack
Brian De Palma's 'Blow Out' should blow everyone away in 4K, as should new editions of Henri-Georges Clouzot's 'Le Corbeau' and Martin Scorsese's World Cinema Project.
Frontières 2022: Full Line up Reveals a Market Reaching Further Than it Ever Has
With Marche du Film in the rearview window all eyes are turned to Montreal this coming July for the flagship co-production market taking place during Fantasia. The first wave of titles were announced prior to the weekend and this morning...
Review: HIT THE ROAD, Beautifully Shot, Cleverly Written, Masterfully Directed
Before watching Hit the Road, I vaguely remember reading that it was Panah Panahi's debut. Upon finishing the film, I felt compelled to double check that it was indeed his debut. I could have blamed my bad memory; but I...
Sitges And Cannes Announce This Year's Fantastic 7 Participating Projects
Sitges has announced, in partnership with The Marché du Film - Festival de Cannes, its lineup for this year's Fantastic 7 event. The event is a selection of 7 films that are near completion or are completed that will be...
DVD Review: GOLDEN VOICES, Wistful, Unsentimental Nostalgia
Vladimir Friedman and Maria Belkin star in a tale of migration, told by Evgeny Ruman and Ziv Berkovich, coming soon on DVD from Music Box Films.
Sundance 2022 Interview: SIRENS Director Rita Baghdadi and Stars Lilas Mayassi, Shery Bechara Talk Metal
Allowing your life to become the subject of a documentary is a brave feat under the most comfortable of circumstances, yet in Rita Baghdadi’s Sirens, we’re treated to an intimate window into a badass band who dare to be themselves,...
Exclusive THE TRANSLATOR Clip: Watching a Kidnapping
Watching a brazen kidnapping stirs a man to immediate action. Directed by Rana Kazkaz and Anas Khala, The Translator tells the story of Sami (Ziad Bakri), who fled war-torn Syria and has established a new life as a political exile...
LAYERS OF LIES: Ramin Sohrab Explodes Into Action In First Teaser For The Iranian Martial Arts Film
Long term readers of this site may recognize the name of Finland based Iranian martial artist Ramin Sohrab as this is not his first time in these pages. Sohrab has risen to global attention over the years through a series...
Review: A HERO By Any Other Name
Directed by Asghar Farhadi, the prickly drama from Iran stars Amir Jadidi, Mohsen Tanabandeh, and Fereshteh Sadre Orafaiy.
Lund Fantastic 2021 Review: IN THE SHADOWS, Resistance Grows
Erdem Tepegöz' science fiction mindfuck thriller In the Shadows has won awards in its home country of Turkey at several festivals, for best film, best director, best art direction and best music, and has received nominations aplenty in several other...
Now Streaming: COME FROM AWAY, THE DONUT KING, THE RABBI'S CAT
Singular visions from Canada (via Broadway), Cambodia (via U.S.) and Algeria (via France) explore terrorism, immigration and a talking cat.
Venice 2021 Review: REFLECTION, Resonant, Formalist Look at Russo-Ukrainian War
Akin to the works of Swedish master Roy Andersson, sans humor, combined with the gravitas and emotional punch of Andrey Zvyagintsev, the film is sort of a companion piece to 'Atlantis,' featuring truly impactful and impressive filmmaking.
