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: David and Liani Greaves Reflect on ‘Once Upon a Time in Harlem’
If you’re paying close attention to the lineups at the major fall festivals, one documentary stands out as being a ubiquitous presence. Indeed, since its Sundance debut, Once Upon a Time in Harlem has made virtually every stop on the fall festival tour. But the mere existence of this highly-acclaimed film is almost a miracle. […] More
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in Festivals, Interviews
TIFF Interview: John Trengove on Depicting a Child’s View of Apartheid in ‘The Smell of Apples’
The city of Cape Town is one of the most beautiful in the world. But under its idyllic visage hides dark truths from the apartheid era. That juxtaposition is one of the central themes of John Trengove’s new film The Smell of Apples, based on the novel of the same name. It follows an 11-year […] More
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in Festivals, Interviews
TIFF Interview: Director Amalie Næsby Fick and Star Sidse Babett Knudsen Talk ‘What Lies Between Us’
While films examining sexual assault against women have become more commonplace, few filmmakers have explored such violations against young men. Inspired by a novel, Amalie Næsby Fick’s debut feature What Lies Between Us follows a trio of mothers, as they navigate the fallout of a sexual assault involving their young sons. This gripping drama stars […] More
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20 Films to Watch at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival
With Venice and Telluride getting the ball rolling, the awards season train makes its way north for the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival. For its 51st edition, TIFF will feature a typically vast selection of new films from across the world. From awards season contenders to fresh new voices, there’s something for everyone at the […] More
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in Festivals, Interviews
HollyShorts Interview: A Chat with ‘Mataron A Pedro’ Director Kristian Mercado
For director Kristian Mercado, the past is present when it comes to his new short film Mataron A Pedro. Despite the historical setting, its protagonist’s fight against colonialism still resonates with the current moment. That contemporary relevance was one of a range of topics discussed in our Awards Radar, as Mercado explained the film’s own […] More
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HollyShorts 2026: 5 Live Action Films to Watch
One of the year’s most important short film festivals is back in town as the 2026 HollyShorts Film Festival gets underway at the TCL Chinese Theatres and Ovation Hollywood. Running from August 13-23, this year’s lineup features more than 400 films vying for top awards and Oscar qualification. Among them is a diverse array of […] More
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in Festivals, Interviews
Cannes Interview: Gessica Généus Discusses the Making of ‘Marie Madeleine’ and its Complex Haitian Realities
Around the world, a fierce ideological war continues to rage between conservatism and more progressive viewpoints. Rarely has that tension been portrayed so boldly as it is in Gessica Généus‘ sophomore feature Marie Madeleine. In this Haiti-set drama, a brothel and a church are established in close proximity, igniting conflict and an unlikely connection between […] More
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in Reviews
Film Review: ‘My Father’s Shadow’ is a Poignant Love Letter to Lagos and its People
It has become a cliche of filmspeak to state that a city is portrayed like a character unto itself. But it’s hard to not think of that analogy in the case of the affectionate depiction of Nigeria’s most iconic city in Akinola Davies Jr’s My Father’s Shadow. Indeed, this auspicious debut feature is a vibrant, sensorial […] More
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in Interviews
Interview: Hilla Medalia Discusses the Oscar-Shortlisted ‘Children No More: Were and Are Gone’
As the nominations voting period for the Oscars beckons, one of the films to look out for is Hilla Medalia’s Children No More: Were and Are Gone. Shortlisted for Best Documentary Short, this film is a gutting look at the work of a silent activist group in Israel, who hold up the names and photos […] More
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in Interviews
Interview: Actress-Director Cherien Dabis Talks ‘All That’s Left of You’ And Putting a Palestinian Spin on the Hollywood Epic
As one of several International Feature Oscar submissions exploring the Israel-Palestine conflict, Jordan’s All That’s Left of You stands out as one of the more memorable entries. This decades-spanning drama charts the course of Palestinian history from the initiation of the Nakba to the present day, through the eyes of one family. The result is […] More
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in Interviews
Interview: Alireza Khatami Discusses Canada’s Oscar Entry ‘The Things You Kill’
With its surrealist flourishes and dark tone, The Things You Kill may not immediately appear to be based on real life. For director Alireza Khatami, this provocative film is his most personal yet. Centering a pair of mysteriously connected men aptly named Ali and Reza, it follows a Turkish professor’s unravelling in the wake of […] More
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in Interviews
Interview: Brittany Shyne and Sabrina Schmidt Gordon Talk ‘Seeds’ and Black Legacies
With its delicate, observational approach, Brittany Shyne’s Seeds was a standout at the Sundance Film Festival, duly winning the coveted Grand Jury Prize among US documentaries. The film follows the lives of Centennial Black farmers whose generations-spanning livelihoods are under threat. Since its premiere, their stories have captivated audiences and won numerous prizes on the […] More
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