Month: November 2025

Feature Film Review: A Knighter’s Tale (documentary)

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Deeply in debt and abandoned by his backer, hemmed in by storms and further twarted by a global pandemic, world champion motorcyclist David Knight must cut a path to his lifelong dream of racing in that deadliest of races: The Dakar.

Review by Andie Kay:

How can you not love that title? Makes you think of Heath Ledger, Alan Tudyk and James Purefoy in a rock n roll period film. This film definitely has the rock n roll, just a different kind of knight. David Knight. Who you’ll adore just as much as Heath Ledger. David Knight or Knighter as his friends and team mates call him is a motor bike racer, and a pretty incredible one.

Directed by Barney Edwards and written by Scott Allan, this feature film follows David’s career and the trials and tribulations he goes through to follow ( and succeed ) at his dream. It’s a feel good, marvelous story about going after your dreams and doing everything you can to attain them… with a killer soundtrack.

Andrew Brooke did an amazing job with the cinematography in this film. Watching David ride and the way this was directed, you almost feel like you are riding with him. The absolute stunning beauty of the drone shots left me spellbound.


Personally, I loved this film and getting the opportunity to hear David and his team mates talk about rally racing and getting to the Dakar Race. That race in and of itself is pretty intimidating and getting to experience what they all went through was really special. This had such a wonderful balance of interviews and stunning visuals, exciting racing to keep your interest throughout. If you have a love of racing, or just need to be inspired to pursue your dreams this is a film to watch.

Short Film Review: CHASING DIESEL. Directed by Graham Birch

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In London’s gritty underbelly, Jayce, a luckless thug with a heart of gold, must retrieve his boss’s dog, Diesel, who unknowingly carries a secret that could save a life. As Diesel becomes bait in a chaotic chase through the city’s labyrinth of underground tunnels, Jayce navigates deceit, betrayal, and comedic mishaps in a madcap adventure. The race is on to see who will get Diesel first.

Review by Julie C. Sheppard:

Chasing Diesel is a UK short that offers edgy, cheeky entertainment from start to finish. The murky lighting, mostly in small rooms and cavernous passageways outside a castle-like structure serves the plot – – thugs strive to retrieve a valuable dog named Diesel. 

The coarse but witty banter of the screenplay allows for developing allegiances between characters, particularly the rather kind-hearted duo of a thief and his kidnapper. At times, the piece has a film noir feel to it as shady negotiations go on between criminals and at other moments there is an atmosphere of a head-to-head western, complete with harmonica and heavy country refrains. 

Cinematography choices are fabulous, especially when following characters down the long hallways, and close-up eye only shots as if cast members are in a shoot out at the O.K. Corral. An entertained audience will more than likely draw a sigh of relief as justice is done, and the unlikely good guys dodge a bullet. 

Feature Film Review: WACKO. Directed by Matthew J. Roch

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When lust, jealousy, and envy take control over tearing apart a family, it’s up to one to repay the personal vendetta.

Review by Julie C. Sheppard:

The title of this feature, WACKO, does indeed match the chilling nature of what unfolds before us. But we do not just see a flat, stereotypical presentation of madness. This film gives us a many-layered look at a deeply wounded person, who has been through a lifetime of pain, trauma and betrayal. Numerous heartbreaking flashbacks of adolescent experiences provide a context for the central figure’s resentment and desire for revenge. The performances of the actors playing the captor and the captive are riveting. Jimmy gradually reveals how very bitter and unhinged he is, and Jack moves through several stages – – defiance, seemingly authentic contrition, and then a deep-seated, cursed hatred. 

Pacing of the film is on point and the tension builds, as people outside the house, such as Jack’s parents and a determined police unit, close in on Jimmy’s lair. Heavy rock refrains that slyly creep in during moments of highly dramatic action and dialogue serve to make this film even more visceral and raw.  

There is deliberately no reprieve from a menacing essence, given the constant murky lighting throughout. The terrifying hovel of a basement is suitably stagnant and claustrophobic, to keep the suffering Jack contained. The well-explored insanity stemming from early family tragedy, and vicious bullying comes full circle for the wacko Jimmy, leading him to a very dark place.

Short Film Review: THE INTERVIEW. Directed by Sara Bergamini, Daniele Zucchini

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Daniel has a job interview via Zoom, but at one point, he finds himself face to face with a projection of his mind that puts him in difficulty and makes fun of him.

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Review by Julie C. Sheppard:

The short, The Interview, accurately plays into a nervousness many people experience before an important job interview. It clearly illuminates the negative self-talk that runs through the mind of the central figure, Daniel, personified by his alter-ego in the background in relaxed dress – – his harshest critic. Mental sabotage becomes a tangible thing, causing Daniel to question himself and to remember his interview mistakes of the past, and to worry about how the upcoming appointment will go. 

