BIGHT, directed by Mariara Walsh, explores themes of power, control, and the fragility of trust through character-driven storytelling on levels that few filmmakers dare to go. – Review by Gregg W. Morris
Because the film has a polarizing subject and huge political context, online discussions blend criticism of the documentary itself with political sentiment about the Trumps and Brett Ratner. (The Daily Beast) – Gregg W. Morris
The Audience Q&A with YALLA PARKOUR Director Areeb Zuaiter took place at the Scandinavia House – The Nordic Center in America on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. It was moderated by Murtada Elfadi, a Variety magazine critic and a curator DOC NYC. Considering it was bitter cold in Manhattan, there was a sizable crowd on a chilling cold evening in the Big Apple. – By Gregg W. Morris
Each year, the event honors recipients of the Sidney Poitier Emerging Luminary Awards, recognizing creators who embody the festival’s mission to celebrate, empower, and elevate diverse voices in film and television. This year’s honorees included Tosin Morohunfola (Run the World,…
This Film Festival officially kicked off October 23 at The Culver Theater in Culver City, California – this reviewer is zooming in to catch up. There was a red-carpet celebration and the Los Angeles premiere of It’s Dorothy, alongside the series premiere of Remember and additional opening night selections. The Los Angeles premiere of It’s Dorothy brought the story full circle, returning to Culver City where The Wizard of Oz was originally filmed. – Gregg W. Morris, Editor-Reviewer
AFTER DARK was Oscar-qualified after winning Best International Short Film at the Foyle Film Festival in 2024, cementing Forbes’ reputation as one of Scandinavia’s most exciting emerging directors. It world-premiered at Palm Springs International ShortFest (USA, 2024) and has since…
Now available on VOD, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, Vimeo on Demand and YouTube Movies. In 1976 a group of people in the desert for a photo shoot, stumble upon an abandoned town called Savage. But they…
This writer-editor’s assessments of what audiences can expect are based on deep-diving and power-diving in the race-against-time, procedure-driven drama of A HOUSE OF DYNAMITE which is unnervingly plausible because it brings to mind so several perils going on around the globe. WORD patrons should expect edge of the seat thrills.
In the interview, Calixto Chinchilla reflected on the festival’s long successful history, noting its survival through historically significant events like 9/11 and the COVID-19 pandemic, which tested its leadership and adaptability. Despite financial challenges, the festival is showcasing 120 films this year, highlighting its commitment to creativity and storytelling.
