Most recent articles
6 December 2023
Celebrating SFX - Abdel Belabbes
by Judy Harris
In the second instalment of our VFX series we’re exploring the merging of CGI and stop motion in Robocop 2, Guillermo del Toro’s penchant for insectoids as evidenced in Pacific Rim and the mercurial appendages of Dr Octopus in Spiderman 2, all (…) Continue Reading »
5 December 2023
Celebrating SFX - Eddy Durnan
by Judy Harris
There’s nothing more special than special effects!
Whether digital or practical, special effects are created by a highly skilled, specialised labour force and have created some of cinema’s most captivating images (that’s why we insist on (…) Continue Reading »
28 November 2023
EFN double award winner Plum Stupple-Harris talks to Steve Topple
by Steve Topple
Filmmaker Plum Stupple-Harris’ short, "ManMade," is EFN Short Film Festival’s 2023 double-award winner! For the first time in EFN’s history, a film won both Critics’ Choice and Audience Favourite awards.
Journalist Steve Topple speaks to Plum (…) Continue Reading »
13 November 2023
Painted Skies - A Celebration Of Fake Backgrounds
by Judy Harris
An interview with Bruno Savill de Jong about his film season celebrating matte paintings. Continue Reading »
10 November 2023
Bye Bye Tiberias A hopeful by Lina Soualem - A hopeful and nostalgic ode to those we leave behind
by Sally Zarzour
Bye Bye Tiberias follows Hiam Abbass, who leaves her Palestinian village of Deir Hanna, to pursue her dream of becoming an actress, leaving behind her mother, grandmother, and sisters. Abbass returns to her village, with her daughter, Lina (…) Continue Reading »
23 October 2023
Q&A with T A P E Collective’s Isra Al Kassi
by Reem I-T
Reem spoke to Isra Al Kassi, Co-founder & Co-director of London-based outfit T A P E Collective. The Collective is mostly known for curating screenings and events with a particular focus on representation, identity and heritage. They have (…) Continue Reading »
29 September 2023
"It offered solace and an outlet in its silent form of rebellion" - Exploring Nüshu in Hidden Letters
by Asma Ibrahim
Violet Du Feng’s film tells the story of two Chinese women trying to balance their lives as independent women in modern China while confronting the traditional identity that defines but also oppresses them.
Nüshu (女书), literally ‘women script’, (…) Continue Reading »
28 September 2023
Unidentified Objects: A deftly made and good-looking sci-fi road movie
by Judy Harris
North America: neon motel signs; lens flares; two unlikely companions embarking on a road trip (he’s uptight and reads Chekhov, she’s into aliens and couldn’t name a single Russian author). Have we all seen this movie before? Yes! And no. (…) Continue Reading »
27 September 2023
Smoke Sauna Sisterhood - Healing, cleansing and unburdening in an Estonian sauna
by Robin W. Mac
The documentary Smoke Sauna Sisterhood (d. Anna Hints) almost entirely takes place in a smoke sauna in Vana-Võromaa, South-East Estonia. In the sauna a group of women come together to purify, cleanse, heal and converse. Opening with haunting (…) Continue Reading »
24 September 2023
Loach bows out with a final, hopeful social commentary in The Old Oak
by Julius Marstrand
Julius is an activist and NHS campaigner, and watched the UK Premiere of ‘The Old Oak’ at the Cheltenham International Film Festival, after which Ken Loach answered questions about the film from a packed and very enthusiastic audience.
Ken (…) Continue Reading »