FILM REVIEWS AND NEWS

Film lovers across the South West are preparing for one of the most vibrant fixtures on the UK cinematic calendar: the 36th edition of the Bath Film Festival. Running from 16 to 25 October, this 10-day celebration of cinema presents a remarkable blend of major autumn festival previews, internationally decorated triumphs, and intriguing UK premieres across the historic city.

The crisp autumn air is descending upon the capital, which can only mean one thing for cinema lovers: the BFI London Film Festival is back for its 70th edition. Running from 7th to 18th October, this year's programme is nothing short of a gargantuan cinematic feast, boasting 251 titles spanning features, shorts, series, and immersive projects from 88 countries.

Preparations are exciting, intense, and a little bit crazy, which I think is part of running an independent film festival! This year is particularly special because we are celebrating the 11th edition of the Open World Toronto Film Festival, taking place September 25–27, 2026, at Kensington Studios in Toronto. After eleven editions, I still get excited when I discover a film or filmmaker who surprises me. That feeling has never disappeared.

Dracula: The Night Around Us is a solid retelling of the source material thanks to the writer/directors extensive knowledge of the IP. The film boasts profoundly unsettling imagery and captures the tone of the source material while offering a fittingly modern reinterpretation.

A Canadian period horror feature directed by Casey Walker, written by Walker, Peter Scott Vicaire and Pascal Trottier and starring Luke Hemsworth, Kevin Durand, Craig Lauzon and Michael Pitt. It is recommended that people do not look up what ''Ithaqua'' means before they view the film, in the interest of avoiding spoilers.

Harvey Kurtzman, along with his closest family members and colleagues, take us through the history of his illustrations and his publishing career, from the highs of creating MAD Magazine in the 1950’s all the way through to his final days as a lecturer in New York.

Organised by the Port of London Authority, this fantastic initiative is designed to empower, enable, and celebrate emerging creative talent across the region, with a particular focus on young directors based around the Thames Estuary. If you are an aspiring filmmaker looking for a platform to showcase your vision, this competition represents an exceptional opportunity to make your mark on the British film landscape.

View the best movies screening at the 2026 SXSW London Film Festival. A curated list from film critic Chris Olson for UK Film Review.

One Fluid Night (OFN), the queer-led and volunteer-run international LGBTQIA+ film festival, is set to return to the capital for its seventh edition from 7 to 11 April 2026.

Lunar Sway follows Cliff (Noah Parker), a young man living in a desert town called Mooncrest, as he struggles with his sexuality and unexpectedly connects with his estranged birth mother. After learning of his mother’s numerous secrets, he embarks on a wild adventure and a trail of secrets, while also spending time with his love interest, Stew (Douglas Smith). The piece is a coming-of-age story about self-discovery and seeking longing in a world that has treated you harshly y

The 2026 jury winners represent a formidable cross-section of global talent, proving that independent cinema remains the lifeblood of the industry. From high-concept narratives to intimate documentaries, the awards this year highlight a yearning for connection in an increasingly fragmented digital age.

Summer 2000: The X-Cetra Story follows four childhood friends who recorded an album in the early 2000s and drifted apart due to pursuing careers in different paths. Their music is a love letter to the Y2K era of pop music, in hopes of being like the Spice Girls. When their forgotten music resurfaces online 20 years later, it suddenly goes viral, and the four girls, now adults, reunite to spark their youthful magic once again. Divided into chapters that follow the girls as the

The screenplay for Plantman & Blondie: A Dress Up Gang Film contains numerous storylines. It has the rapport that develops between Cory and Plantman, Cory's working conditions as he works from home on his laptop, the two unlikely collaborators working with a group of greenhouse workers who share Plantman's purpose, Cory receiving advice from his best friend, Fox (Kirk Fox) and the three guys playing detective, tracking down Plantman. There are awkward moments, humorous moment

Black Zombie is a deeply illuminating work about the origin of the zombie and how the concept of a zombie has developed, in popular culture and cinema, since its discovery by Western society in 1927.

Forcefield of Love is a short documentary about the eternal ability of love to transform, surprise and inspire.

Written, directed, and edited by transgender filmmaker, Jamie Kiernan O’Brien, Gender Studies becomes a semi-autobiographical tale for her, showcasing a lot of the thoughts and ideas that surround feminism and femininity in the modern age.

It seems fitting that Brick Lane, the iconic creative corner of the capital, has been chosen as the staging ground for the upcoming Spring Edition of the Day Job Film Festival. As someone who spends a significant portion of my life immersed in the world of independent cinema, I find myself increasingly drawn to events that eschew the velvet ropes of the West End in favour of something more tangible, more raw, and more human.

OBEX (2026) is an artistic, black-and-white surrealist film following Conor, a solitary man who lives with his dog, Sandy. Conor discovers a video game that will provide him with an adventure and a purpose, with this comes chaos and enlightenment.

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.