Putin | Film Festival Today

TIFF Interview: Anastasiia Bortuali and Dmitrii Novoseltsev of “Temporary Shelter”

September 19, 2024

SXSW Interview with “Queendom” Director Agniia Galdanova and Producer Igor Myakotin

March 16, 2023

AFI DOCS 2019: Interview with Director Avi Belkin of “Mike Wallace Is Here”

June 25, 2019

In “Bad Genius,” Smart Teens Break Bad
By George W. Campbell
October 9, 2024
Bad Genius (J.C. Lee, 2024) 3½ out of 5 stars For many first-generation American teenagers, following their dreams can feel like a privilege. Parents leave everything they know behind to give their children a better life, so they are under increased pressure to succeed. But what would happen if one of these teens decided to break the rules? What if they were offered a chance to get what they want while still supporting their family? Therein lies ... >>
“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. ... >>

10 Films to See at TIFF 2024
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The 2024 Toronto International Film Festival (or TIFF) ...>>
That’s a Wrap at DC/DOX 2024
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As advertised in my curtain raiser last week, I ...>>
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Five Films to See at Tribeca 2024
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In Memoriam: Morgan Spurlock
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When I heard about the passing of documentarian Morgan ...>>