The Least of These, Review: More was needed In India’s turbulent political climate, making a true-story movie on the life and work of a Christian Missionary who was accused of forced conversions and brutally murdered, along with his two sons, might not be such a good idea. That it is patchily made proves, once again, that all true stories are not film material, and not everybody can impart cinematic strength to powerful subjects. It is true that Australian missionary Graham Staines was...

Us, Review: Shadow boxing Us takes its own time in building up a premise and gives no indication that it is going to turn-out as a horror film, with macabre goings on and blood-baths included. To its credit, the film gives a whole new dimension to the genre, but having got there, it does not know what to do next. Repetition is the bane of any thriller, horrific or otherwise, and Us falls into that quagmire a little too early. Back in 1986, young Adelaide Thomas is on a vacation with her pare...

Hey Film Festival filmmakers, So we are now in our Regular Entry phase that ends June 20, 2019 and couldn't be more thrilled about the stories coming in from writers and directors 40 and over.... such life experience and fascinating films we're getting!  Keep 'em coming please! So exciting!!  https://filmfreeway.com/FortyandOverFilmFestival All genres welcome. A film festival that is actually a festival of films!  No Categories, so your chances increase exponentiall...

Wonder Park, Review: Who said it can’t be done? Released in the USA with a PG certificate, Wonder Park is about an imaginary amusement park created by the imagination of a 10-year old girl and her mother.  It tweaks logic and science to create fantastical rides and talking animals, making conventional amusement parks look like child’s play. It’s good holiday viewing for the 5-12 age-group, with a riot of colours and exciting thrills, causing adrenaline rushes, with the ...

Photograph, Review: Ode dear If only vignettes and mosaics could add up to a good script, Photograph would look refreshingly different. If improvised dialogue and incomplete scenes could substitute for a coherent narrative, Photograph would find its place in the album of memorable cinema. Forlornly, though, Ritesh Batra’s Photograph unpeels itself like the layers of an onion, offering emptiness at the end of the exercise, instead of discovery and resonance. Arriving with a sumptuous tr...

Hey Film Makers, Writers and Directors, So tomorrow is the Early Deadline for our Forty and Over Film Festival and just wanted to give a shoutout to everyone to get their films in before the fee goes up. We are so excited to see the amazing films coming in so far and can't wait to see what else is out there!   www.fortyandoverfilmfestival.com    Good luck everyone!! Frank Festival Director ...

**2019 London Independent Film Awards – WINNER – Best Feature Film** **2018 Jersey Shore Film Festival – WINNER – Best Suspense Thriller, Best Actress** **2017 Atlantic City Cinefest – WINNER – Best Feature, Best Cinematography, Best Actor**   Viva Pictures will release the horror film THE SAMARITANS On Digital and On Demand on April 16, 2019. Watch the Official Trailer: https://youtu.be/ki6wMYIP46o THE SAMAR...

Captain Marvel, Review: Skrull duggery, the Kreeps, a charismatic cat and muddled memories To many Indians, who grew up reading DC comics in the 50s, 60s and 70s, Captain Marvel is a man, and he acquires super-powers upon uttering the magical acronym, SHAZAM: genius of Solomon, strength of Hercules, unbreakable will of Atlas, lightning blasts of Zeus, power of Achilles and speed of Mercury. Named Billy Batson as a human, Captain Marvel’s powers comprised super strength, flight, invulner...

Hey Film Makers, As our Early Deadline approaches on March 15th just wanted to say how happy we are with all the entries we are receiving thus far!  Such great storytelling and fantastic work on the screen!  Keep 'em coming and take advantage of the Early Bird discount of $35 dollars...   Frank Festival Director  www.fortyandoverfilmfestival.com  https://filmfreeway.com/FortyandOverFilmFestival ...

Hey filmmakers So recently I had a conversation with a long time cinematographer who asked me what specific types of films we wanted for our Forty and Over Film Festival... and since we are open to all genres I would suggest the following wish list....  If your film Preaches, then we'd love for it to Inspire.  If yours Documents, then we'd love for it to Educate. And if your film is Fictional, then we hope it Entertains.  Our festival is looking for the best quality films...

