Shane Slater
Shane Slater is a passionate cinephile whose love for cinema led him to creating his blog Film Actually in 2009. Since then, he has written for AwardsCircuit.com, ThatShelf.com and The Spool. Based in Kingston, Jamaica, he relishes the film festival experience, having covered TIFF, NYFF and Sundance among others. He is a proud member of the African-American Film Critics Association.
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in InterviewsInterview: Orit Fouks Rotem on Israeli Oscar Contender ‘Cinema Sabaya’
In Orit Fouks Rotem’s Cinema Sabaya, a group of Israeli and Arab women come together to participate in a filmmaking workshop exploring their personal stories. Inspired by the lives of real women, this poignant film-within-a-film won the top Ophir Award to become Israel’s official Oscar submission for Best International Feature. As the film sets out […] More
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in Interviews
Interview: Chie Hayakawa Discusses the Dystopian ‘Plan 75’ and its Japanese Worldview
With its famously high life expectancies and low fertility rate, the Japanese population has aged significantly in recent decades. In Japan, this phenomenon has caused tensions due to a concerns surrounding a reduced workforce. This issue forms the basis of Chie Hayakawa’s debut feature Plan 75, which envisions a government initiative where individuals can choose […] More
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DOC NYC Film Review: ‘How to Save a Dead Friend’ Is a Heartrending Snapshot of Modern Russia
With a title like How to Save a Dead Friend, Marusya Syroechkovskaya‘s achingly personal documentary declares its foreboding before its tragic story unfolds. Yet viewers may still not be prepared for the raw power of this Russian time capsule, which follows an ill-fated relationship between two young lovers from 2005 to 2016. Part carefree coming-of-ager, […] More
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DOC NYC Film Review: ‘Casa Susanna’ Illuminates a Fascinating Piece of Queer History
In postwar 1950s America, the now iconic image of the ideal suburban family emerged, with a pair of heterosexual parents, children and a picket fence to frame their perfect middle class home. Indeed, many of the subjects of Sébastien Lifshitz’s enlightening documentary Casa Susanna lived up to these expectations in their public life. But under […] More
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in Interviews
Interview: Jason Loftus Explains the Artistry and Humanity of Oscar Contender ‘Eternal Spring’
Earlier this year, Jonas Poher Rasmussen‘s Flee made history when it was triple-nominated for Best Animated Feature, Best Documentary Feature and Best International Feature at the Oscars. That achievement could be repeated next year with Jason Loftus’ powerful and moving Eternal Spring, about the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China and the group’s daring […] More
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in Interviews
Interview: Gabriel Martins Talks ‘Mars One’ and Making History as a Black Brazilian Director
When Gabriel Martins first conceived his solo feature directing debut Mars One in 2014, he could never imagine the film’s increased relevance nearly 10 years later. Centering a Black Brazilian family struggling to chart their future amid a tense political environment, this social drama’s release during an election year gave the film an unexpected gravitas. […] More
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in Interviews
Interview: Lou Yi-an Talks ‘Goddamned Asura’ and the Nuances of Good and Evil
Inspired by real events, Lou Yi-an’s Goddamned Asura is one of the most haunting and thought-provoking of this year’s Oscar submissions for Best International Feature Film. It depicts the events surrounding a random killing incident which entangles a web of interconnected characters. Awards Radar recently caught up with Lou Yi-an to discuss the film’s themes […] More
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TIFF Film Review: ‘Patrick and the Whale’ Marvels at Nature’s Enigmatic Beauty
Nature documentaries have been one of the most enduring and popular subgenres for good reason. The sights and sounds of the natural world are perfectly suited to the visual storytelling of the cinema. That inherent appeal is certainly evident in the beautifully enigmatic documentary Patrick and the Whale, directed by Mark Fletcher. As the title […] More
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TIFF Film Review: ‘Chevalier’ Is a Beautiful but Underwhelming Costume Drama
In the grand opening of Stephen Williams’ Chevalier, we see a musical maestro entertaining an audience with a violin. It is the late 18th century and this special star is none other than Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, who introduces himself with narcissistic relish. Before he can take his bow, a challenge arises from the audience as […] More
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TIFF Film Review: ‘Free Money’ Depicts a Fascinating Socioeconomic Experiment
It’s often said that “there’s no such thing as a free lunch” or “nothing is free.” Such is the belief that pervades within a Kenyan village at the start of Sam Soko and Lauren DeFilippo’s Free Money. As White American entrepreneurs set out to alleviate poverty in an unprecedented experiment where money is freely distributed, […] More
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TIFF Film Review: Clement Virgo’s ‘Brother’ Is a Soul-Stirring Testament to Love and Loss
There’s no denying that recurring negative portrayals of Black people in Western media have had lasting impacts on society. And for those within Black communities, the stereotypes are sometimes reinforced through systemic discrimination and an atmosphere of violence-related terror. In Clement Virgo’s stirring new film Brother, a Black immigrant family attempts to rise above expectations, […] More
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TIFF 2022: 15 International Oscar Hopefuls to Watch
With the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival fast approaching, most of the attention will be on the high-profile premieres and their stars. And while these Hollywood titles will be hoping to garner buzz for the marquee Oscar categories, several non-English language films will also be hoping to generate excitement at TIFF as they vie for […] More
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