Despite visibly displaying all the hallmarks of the stereotypical female duo so often found in films: the hot, popular ‘queen bee’ and her nerdy, needy best friend, these two characters refuse to conform and subvert this dynamic throughout the film.
Read MoreLosing Joy is a short film about a young woman struggling to acknowledge the first anniversary of her sister’s death. Faith [Michelle Tiwo] is lost in grief until close friend and former girlfriend Olivia [Shanay Neusum-James] guides her into acceptance.
Read MoreIn the aftermath of the London Short Film Festival (LSFF) this January, I sat down with one of its founders, Philip Ilson to speak about what they have achieved. Now coming up to its 20th anniversary festival next year, Ilson has been able to take a look back at what they have achieved over the festival’s lifetime, and consider how this will inform their plans for the future.
Read MoreSince the beginning of the film and tv industry women have been pushed aside in roles that were traditionally dominated by men, such as directors, producers and writers. If we look back to the golden age of Hollywood, very rarely will you see a female working the camera, taking control of film direction and writing a hit. Many were leading ladies like Judy Garland, Vivian Leigh and Audrey Hepburn.
Read MoreTISWAS would probably be pulled off the schedule within one episode nowadays. Ahead of Bristol Ideas and Slapstick Festival’s much anticipated TISWAS: The Reunion, at St Georges Bristol on Saturday 16th April, Slapstick Festival and Bristol Ideas director Andrew Kelly shares his memories of TISWAS, and how it sparked a love of comedy that would last a lifetime.
Read MoreBristol Bad Film Club has been ongoing since 2013. Set up by film lover, Ti Singh, each month the club showcases a notoriously bad film (the badder, the better) at Bristol Improv Theatre. With all proceeds going to charity, the film club offers a unique experience - the audience paying a fiver to watch a film about killer bees, a lion mauling Kathy Griffiths or watching Sylvester Stallone’s bodyguard act.
Read MoreFrom skipping school to ride horses to making his acting debut in Clio Barnard’s The Selfish Giant, Shaun Thomas has made name for himself on both the big and small screen. His most recent release is Ali & Ava, a beautiful portrayal of a working-class, modern day love story. His second film with Barnard, Thomas plays Callum, a son to Claire Rushbrooks’ Ava and a young dad himself.
Read MoreAhead of the release of his biopic Rebel Dread, we speak to acclaimed videographer, film-maker and DJ Don Letts. Growing up with the ever-present threat of racism, police harassment and violence in London during the 60s and 70s, Letts found himself at the epicentre of the emerging punk movement in the late 1970s. Don Letts was central to the crossover between the rasta and punk scenes, which created something completely new and exciting which has influenced the sound of UK alternative music ever since.
Read MoreWelcome to March’s film and TV review round-up! February’s review round-up was such a success that we decided to keep the ball rolling. With reviews from writers across the globe, we’ll be bringing you their thoughts and opinions on some of the newest releases.
Let’s get stuck in…
Read MoreThere has been a slow emergence, and even slower recognition, of the South Asian presence in Western film and television media, which has met with a contemporary boom of South Asian faces and stories in the industries due to the crisis of (self-)representation. Somewhat missing from this ongoing public discourse around representation, however, is the reality of the ‘constructions’ underlying visual media representations.
Read MoreCassandra Thomas, played by Carey Mulligan, is on a dangerous mission to avenge the death of her best friend as she singlehandedly attempts to confront rape culture one Nice Guy at a time. Take her home and take your chances - that’s the challenge posed by the tagline of Emerald Fennel’s directorial debut Promising Young Woman.
Read MoreWelcome to our first film review round-up! Our team of writers will be reviewing the newest releases across streaming platforms and in and bringing you their thoughts on a range of films and TV shows.
Read MoreRunning since 2005, Slapstick Festival is a yearly celebration of all things silent film and visual comedy in UNESCO Heritage City of Film Bristol. Everyday writer and photographer Vonalina Cake and culture editor Kerry Mead report back from the Silent Comedy Gala on Friday 28th January; a screening of three classic films from the silent comedy era, presented by Stephen Mangan in the impressive surroundings of Bristol Cathedral.
Beginning a career in law, Turkish born Yasmine has many talents. Scouted for TV when she was five years into her law career, she was then scouted for TV and began work as a news reporter before transitioning to acting and now writing. We caught up with her to discuss her new film, Anxious, which is currently making waves on the awards circuit and why putting mental health at the forefront of the film was important to her.
Read MoreBeginning a career in law, Turkish born Yasmine has many talents. Five years into her law career, she was then scouted for TV and began work as a news reporter before transitioning to acting and now writing. We caught up with her to discuss her new film, Anxious, which is currently making waves on the awards circuit and why putting mental health at the forefront of the film was important to her.
Read MoreIt’s been almost a quarter of a century since that cataclysmic car accident in Paris took place. Why then, when so many years have elapsed since her death, was it not surprising to hear that yet another film focusing on the plight of the princess would be hitting our screens in the form of Spencer earlier this year? What is it about Diana that continues to inspire directors time and time again? I’d love to believe it was her daring sense of humour, her relentless approach to helping others or her killer wardrobe. However, it seems more likely that our society’s preoccupation with Princess Diana represents something much wider: a lingering obsession with women who have experienced tragedy.
Read MoreSlapstick Festival is Bristol’s very own silent film and visual comedy festival. A cultural, not-for-profit company, Slapstick festival has been held across different venues in Bristol since it’s inception in 2005. The festival has grown and grown with many different events including famous guests and live music accompaniments for each screening.
Read MoreThe Tragedy of Macbeth is an honourable adaptation, not only honouring the original text (the script uses only Shakespearean language) but also honouring the stage adaptations that came before it. Coen’s artistic film is a welcome version of the play that we didn’t think we needed; a highly stylised version that leans into the eeriness, thriller-like and violent narrative with nuance and passion.
Read MoreIt made me laugh, smile, almost cry, recoil, acknowledge, look back, inside and beyond. Tear Along the Dotted Line is a rough journey through the life of older millennials, the ones who can now look back at the idea they had of the world and themselves as adults when they were kids, and find it probably clashing with the reality they’re living in.
Read MoreThese are all classic 'primetime' Saturday night television shows that used to draw in viewers by their millions, but lost their places on our TV schedules after declining viewing figures led to their demise (or relegation from the terrestrial channels to satellite stations such as Challenge and Dave).
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