FILM REVIEWS AND NEWS

Looking ahead to the South by Southwest programme, there is a distinct sense of electricity surrounding the short film selection. By synthesising our own existing critiques with the growing speculative chatter from across the pond, I have compiled a list of the short films that should be at the very top of your "must-watch" list this year.

Souvenir is a tense portrayal of young, same-sex female love.

Here are the twelve films that have firmly planted themselves at the top of my watchlist for the 2026 festival.

Today, that excitement has found its lightning rod with the announcement that the 22nd edition of the Glasgow Film Festival (GFF26) will open on 25 February with the UK Premiere of Everybody To Kenmure Street.

Meadowlarks, directed by Tasha Hubbard, follows 5 siblings who are reunited after being separated from their parents during the Sixties Scoop of 1955-1985, in which over 200,000 Indigenous Canadian children were forcibly taken from their families and adopted by white families or placed under foster care.

The Palm Springs International Film Festival has always occupied a singular space in the awards season calendar. It serves as a sophisticated precursor to the Academy Awards, often highlighting the intersection of global stardom and genuine cinematic craft. This year, the festival has announced that Miley Cyrus will be the recipient of the Outstanding Artistic Achievement Award at the 2026 ceremony.

It’s official: Trieste Science+Fiction Festival is celebrating its 25th birthday, and what a spectacular party it sounds like! For over two decades, this festival in Italy has been a beacon for all things fantastic and imaginative, proving year after year that science fiction is far more than just spaceships and laser guns. The best sci-fi holds a mirror up to our own world, and the line-up for October 28 to November 2 promises to be one hell of a compelling reflection.

Cut Short is noted as telling a "true story." What was the process of researching and adapting Jayden's real-life experiences, and how did you balance the need for factual accuracy with the demands of dramatic storytelling?

Having just announced the 2025 lineup for the North East International Film Festival, we spoke with the Festival Director, Lisa-Marie Tonelli, to talk about the films that stood out, emerging voices taking risks, and the logistics (and challenges) and running a film festival in 2025.

Noseeums will have its World Premiere at FrightFest. Find out more about the film from director Raven Carter, as well as screening details at FrightFest 2025.

The 69th BFI London Film Festival (8th-19th October) in partnership with American Express have announced that this year’s American Express Gala will be the UK premiere of Searchlight Pictures’ RENTAL FAMILY at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall on Thursday 16 October with director HIKARI and star Brendan Fraser expected to attend.

Whilst his review picked out many of the fantastic aspects of Lynn Ramsay's new movie, it was his adulation of Jennifer Lawrence's performance that struck many of the UK Film Review readers.

Grimmfest, Manchester’s International Festival of Fantastic Film, will be returning to its regular venue, Manchester’s Odeon Great...

Grimmfest, Manchester's International Festival of Fantastic Film, will be returning to regular venue, Manchester’s Odeon Great Northern,...

Grimmfest, Manchester's International Festival of Fantastic Film, are delighted to announce their full feature film lineup for 2023. The...

Filmmaker Interview by Chris Olson Thanks for speaking with us Patrick. Whereabouts in the world are you right now and what are you up...

By Chris Olson Our third instalment of the UK Film Review Festival was an absolute blast! Our biggest lineup ever, with films from across...

★★★★★ Directed by: Ryan Stevens Harris Written by: Ryan Stevens Harris Starring: Angie Duke, Brionne Davis, Haven Lee Harris, Morgana...

★★★★ Directed by: Kristina Buozyte, Bruno Samper Written by: Kristina Buozyte, Bruno Samper Starring: Raffiella Chapman, Eddie Marsan,...

★★ Directed by: Lee Thongkham, Aqing Xu Written by: Lee Thongkham Starring: Sushar Manaying, Xu Qian, Zang Jinsheng, Palita...