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.
The 2023 Sundance Film Festival saw the premiere of one of the most unique romance dramas ever made. Directed by Marija Kavtaradze, Slow follows an interpreter named Dovydas and a dancer named Elena who fall in love and must navigate Dovydas’ asexuality. Featuring oustanding chemistry between its lead actors and a fresh perspective on intimacy, […] More
At the 2023 Sundance Film Festival, Puerto Rico received a rare opportunity to show an authentic representation of its society and people. For director Glorimar Marrero Sánchez and her debut feature film La Pecera (The Fishbowl), that reality was not the postcard-ready image of the island, but a society still reeling from the effects of […] More
Trans representation in the media has been slowly but surely improving over the years, most notably in the success of TV’s Pose. At this year’s Sundance, a pair of enlightening films showcase the next step in this push towards authenticity. Focusing on the lives of Black trans sex workers, The Stroll and Kokomo City tell […] More
The common image of apartheid South Africa often involves outright racial violence in the streets and cluttered townships straddling the country’s major cities. But there’s another underdiscussed element to the apartheid system, where separatist Black states where declared as independent entities within the country. The first of those forms a central concern of Milisuthando, a […] More
“The walls will be pink, gold. The cupboards will be white, soft like clouds. And when we walk on it, it will be like we are in the sky.” The opening lines of Adura Onashile’s Girl echo similarly idyllic sentiments fuelling immigrant dreams for their new life. But as has been proven many times before, […] More
After two virtual editions, 2023 sees the Sundance Film Festival return full force to its Park City home with a hybrid format of in-person and online programming. And following the announcement of the lineup, it’s clear that this could be one for the history books. Indeed, from groundbreaking documentaries to fresh new voices in independent […] More
Among this year’s shortlisted Oscar contenders for Best International Feature, few of them have attracted as much media attention as Pakistan’s Joyland. This outstanding debut feature from director Saim Sadiq has taken a winding road in its awards campaign, after being banned and then unbanned in Pakistan for its central love triangle involving a trans […] More
As movie theaters attempt a return to a post-COVID normal, Hollywood delivered some big blockbuster experiences in 2022. One such example is the war film Devotion (directed by J.D. Dillard, interviewed by Joey here), based on the true story of the first African-American aviator to complete U.S. Navy training. Integral to the film’s power is […] More
While pop culture and entertainment has once again renewed its obsession with Princess Diana, Austrian filmmaker Marie Kreutzer explores the life of another woman who rebelled against the norms of the royal court. Set in the 19th century, Corsage stars Vicky Krieps in a powerhouse performance as Empress Elisabeth (nicknamed Sisi), an enduring icon of […] More
Anti-LGBTQ sentiments have long been upheld as a core belief of Christians for time immemorial. But what if parts of that Biblical homophobia are based on a 20th century mistranslation of the word homosexual? Such is the eye-opening assertion of Sharon Roggio‘s debut documentary 1946: The Mistranslation That Shifted Culture. Following its recent win of […] More
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
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
Enter your account data and we will send you a link to reset your password.
To use social login you have to agree with the storage and handling of your data by this website.
AcceptHere you'll find all collections you've created before.