Month: April 2026

VIDEO: Today’s #FilmFreeway Testimonial: THRILLER/SUSPENSE Festival

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https://filmfreeway.com/ThrillerSuspenseFestival

I had a great experience with the Thriller/Suspense Festival. Winning Best Short! Was nothing short of amazing. Their team was very quick to respond, highly professional, and open to new and creative content. Communication was smooth throughout the process, and they created a welcoming experience for filmmakers. I appreciate their support and would definitely recommend them. #thrillerfestival

Short Film Review: WHAT’S HAPPENING OUT THERE?

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Conversations unfold in a basement, exchanged by various people.
Their content, probing the inner recesses of the human mind, evokes nothing of what may be happening outside.

—But what is “outside”?

Directed by Kazumi Shimizu
Produced by Michiyo Hayashi, Tetsuya Matsushima

Review by Victoria Angelique:

WHAT’S HAPPENING OUT THERE is a beautiful and artistically crafted short film that delves into a philosophical world. The film captures the audience’s attention with the first shot of a dimly lit restaurant that has patrons sitting at tables with one lone light. Each patron appears vastly different, as expected in a restaurant, it’s when the conversation’s begin that you can’t help but lean in closer to hear what is softly being spoken.

That is what makes this film so deep, the dialogue stays at the same tone, even when it sounds like it should be emotional or argumentative, it stays calm and collected. Each conversation between the different patrons is a deep philosophical notion, thoughts that are usually not spoken out loud as they might seem bizarre, yet in this place, it is perfectly normal. This applies to controversial topics that typically cause heated arguments; such as the idea of attraction being superficial when first meeting as the metaphor used is comparing it to a mirror. Another idea is drunken men discussing time travel, which due to the level of intoxication, should get loud, but it never does, and the most shocking, a man telling a stranger in a restaurant that he doesn’t think heaven exists. This above the rest could cause several reactions, yet the man just stares at the other man as he explains his reasoning. This setting is the only place these conversations make sense, never rising in tone and everyone staying reasonable. 

The cinematography is also breathtaking. The couple discussing attraction are first introduced by fading like ghosts in and out of the scene, flickering like lights. It’s poignant for the story, as it adds to the art of the film. The drunks overlap, yet each is still able to be distinctly seen. The way shadows and light play off the art pieces behind the patrons gives depth to each story and the set.

This strikingly, visually beautiful film is one that can’t be missed for art lovers. It’s virtually eye candy and the deep philosophical narratives will stay with viewers for quite some time.

Feature Film Review: THE PROPHET. Directed by Melissa Francis

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Mighty warrior devotes his life to protecting his nation from existential threat, only to find the real danger lurks within. BRAVEHEART of modern times.

https://sailfishproductions.com/

https://www.instagram.com/melissaafrancis/

Review by Victoria Angelique:

The topic of Israel and Gaza is usually a heated conversation filled with internal biases, but the documentary THE PROPHET, shows the truth in a deep dive of history and current events that goes beyond the propaganda. Erez Eshel is a name many people have heard, perhaps not favorably, and this is an opportunity to hear from him as he takes a reporter behind the scenes.

History of this region is ancient, going back to Biblical times, and extending into modern day conflicts. Israel has been turned into the villains throughout the Western world, but the question this documentary poses is if that is actually the truth or if that has been fabricated. This is a story many might not like, as it will challenge preconceived notions, but it is essential for everyone to watch it to get both sides of the story.

THE PROPHET might be one of the most powerful documentaries made in quite some time, as it explains the difference between our interpretation of a prophet and what a warrior prophet is, and this is what Erez Eshel happens to be, someone that is trying to prevent a worse situation. He knows what could happen based on the history of conflict between Israel and Palestine. It’s something he’s already lived as a soldier and colonel fighting for his country, when in 2005 all the Jews were expelled from the Gaza Strip. 

The documentary shows footage of trucks of food going into Gaza, with a Palestinian man confirming the contents aboard. The Israeli soldiers go into detail about what is truly happening in Gaza, making it clear that the propaganda should be questioned. Israel is worried that if they fall, then the rest of the Western World might not be too far behind simply because they recognize the patterns happening across the globe from their own history.

If anyone would watch any documentary this year, it should be this one. THE PROPHET is perhaps one that will make anyone think. If it isn’t already, this should be an award winning documentary that should be shown to every government hall and every university across the globe. 

Short Film Review: CASTING CALL. Directed by Lina Ross

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Three girls field all sorts of personalities on dating apps in this absurdist comedy.

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Review by Andie Kay:

Writer/Director Lina Ross taps into what every woman has wished they could do while using a dating app. This short comedy film is so wonderfully written with moments that are witty and incredibly fun. The story is well structured and immediately captures your attention. Within moments you find yourself invested in these characters. The cast had a really lovely camaraderie between them so you immediately believe they are friends.


Stella Naymik handled the cinematography and she did a stellar job (Sorry, I couldn’t resist that adjective but the cinematography was really beautiful ) One of the things I noticed and absolutely adored was the filmmakers attention to detail. The sound effect of each guy popping in and how each guy had their own soundtrack. These details really solidify the world the filmmakers created as well as keep the audience engaged.

It’s very clever how they ended with a twist that you don’t see coming, but I loved that. It gave this film a balance of comedy and authentic tenderness that will leave you smiling.