Filmed over the course of 12 years, Western Arabs is a chaotic and fascinating look at the intergenerational trauma and impact of displacement. Omar’s father, Munir, was amongst the Palestinians that were forced to flee their homes after 1948. (…) Continue Reading »

This week, Abla picks Seduced: Inside the NXIVM Cult, a sort of parallel documentary to the previously discussed The Vow, also about Keith Raniere and NXIVM but more explosive and revelatory, and Egyptian horror series Paranormal. She mentions (…) Continue Reading »

Our guest this week is Phil Miller, investigative journalist and staff reporter at Declassified UK. We discuss the origins of British mercenaries in recent proxy wars and the extent of government culpability in his documentary (and the book it’s (…) Continue Reading »

A longer episode than usual in which we are joined by Media Fund Strategic Coordinator Thomas Barlow. Among the many other things he does is conducting anti-fascist history tours in his home city of Manchester! Tom chose to focus on themes of (…) Continue Reading »

Yet again, Encounters treats us to some of the most discerning curating out there. The various programmes never disappoint, the comedy shorts are funny, the horror shorts are scary, the experimental shorts are wacky. Covid means we miss out on many things: the wonderful Watershed venue and its underrated risotto, the networking, the warm, friendly atmosphere and chit chat with the directors, (…) Continue Reading »

Craig Roberts’ « Eternal Beauty » is a bold representation of mental illness that breaks with cinematic tradition, adding a rare level of nuance and compassion to an often misrepresented topic. Sally Hawkins stars as Jane, an isolated woman (…) Continue Reading »

Following Emerging Filmmakers Night’s latest edition, True Grit", Mydylarama had a chat with both prize winners about their work, their sources of inspiration and filming during Covid. More about the winning entries, Single and Stretched Out here. First up, Critics’ Prize winner Ashley Eakin who directed Single, talks to us about representations of disabilities on film, shooting in Canada (…) Continue Reading »

Writer Tommy Hodgson offers his own top picks from this year’s Encounters Short Film Festival. Breadline (UK, director: Carol Salter): Breadline displays intimate footage of a food bank in a Northern town through the gaze of an elderly (…) Continue Reading »

This week’s focus is "colonial chic" in light of the touted and actual removal of Gone With The Wind from a number of programmes and archives due to its racist outlook. We discuss themes of colonialism and postcolonialism through film, namely the (…) Continue Reading »

Another trimester, another season, another Emerging Filmmakers Night . Although the apocalypse is kept at bay, Covid is still raging, and given the fun had last time, the team decided to keep their winning formula and hold another live-streamed (…) Continue Reading »