A clever filmic convention is the ongoing use of a pesky laugh track, as if his annoying inner self is ridiculing his choices and how he will come off in front of the online interviewer, including if he has something in his teeth. The fact that we see just a central panel of video gives us the impression of the job seeker’s intense focus on the screen. Technically, it is also quite helpful to see the translated texts at the top of the scene, for ease of comprehension. 

The set decoration that the interviewer will see in the background such as a stuffed toy, and Daniel’s wardrobe of a widely opened dress shirt and gold chains, both indicate that he is not the most professional of interviewees. But he is also relatable – – the fact that he has not considered wearing proper pants that may be viewed online is a problem for many in these days of Zoom meetings. He is indeed a sympathetic character, and viewers will likely still wish him the best in the job interview, a tense universal event that most of us have endured at one point or another.

Today’s FilmFreeway Testimonial: CHICAGO Feedback Film Festival

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Submit to the Festival via FilmFreeway:

Thank you Chicago Feedback Film Festival for awarding our short film, ‘emma’ Best Visual Design! Receiving the fantastic feedback was not only uplifting for all involved in the project, but helps so very much with marketing and promotion for future projects – which we will doubtless be submitting to this wonderful festival in the future. Thanks again!

Watch Today’s FREE Festival: ANIMATION Shorts Festival

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Watch the festival at 8PM EST FOR FREE by signing up for the FREE 3-DAY trial using the link, or go to http://www.wildsound.ca

Watch today’s Festival: https://www.wildsound.ca/events/november-animation-shorts-festival

A comprehensive research, 2min., Bulgaria
Directed by Vladislav Ivanov
A story of a meeting in a doctor’s office, the discovery of a natural phenomenon and an attempt to study it through the prism of absurdity in life and death.

https://www.instagram.com/mihail.kazakov.5/

TRANSFORMATION, 1min., Argentina
Directed by Ileana Andrea Gomez Gavinoser
A TRANSFORMATION OF A LIZARD- A STORY BY KELLY GAVINOSER



HAND IN HAND, 2min., Turkey
Directed by Melihat Özdoğan Ağgül
People who left their countries due to the climate crisis in the world come together. They overcome their differences, join hands and rebuild the world.

https://www.instagram.com/melihat_ozdogan_aggul

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The Kid, The Moon and The Forest, 5min., Argentina
Directed by Ileana Andrea Gómez Gavinoser
A kid dreams and walks around the Forest.

Deadline: TRAGEDY STAGE PLAY Writing Contest (get play performed by professional actors)

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Submit via Submittable: https://wildsoundwritingfestival.submittable.com/submit/331403/tragedy-stage-play-writing-contest-get-play-performed-by-professional-actors

Festival contest brough to you by the  Festival for Drama: http://www.festivalfordrama.com

I have to really thank the actors for my reading, nothing short of terrific as they were, nothing short of incredibly smart, attractive, and perceptive as they were. They brought the script to life.  – F. Maffai

FULL FEEDBACK on your stage play from our committee of Professional Playwriters, Production Heads and Story Consultants. Get a best scene of your stage play performed at the writing festival and made into a video for the winner.

Submit your 10 Page Play, 1 Act Play, or Full Stage Play to the Festival.

SUBMIT your STAGE PLAY Today  You will receive feedback on your play in 3-5 weeks

Deadline: WOMEN’S FICTION Novel Festival (3 options to submit)

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Submit via the Female Festival site: https://femalefilmfestival.com/womens-fiction-novel-festival/

Submit your WOMEN’S FICTION Book by the deadline.

Women’s fiction is a broad term for books that center on women’s experiences and are marketed to female readers.

Watch Novel Performance Readings:/strong>

Get FULL FEEDBACK on either the 1st chapter or entire novel book from our committee of professional writers and writing consultants. Get your novel performed by a professional actor at the festival.

NEW OPTION: Or, just submit for an actor performance reading transcript of your novel (any 5 pages of your book). Great way to promote the sales of your book if you’re already published.

SUBMIT your novel now (both your 1st chapter or full novel accepted) To be eligible for our Writing Festival Events. Submissions take 3-5 weeks for evaluation.

Submit a novel book and get it seen by the world.

A great way to get your words out there, obtain the agent you’re looking for, or just get your story seen by more people. If you win, your story will be seen by 100,000s of people when it’s read online using a top professional actor. It’s a rush you’ll never experience in your life seeing it come to life that way.