Joel Spira | Film Festival Today

TIFF Interview: Axel Petersén and Joel Spira of “Shame on Dry Land”

September 21, 2023

“Shame on Dry Land” Stands Proud

September 12, 2023

“The Veil” Embraces Enigma
By Hannah Tran
October 4, 2024
The Veil (Cameron Beyl, 2023) 3 out of 5 stars Despite its brief length, Cameron Beyl’s The Veil makes a distinct impression. This tale of fate and redemption follows retired priest Douglas as he tries to atone for a moment in his youth when he abandoned a terrified Amish woman on the roadside. Now, while a solar storm brews overhead, another Amish woman named Hannah arrives at his door, trembling with a familiar fear, and the mystery begins to ... >>
“Leap of Faith” Is Visually Bold
By Christopher Llewellyn Reed
October 3, 2024
Leap of Faith (Nicholas Ma, 2024) 3½ out of 5 stars I grew up in the Episcopal Church, attending services every Sunday as a member of the St. David’s boys’ choir in Baltimore, MD. I loved following the Royal School of Church Music (RSCM) system and singing the anthems, hymns, and more complex liturgical compositions, which provided me with a strong background in music theory plus training in how to use my voice. As time wore on, however, I ... >>
“Notice to Quit” Blends Chaos, Intrigue, and Family Drama
By Robin C. Farrell
September 26, 2024
Notice to Quit (Simon Hacker, 2024) 3 out of 5 stars In his feature film debut, Notice to Quit, director and writer Simon Hacker offers up the story of a particularly hot and stifling day in New York City. Andy (Michael Zegen, The Stand In), a harried and not-so-talented real-estate agent, feebly attempts to climb the ladder to success, having dug himself into a hole sometime prior. He’s taken to casing the empty properties he can’t rent, ... >>
TIFF Interview: Anastasiia Bortuali and Dmitrii Novoseltsev of “Temporary Shelter”
By Christopher Llewellyn Reed
September 19, 2024
First-time filmmaker Anastasiia Bortuali just premiered her documentary Temporary Shelter at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival—aka TIFF—where I reviewed it. The movie follows her journey out of Ukraine after Russia invaded her homeland in early 2022. She, along with family members and compatriots, chose the island nation of Iceland as their destination, finding a strange—but, overall, welcoming—shelter from the ravages of war. ... >>
“The Featherweight” Breaks No New Ground
By Adam Vaughn
September 19, 2024
The Featherweight (Robert Kolodny, 2023) 3 out of 5 stars Robert Kolodny’s The Featherweight delivers a mockumentary following one of the most accomplished featherweight boxing champions of our time. Starring James Madio (Boon) as that boxer, Willie Pep (a real-life figure), the story starts with him at the top, with a decorated career and about to retire. But as Willie’s life spirals thereafter, including relationship troubles with his wife, ... >>

10 Films to See at TIFF 2024
September 3, 2024
The 2024 Toronto International Film Festival (or TIFF) ...>>
That’s a Wrap at DC/DOX 2024
June 19, 2024
As advertised in my curtain raiser last week, I ...>>
Five Films to See at DC/DOX 2024
June 12, 2024
DC/DOX returns for Round 2, running June 13-16 in its ...>>
Five Films to See at Tribeca 2024
June 5, 2024
This year’s Tribeca Film Festival will take place from ...>>
In Memoriam: Morgan Spurlock
May 27, 2024
When I heard about the passing of documentarian Morgan ...>>