The Wife, Review: The Bitter Half It is easy to get swayed emotionally and empathise with the apparent underdog in this simple tale of a complex relationship. Only when you distance yourself, get down to analysing the issues and assessing the narrative, do you realise that the film did not have too much to say, and that the vulnerabilities of the characters cover a convenient screenplay. Performances, undeniably, are above par, and the film may also be seen for its intensity, focus and ably m...

Special Announcement: the winner of Best Costumes and Best Production Design at our 2018 festival, Chimera (starring Oscar-nominee Kathleen Quinlan and Emmy-nominee Henry Ian Cusick), has secured a distribution deal and is set to release in April of this year! We are so proud of the brilliant filmmakers involved and honored to have featured their work in our festival. Check out the trailer below! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKCevLHGirQ ...

Cold Pursuit, Review: Too much cold, too many pursuits Stylised rendition and slick editing almost save this drug cartels and trail of corpses tale, but only almost. By the time you have attended the countless funerals and shoveled tons of snow, you come out of the cinema as cold as the weather. As the numbness wears out, you realise you have watched just another revenge drama, albeit with a refreshing new take. Nels Coxman's quiet life as a snow-plow driver (clearing roads after snowfal...

ATTENTION NYC Indie Film Fest ers - We hope you're just as excited as us for the 10th Annual Festival! Ten years is a big deal, and we're gonna celebrate accordingly! Wanna get your es asap? Luckily for you, they're discounted! Head on over to FilmFreeway and purchase your es. For any questions email us at [email protected]    https://filmfreeway.com/NYCIndieFF/tickets     ...

Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient Tom Hanks will present the SAG Life Achievement Award to renowned actor, writer, director, producer, and communicator Alan Alda during the 25th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards   The SAG Life Achievement Award for career achievement and humanitarian accomplishmentis the union's top accolade at the 25th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards®,    Given annually to an actor who fosters the "f...

  The 10th Annual NYC Indie Film Fest will be the best yet! We're looking forward to celebrating original filmmakers through an exciting week of s and parties! Curious what kind of s we have to offer? Check out our Women in Film from 2018 featuring four incredible ists - Danielle Earle, Lauren Atkins, Naomi McDougall Jones, and Joanna Pickering. Make sure to keep up with us on social to find out more info on 2019's s and other festival news! https...

We are so excited to announce that one of the short films featured in our 2018 festival, "Marguerite" directed by Marianne Farley, has been short-listed for an Academy Award! Congrats to the filmmakers! We are honored to have featured your film in our festival!     Want to submit? Visit: https://www.nycindieff.com/submissions/submit ...

Ben is Back, Review: Super Mom’s benediction v/s Son’s drug addiction Ben, the titular character, is a nineteen year-old boy who’s come back home for a Christmas visit from his rehabilitation centre. A hardcore drug addict, he has been clean for long enough to earn his holiday. Yet, his visit is going to hurtle his family into a crisis they could never have imagined. Ben is Back is not the routine drug-mafia/gang-war film. Instead, it is a thoroughly watchable hearts and min...

  ÉCU- The European Independent Film Festival is a weekend-long event showcasing some of the best indie films from all over the globe followed by an opportunity to get to know some of the directors better at a Q & A session and even at their amazing after parties!  Come them in discovering, projecting, and promoting some of the World's best filmmakers.  For more information visit www.ecufilmfestival.com ...

The Possession of Hannah Grace: Show me demoney A scary movie that does not scare can do little else. As the title suggests, the film is about the possession of a woman called Hannah Grace, though there is no reason or logic given behind the possession. In an 85-minute film, you can count the frightening scenes on the fingers of one palm. Originally titled Cadaver, the supernatural film was made under $10 million, and in spite of low merits, it might even end-up making some money. A woman ca...

Mortal Engines, Review: Municipal Darwinism in a dystopian future Charles Darwin’s theory of survival of the fittest is taken to its logical conclusion in the future, where mini cities stand on mobile machines that serve as crushers and gobblers of smaller ones, appropriating their resources and enslaving the captured populace. The process is called Municipal Darwinism, and no one is safe. Slick and deeply disturbing, Mortal Engines is thought-provoking viewing and full of metaphors. T...