International Films

International Films, Interviews, Sundance, Sundance 40

9 min read

Sundance 40: Nora Fingscheidt directs Saoirse Ronan in her latest feature, “The Outrun”

by Rebecca Martin

January 22, 2024

The edge is where I come from. The edge is my home. Amy Liptrot, author of ‘The Outrun” As women, we are not perfect, just like we are imperfect as

International Films, Interviews, Sundance 40

13 min read

Sundance 40: Raha Amirfazli & Alireza Ghasemi hopes their film “In the Land of Brothers” will bring empathy for refugees

by Rebecca Martin

January 18, 2024

“In a world that is struggling with the daily displacement of many refugees that end up in an unfamiliar environment in hopes of building a new life, most media suggest

2023 Awards, International Films, Interviews

12 min read

Lea Glob hopes her documentary “Apolonia, Apolonia” inspires and encourages the art of creation

by Rebecca Martin

January 16, 2024

My interview with Danish filmmaker Lea Glob happened at just the right time. During our interview about her Oscar short-listed documentary, “Apolonia, Apolonia,” we talked about how the questions of

2023 Awards, Documentaries, Film Festivals, International Films, Interviews, Sexual Assault Awareness, Sundance

13 min read

Anna Hints on the power of Southern Estonia women in their feature debut, “Smoke Sauna Sisterhood”

by Rebecca Martin

November 21, 2023

This interview was originally posted on January 20th, 2023 for our 2023 Sundance coverage. We feature it again with the anticipated November 24 US theatrical release. See link to find

Chicago International Film Festival, Film Festivals, International Films, reviews

4 min read

CIFF 2023 Review: “Paradise is Burning,” (“Paradiset Brinner”) directed by Mika Gustafson

by Peyton Robinson

October 22, 2023

“Paradise is Burning” screened as part of The 59th Chicago International Film Festival on October 18, 2023, as part of the International Competition. Writer-director Mika Gustafson’s “Paradise is Burning” is

Chicago International Film Festival, Film Festivals, International Films, reviews

5 min read

CIFF 2023 Review: “Sisterhood,” (“HLM Pussy”) directed by Nora El Hourch

by Peyton Robinson

October 19, 2023

“Sisterhood” screened as part of The 59th Chicago International Film Festival, learn more about this film! Nora El Hourch’s feature debut “Sisterhood” (french title: “HLM Pussy”) is an emboldened dossier

2023 Films, International Films, Interviews, Sexual Assault Awareness

13 min read

Excavating the Past: Ellie Foumbi on her soul-shaking feature debut, “Our Father, The Devil”

by Rebecca Martin

October 4, 2023

I had the pleasure of meeting Ellie Foumbi as a fellow member of the Narrative Feature jury for the Heartland Film Festival, along with actor and director Joanna Gleason. It

International Films, Interviews, LGBTQ+, Queer Stories

9 min read

New Zealand filmmaker Anna Rose Duckworth shares her love of the rom-com genre

by Rebecca Martin

August 1, 2023

We need authentic stories, even in the rom-com genre. New Zealand filmmaker Anna Rose Duckworth agrees with this! She beautifully paints the line between romantic comedy and elevating humanity within

International Films, Interviews

19 min read

The Birth of a Heroine: Afrin Khanom and Angelos Rallis on “Mighty Afrin: in the time of floods”

by Matt Fagerholm

July 21, 2023

At the 2017 installment of Hot Docs in Toronto, I was fortunate enough to stumble upon a documentary so devastating and essential that it made my top ten list of

International Films, Interviews

7 min read

First-time filmmaker Carolina Cavalli explores friendship through a deadpan lens in “Amanda”

by Rebecca Martin

July 11, 2023

Like “Napoleon Dynamite” and “Ghost World,” the Italian gem “Amanda” is unconventionally funny and dark. As in these films, there is a longing from the protagonist for a friendship that

Film Festivals, International Films, Interviews, LGBTQ+

6 min read

Cannes 2023: Lillah Halla on her directorial debut “Levante (Power Alley)” and the beautiful team-process of filmmaking

by Rebecca Martin

May 23, 2023

I had the opportunity to speak with Lillah Halla (she/her/them) about her beautiful film “Levante,” which centers on a promising 17-year-old volleyball player named Sofia, who is faced with an

International Films, Interviews, Sundance

6 min read

Rebecca Złotowski upends stereotypes of the onscreen stepmom in her film “Other People’s Children”

by Rebecca Martin

May 18, 2023

I had the pleasure of interviewing Rebecca Złotowski about her film, “Other People’s Children,“ during Sundance this year. The French film was part of the spotlight program and centers on a woman named Rachel who struggles