Short films more than stepping stones to features, learns Jason Korsner 18 February 2009 “This event can’t get any bigger,” boasted Jon Bloom, the Academy’s governor responsible for Short Films and Feature Animations, as he introduced a showcase of the ten films nominated for the animated and live-action shorts at the Academy’s [...]

With the Oscars just three weeks away, the nominees have been honoured at the annual luncheon at the prestigious Beverly Hilton hotel in Beverly Hills. Most of the nominees, from the leading categories attended – including Mickey Rourke (The Wrestler) and Sean Penn (Milk), the frontrunners for Best Actor in [...]

Big stars on the red carpet may be few, but Jason Korsner finds cinematic gems at the 52nd London Film Festival (picture gallery) 1 November 2008 The 52nd London Film Festival has come to an end with a rather less glamorous premiere than in previous years. That’s not to say [...]

Husam Asi finds the Irish holding their own in LA 6 October 2008 Hundreds flocked to watch Irish movies in the first Irish Film Festival of Los Angeles last weekend. Festival Director Lisa McLaughlin-Strassman was pleased by the high turnout. “We started small but our dreams are big,” she announced. The non-competitive [...]

Jason Korsner reports from this year’s Cannes Film Festival 27 May 2008 For the first time in twenty one years, a French film has picked up the top honour at the Cannes Film Festival. Under the presidency of Sean Penn, the jury unanimously awarded the prestigious Palme d’Or to Laurent Cantet’s [...]

Husam Asi indulges in a film-lover’s feast at the New York Film Festival 23 February 2008 New York has a lot to offer its residents and visitors, but for film fans, the New York film festival is the city’s best treat. This year, the festival offers 28 film premieres, inclding award-winning films, [...]