Message to Man is Russia’s most prominent showcase for documentary cinema. At the 2018 Berlinale, we met with their charming, affable, and endlessly passionate Director Alexei Medvedev to see how his festival is going and to catch up prior to Message to Man’s 2018 edition. We found out about his highlights from previous years – […]
Film Festivals | Focus

Doclisboa: “a place for films that question themselves, not just what they portray”
The documentary genre continues to evolve and develop, and Doclisboa remains at the forefront of that. We spoke to their Program Coordinator Miguel Ribeiro regarding the festival, finding out about their collaboration with on demand platforms, his hot tip regarding submitting, and his favorite docs from last year. Andrew Wilkin: What were your most special […]

Berlinale Shorts: 5 Filmmakers To Keep An Eye On
We love shorts. We love the Berlinale. Why not get a head start and find out more about the short filmmakers screening this year? Here in Berlin we are extremely excited about the upcoming Berlinale. And there’s much more on offer than he new offerings from heavyweights such as Wes Anderson or Gus Van Sant. […]

Spotlight: The Antalya Film Forum
On our trip to the Antalya Film Festival, we took a look at the expanding Antalya Film Forum. A great showcase for Turkish films, it’s a film forum that’s one of the most prominent in the region. The Antalya Film Festival went by the mantra “less is more”, but the Antalya Film Forum was a […]

VIS Vienna Shorts: 15 Years Of Provocative Shorts
VIS Vienna Shorts has been providing Austria’s cinephiles with innovative short filmmaking for 15 years. On their Crystal Anniversary, we talked with Daniel Ebner, the Artistic Director of the festival regarding the festival, why you should submit, and how they’ve made it a “close family experience”. And we found out a bit more about their […]

Antalya International Film Festival: Interview with Festival Director Mike Downey
The Artistic Director of the Antalya International Film Festival Mike Downey discusses the new direction for the 54th edition, the well-regarded Antalya Film Forum, and the challenges he faced in his inaugural year at the helm of the event. The revamp of this year’s Antalya International Film Festival was the hot topic on the mouths […]

A New Awakening: The Aegean Film Festival Spreads its Wings
There’s big changes afoot on the Greek film festival scene. Previously known as the International Film Festival of Patmos, the Aegean Film Festival has emerged, extending their reach to include more of the islands. We interviewed their Festival Director Babis Tsoutsas for the lowdown on the switch and why filmmakers should submit to the festival currently […]

Flickerfest: “a world of cinema you cannot easily find anywhere else”
Imagine screening your film on Bondi Beach in the height of the Australian summer. Flickerfest is Australia’s premier short film festival and its Academy- and BAFTA- accredited to boot. We spoke with their Festival Director Bronwyn Kidd for the scoop on the upcoming edition. She came up with some helpful tips that will be indispensable […]

Zubroffka and the Golden Age of Polish Cinema
The bison is back. Zubroffka is back for another edition with its famous mascot, its legendary parties, and last but no means least – its cutting-edge film program. With a mission to offer diversity and variety in their film selection, the festival, located in the city of Bialystok on Poland’s very Eastern border, is looking forward […]

Side By Side: fighting for LGBT rights in Russia
No amount of adversity has been able to sink the Side By Side LGBT Film Festival, which is all set to celebrate its 10th birthday this year. The festival, which originated in St. Petersburg and also hosts an annual event in Moscow, is one of the most crucial film festivals there is – both a celebration of cinematic prowess and […]

FFL films amongst the winners at Flickerfest ’17
Another great year at Flickerfest has closed, with many FFL winners winning accolades. Congrats to all! The Academy-Award accredited festival gave out 30,000AUD in prize money to a wide-range of films, from Australian to international, to films made by primary school kids! The message? There’s great film everywhere – made by all types of filmmaker. Keep reading to find […]

What’s new at the NYC Independent Film Festival 2017
The 8th Annual NYC Independent Film Festival is the annual celebration of the true independent filmmaker. From Mary 2-7, 2017, the Festival take will place in the historic center of NYC, Times Square – the perfect home for an event geared toward creating incredible opportunities for independent voices. #NYCIndieFF provides a showcase for the best […]

The 11th Zubroffka Film Festival brings 2016 to an exciting close
Zubroffka is coming up from December 7th-11th and promises to bring some cinematic intrigue to the final month of the year. Located in Poland’s Bialystok, it’s the home of the famous bison and shows some typical chutzpah with its wide-ranging lineup incorporating a diverse range of cinema – one that includes many FFL filmmakers! Here’s our FFL filmmakers who’ll […]

Cork Film Festival Announces Its 2016 Lineup, And It’s Out Of This World
The Cork Film Festival lineup is finally out. The festival has returned to the Everyman Palace, the stunning cinema that hosted the inaugural festival in 1956 – but there’s nothing throwback about the program they’ve assembled here. One that includes many titles selected from their Open Call on FFL! A wide range of topics have been addressed by FFL filmmakers, […]

The Oscar Qualifying Austrian Film Festival VIS Vienna Shorts is open for entries on FFL
The Austrian festival has serious credentials. As well as being Austria’s leading short film festival, it is both a qualifying festival for the Academy Awards and Austrian Film Awards. VIS Vienna Shorts – Held at the start of summer in May and June, it screens short films, with over 10,000 visitors and 600 industry […]