BFI Future Film Festival 2021
Next up on our 2021 festival tour is BFI Future Film Festival, showcasing the best short films from creatives aged 16 to 25. Hosted by the British Film Institute, it’s the UK’s largest festival for young and emerging filmmakers and hosts a variety of free events and screenings – and, this year, it was all virtual. Below, our editorial team share their thoughts on some of the festival’s female-directed films.
The Supernatural Rom-Com Frenzy of the Early 2000s
Romance films on the silver screen have evolved drastically since the beginning of cinema history. From sweeping epics, foreboding film noir, and wacky screwball comedies, the magic of falling in love has remained a powerful force in film history. In the early 2000s, there was a boom in over-the-top romantic comedies with a supernatural twist.
Has the pandemic encouraged us to open up about mental health on social media?
2020 was – amongst other things – the year of the depression meme, as millennials and Gen-Z alike turned to Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok to get candid about their struggles. Lilia Pavin-Franks discusses the perks and pitfalls of opening up about your mental health on social media in these difficult times.
Being a university student during national lockdown
Living through a global pandemic hasn’t been easy for anyone, but university students are facing their own set of struggles that have been continually overlooked by those in charge. Larissa Hird discusses the effect of national lockdowns on student wellbeing, drawing on her own experience studying for a Master’s degree during the pandemic.
7 Essential Documentaries Highlighting African Diaspora, Asian and LGBTQ Perspectives In Film
We've hand-picked a series of pivotal documentaries that offer in-depth accounts and personal insight into the challenges and trauma many marginalised LGBTQ communities have faced, and also highlights the work of several African American and Asian filmmakers.
My Own Experience with The Bent-Neck Lady
A beautiful, personal essay from Alysha Pracad on The Haunting Of Hill House’s Eleanor Crain.
Hello March
This time of year is always a blessing - it’s no longer dark outside at 4pm, the weather is (ever so slightly) warming up, and the emergence of Spring is the perfect season to try new things and bloom! Too poetic? Maybe, but in such difficult times it’s nice to find the little positives, which is exactly what our team are offering you this March in the form of recommendations, including podcasts, tv shows, and much more.
An Interview with Neeraja Raj
Neeraja Raj is a director, writer, animator, and storyteller. In her film Meow or Never (2020), she tells the story of cat-astronaut Pucha who is searching for the answers to life’s most pressing questions. In this interview, Neeraja talks us through this delightful, award winning tale of discovery and friendship, as well as telling us what it’s like to work in the world of animated films.
London Short Film Festival 2021
Kickstarting our festival tour of 2021 was London Short Film Festival, taking place online for the first time ever, it boasted 59 short films from around the world as well as some brilliant Industry talk events including Lynne Ramsey. Our writing team focused on the UK Awards selection and shared their thoughts on some of the female directed films featured.
Sundance 2021: Natalie Chao
Natalie Chao talks us through the making of her short film, To Know Her, an exploration of the camera's gaze and her relationship with her mother. She chats to us about memory, family, and what we can learn from the pandemic.