Usually, queer films depicting graphic or naturalistic sex scenes require a conversation that makes the shooting of the film safe. Activist-filmmaker Kami Chisholm, director of THE WELL, doesn’t feel a need to do that. Doing so could undermine the ideological intent behind the film in the first place. For example, there’s no need to go [...]

From devastatingly postmodern slasher MARION to the engagic dynamism of documentary PULLING JOHN, the following films have all had the distinction of playing  the SXSW film festival, which happens every March. Established in 1994 to draw an audience of cinephiles as well as music lovers to Austin, TX, the festival has gone on to establish [...]

    Each one of these films is an example of a shining achievement by women and their contributions to film. Whether it’s behind the scenes or in front of the camera, women take center stage. THE WELL is a 14-minute short about an encounter between two lovers. It pushes the boundaries of narrative filmmaking [...]

The films of Linda Niccol play with our expectations of traditional gender roles. In both the short films Dangerous Ride and The Handkerchief, male-female protagonists engage in a dance of shifting perceptions and trust. In The Handkerchief, a young blind man (Krampus‘ Luke Hawker ) meets a passerby and an unexpected relationship evolves. In Dangerous [...]

The Whirlpool premiered at International Film Festival Rotterdam in the Bright Future category, which “presents adventurous new work by novice makers”. Basically, premiering under the Bright Future section is an excellent way to make a splash. Chances are your work is uncompromising, difficult to embrace in one sitting, and leaves you with more questions than [...]

The experience of blackness in America is distinct from that of the African diaspora. During Black History Month, it’s a subject that’s rarely discussed. There are historical matters to take into account that require shedding light on, that are specific to the black experience in the United States. We would like to include a selection [...]

ADDIS ABABA – Although his name matches that of the great singer of the 60′s, Professor Seifu Yohannes stands out as one of the most important figures in nuclear engineering. In another of my transcripts of tape interviews, Professor Yohannes and I talked about the state of independent film. His answers and questions surprise me. Professor [...]