I’ve been meaning to write this post for some time after the subject of the Hackers soundtrack came up on twitter,  it reminded me how happy I am that we all live in the future with so many computers and high tech gadgets at our disposal. Something which makes me even happier is when Hollywood decides to tap into this and make movies about it, e.g. getting e-mail, virtual reality, hacking into the FBI mainframe, uploading viruses into alien space ships…. (more…)

I’ve got a badge to prove it and everything as W.O.F’s accreditation at the London Film Festival came through this fine morn.

Its going to be a funny festival this year for myself as I will be attempting to straddle both sides of the fence with my distributor hat on for my day job at Soda Pictures (who have 5 fabulous films in the festival… see here for more info). Then I’ll have my press hat on for when I’ll be covering other peoples films. (more…)

The subjects of adverts and independent cinema seem to be joined at the hip of late after the hub bub surrounding  the Nike/ Beautiful Loosers marketing,  Eurostar/ Somer’s Town release and Harmony Korine’s Thornton’s/ Budweiser campaigns and so on. And heck why should September buck the trend as Shane Meadow’s jumps into the fray again with his latest directorial outting, a UK tv ad campaign as part of the “Act on CO2” campaign. (more…)

(Spotted in today’s Metro during my morning commute). Presenting the Autumn ‘08 Knitwear collection from Co-operative Designs  (London based knitwear label headed up by Annalisa Dunn and Dorothee Hagemann) that were inspired by the film’s of Dario Argento and Jan Švankmajer. As you’d imagine muses such as these won’t give way to your everyday bobble hats & scarves, but looking over the creations they are decidedly less unsettling than I would have expected (no creepy string puppets here, just lots of Llamas). (more…)

So today was the press launch of the London Film Festival and lots of press, PR and various film people gathered in the Odeon West End to coo over free pastries, tea and goodie bags- (oh and also the announcement of the full festival line up). (more…)

I’m not  afraid of the dark, I’m afraid of the evil it conceals…

Not that I’d want to slot Fear(s) of the Dark into a box, but this animated release in the UK seems to me to be finally following up where Sylvian Chomet’s Belleville Rendez-vous left off. Proving that France is a nation creatively and actively pushing the boundaries of animations reception on the big screen. (more…)

Its that time again for another free screening of great cinema c/o Little White Lies. I don’t know too much about the film yet but I have faith in their judgment (I’m willing to forgive and forget their screening of Fast Food Nation a while back)- I will definitely be going and hope you are too- its free so what’s your excuse? (more…)

Reviewed by Anthony Antoniou 

The debut movie from Belgian filmmaker Nic Balthazar, Ben X unfolds from the perspective of Asperger’s sufferer Ben, as he gets through his rigidly-structured daily routine by immersing himself in the lush pixelated landscapes of the MMORPG Arch Lord(the one place where he feels truly in control) before the drudgery and discomfort of the real world encroaches on his virtual reality. (more…)

Now in its 5th year, and running from the 1st-7th of September is the London International Animation Festival. Screening across several of London’s beloved independent venues the program is bringing together animation in all shapes and sizes from shorts to features, and CG to puppets from over 28 different countries. (more…)

Although not quite an all out advert for Eurostar Shane Meadows new film, Somers Town is not far off. It’s a slight tale of a young runaway Thomo (T. Turgoose) who leaves Nottingham for London and meets and befriends a young Polish lad. Both boys fall for the same French girl and have mischievous fun in the London area of Somers Town. This is inherently a short film idea with the aid of slow motion and whimsical music can feel stretched. (more…)