Author: CWB News Department

War, and its aftermath, leave deep scars, both physical and psychological, that last generations. Written, produced, and directed by Iranian filmmakers Hossein Molayemi and Shirin Sohani, In the Shadow of the Cypress is a beautiful, minimalist, hand-drawn 2D animated short film, made without dialogue, which explores themes of family, sacrifice, and the trauma of war. Created under immense political and economic hardship, the film tells the story of a former ship captain, suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, who lives with his daughter in a humble house located by the Persian Gulf. Together, they have to confront the challenges of a harsh,…

Amel Guellaty’s debut feature-length Where the Wind Comes From screened at the World Cinema Dramatic Competition section of the just ended Sundance Film Festival. The film, one of the scanty African films selected and Tunisian’s sole selection at the festival, subtly directs our gaze to the ongoing political tension and tragedy in Tunisia and, by extension, Africa. Quite similar in tone to Anas Saeed, Rawia Alhaj, Ibrahim Snoopy Ahmad, Timeea Mohamed Ahmed and Phil Cox’s documentary, Khartoum, which screened at the World Cinema Documentary Competition, Guellaty’s feature film is made, partly, in response to the ongoing political atmosphere of her country, Tunisia. In Tunisia, an unprecedented political, social, and economic crisis bedeviling Tunisians. Amidst this indescribable horror,…

As ever, there is no shortage of anticipated movies in contention. Indeed, one leading producer we spoke to remarked that 2025 is looking like “a particularly tough year, a much stronger year than 2024”. The surprise to us during our research for this piece is just how many big movies look like they will push to fall rather than launch on the Croisette. That’s not to say that Cannes won’t be box office. It remains the gold standard. The importance of both Cannes and Venice as launchpads is at an all-time high. Just look at how many Oscar nominees now…

A charity-run cinema in Glasgow has been urged to show support for Palestinians amid the ongoing genocide in Gaza as staff and well-known figures from the arts called for the venue to support a boycott. The Glasgow Film Theatre (GFT) has been served with an open letter urging it to take actions in line with the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) campaign in support of Palestinian liberation. The letter, co-ordinated by the campaign group Art Workers for Palestine (AWFP), has so far been signed by 600 people, including famous figures, local campaigners, and the cinema’s own workers. Unite Hospitality’s GFT branch…

Peruvian director Tatiana Fuentes Sadowski presents in the Forum section of this year’s Berlinale her newest documentary The Memory of Butterflies . With this Peruvian-Portuguese coproduction, she approaches the history of colonisation in Peru and the crimes done to indigenous people in the name of profit. We spoke to her about the archival material she used and the visual language she developed. Cineuropa: How did you start working on the film? Tatiana Fuentes Sadowski: It was a very long process. I started this project around 2015, when I first discovered the photo of Omarino and Aredomi, in which they are in London, holding hands. I was…

We Believe You  by Arnaud Dufeys and Charlotte Devillers has been unveiled in a world premiere within the 75th Berlinale’s brand-new Perspectives section, which is dedicated to first fiction feature films. This screening marks Belgian filmmaker Dufeys’ return to Berlin, having previously presented his short film Un invincible été in the Generation section last year. For Charlotte Devillers, meanwhile, who’s a nurse by trade, this is her first film foray, but her considerable experience working with young people and families wrestling with the torment of incest and sexual abuse has fed into the fictional approach adopted by the duo. We Believe You opens with the arrival of Alice…

Presented by CIALCA, The Irish Film Festival Los Angeles returns for an exciting three-day celebration of Irish cinema at the Laemmle Monica Film Center, showcasing a dynamic selection of feature films, documentaries, and short films from both established and emerging Irish talent. This year’s program highlights the creativity and diversity of Irish filmmaking, featuring eight feature films, including critically acclaimed works and bold new projects from rising filmmakers. The lineup shines a spotlight on a range of voices within the industry, including three female directors, award-winning documentaries, gripping dramas, auteur-driven films, and two Irish-language features. Alongside the feature film program, the…

The Marriage Project, the production company behind the new animated feature Karmic Knot is thrilled to announce its star-studded cast, bringing together some of Hollywood and Broadway’s most celebrated talents. Leading the ensemble is Tony-Award-nominated Broadway and film star Patrick Wilson, known for his roles in The Conjuring series and Insidious, who joins an illustrious group of actors including Dagmara Dominczyk (Succession, The Lost Daughter), Gracie Lawrence (lead singer of the band Lawrence), Emma Kenney (The Connors, Shameless), Stephen Lang (Avatar, Don’t Breathe), and Matthew Modine (Full Metal Jacket, Stranger Things). Written and directed by visionary filmmaker Signe Baumane (Rocks…

Junmi Chen is a visionary LGBTQ+ activist and documentary filmmaker from China, now based in the United States. Their work artfully bridges storytelling and social justice, shedding light on marginalized voices and catalyzing systemic change. As a filmmaker, Junmi intertwines compelling narratives with their advocacy, using the power of film to inspire awareness and action. Their work continues to impact communities worldwide, championing human rights and equality. Gao Guo is a queer activist, filmmaker, and Consultant for the UNDP “Being LGBT in Asia” project. With a background in fine arts and a deep commitment to LGBTQ rights, he has worked extensively…

At Sunday night’s premiere of “Together,” a body-horror film starring real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie, the Eccles Theatre erupted with shrieks, nervous laughter and cries of “Oh, shit!” Sundance audiences couldn’t get enough of the gory madness unfolding on-screen, and word quickly spread that “Together,” with its twisty look at relationships and gross-out set-pieces, had all the elements of an indie breakout. Studios and streamers, including A24 and Neon, started circling the film, trying to one-up each other in a feverish effort to land the buzzy project. The festival was already well underway, but it finally seemed…