Author: festreviews

Short Film Review: THE LAST PIRATE. Directed by Christian Pavlik

festreviews Uncategorized , , , , , ,

Synopsis:

Prisoner to the mystical powers of the ancient Infernalius, Arius embarks on a journey to hunt the one marked by the ancient sword, in exchange for his freedom.

https://www.facebook.com/TheLastPirateOfficial?mibextid=LQQJ4d https://instagram.com/thelastpirateofficial/

Review by Andie Karvelis:

Swashbuckling swordsmen, those bad boys of the sea have always captured our imaginations. Johnny Depp as Jack Sparrow gave us a new pirate to fall in love with. The success of Pirates of the Caribbean renewed everyone’s love of a good pirate film! The Last Pirate doesn’t disappoint!


Written, Directed and Produced by Christian Pavlik, we are transported into a captivating story with sword fights, magic, an epic struggle with the forces of good and evil, and some clever twists! There are many things that stand out about The Last Pirate ( and these are in no particular order ). Antonio Medina plays Arius, our last pirate, and he did a wonderful job. You can feel his struggle and everything he did with the character was genuine. Micah Pilcher, who portrays Infernalius delivered a performance that will send shivers down your spine. Micah nailed that sinister, otherworldly tone and it was perfection. You do not want to hear that voice in a dark alley unless you wanna jump out of your skin.


The Florida coastline was perfect for this film. I imagine it was somewhere along Dismal Key or Chokoloskee Bay ( yes, it’s a real place ). The Cinematographer, William Cook knew how to bring out the beauty in the area where no tourist dares to wander. The aerial shots were breathtaking. William also handled the stunt choreography and sword fighting which was very impressive and believable.


You can have a spectacular script, great actors, a wonderful DP but if the music falls short it’s going to ruin a film. Thank heaven our Producers, Christian, William and Antonio knew this. They hired Filip Olejka and his score was absolutely stunning! It fit this film so well that Hans Zimmer himself would’ve been jealous.

Sensational job on creating a wonderful, adventurous film that makes the audience want to see more!

Feature Film Review: DIPPERS IN THE ALTAI IV; EMERGENCE OF THE CHICKS

festreviews Uncategorized

Synopsis:

In the course of his work as a wildlife conservation advisor to the Mongolian government, Andrew Laurie followed up on a childhood fascination with White-throated Dippers on the Teme near Ludlow, by finding out more about their lives in the Altai Mountains. Now resident in Cambridge, Andrew has made four films on Dippers in Mongolia – covering nest-building, incubation, feeding of the chicks in the nest, and this, the most recent one (2023) on the emergence of the chicks and their early lives on the river.

Review by Victoria Angelique

The DIPPERS IN THE ALTAI IV: EMERGENCE OF THE CHICKS would be a fantastic film for a bird conversation center. The dedication of narrator, Andrew Laurie, is something to admire as he continuously travels to Mongolia from his English home to study the dippers. 

The film is shot in a format that suggests this is a very personal journey and a passion project for Laurie. The camera is utilized to feel like a home movie, giving feelings of nostalgia as if this is a nature documentary from the era when they won major awards. It’s familiar and comforting with the soothing narration that allows the conservation efforts to be displayed in a way that allows the information to sink in without being overwhelmed. 

The dedication of Laurie and his team is admirable. Spending 15 days in a beautiful Mongolian landscape to study the behavior of the Altai dippers and their chicks shows the concern that Laurie and his team have for the birds. Watching the emergence and then the curiosity of the chicks as they explore the world beyond their nests is a joy to behold. The innocence of their movements is similar to many animals cautiously exploring new environments. 

It’s rare to see the growth of chicks from nest to freedom. The majority of documentaries don’t stick to one location and fake the footage, this one follows the same chicks to fully understand the behavior of the Altai dippers. This would be a great documentary for a conversation center, particularly in areas where these birds reside. 

Directed by Andrew Laurie

https://www.youtube.com/@andrewlaurie64/featured

Today’s Writing Festival Deadline: HORROR Screenplay Festival

festreviews deadlines, festival deadlines

Festival designed to expose and promote films and screenplays that work outside the system and break the boundaries in the horror genre. To bring a voice to the talented independent filmmakers & writers living in a world saturated with commercial entertainment.

Submit your HORROR screenplay today to the festival.

Submit via the site: https://festivalforhorror.com/

Our mission is to promote screenplays, films and videos that dissent radically in form, technique, or content, and challenge and transcend commercial and audience expectations using the audience FEEDBACK festival format that the flagship festivals uses.

Screenplay Festivals occur once a month. We perform the winners in a studio using professional Canadian actors and post them online for the entire world to see.

NOTE: Accepted works also get the opportunity to do two interviews: A blog interview and an ITunes Film Festival podcast interview.

<B<Awards & Prizes:

All submissions receive full feedback from the industry (even short films).

Accepted short films get their movie showcased at the 6 times a year at the feedback film festival.

Winning screenplays get their screenplay performed at the festival and turned into a YouTube promotional video.

Today’s FilmFreeway Deadline: FANTASY/SCI-FI Film Festival

festreviews deadlines, festival deadlines

FANTASY and SCI-FI Stories used to be a fringe market. Now they are in the mainstream and forever as movies, television shows, and stories in this genre are a multi-billion dollar market.

Submit via FilmFreeway:

This is a HYBRID film festival (NOT an online festival) with live screenings for the audience feedback video you will receive, plus an optional virtual 2nd showcase to enhance the film’s exposure. Festival also conducts blog and podcast interviews with the filmmaker. We have also started a filmmaker’s WhatsApp group with over 100 joined to date to chat about next project and make contacts etc….

Get your script and story performed by professional actors at the Fantasy/Sci-Fi Festival. WINNING reading every single month!

Get your short or feature film showcased at the FEEDBACK Film Festival and get an audience video. Now a monthly festival taking place in either Chicago, Los Angeles, or Toronto

All festival dates have been updated to private screenings with the same Audience FEEDBACK videos made for the short & feature films, and recorded script readings performed by professional actors for the screenplays. This is our way of showing community over distance so everyone around the world can experience our Audience Feedback videos.

We specialize in showcasing Fantasy/Sci-Fi stories and making sure that when the work is ready, the writer will benefit by at least obtaining a solid agent.

EP. 1244 – MUSICIANS MALCUTH & FACUTUM (CLOSER MUSIC VIDEO)

festreviews PODCASTS

Watch the Music Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5kY5F_t0Go

“Memory is a poet, not a historian”

Martina’s poignant odyssey through fractured memories unearths wounds from former lovers, embodying abuse, deception, and death, in her quest for self-acceptance.

Official music video for “Closure” by Malcuth & Facutum (feat. Babi)

Directed by Faraz Alam

Stream “Closure” → https://fanlink.entervale.com/VALELPS001

Today’s Film Festival: HORROR Shorts Festival – June 2nd/3rd event

festreviews Uncategorized , , , , ,

Go to the Daily Film Festival Platform http://www.wildsound.ca and sign up for the free 7 day trial to watch a new and original festival every single day.

Go to the festival page directly and watch dozens of films:
https://www.wildsound.ca/todays-film-festival/

Watch the Festival HERE:

https://www.wildsound.ca/videos/june-2-horror-shorts

See the Full Lineup of Films:

A PRAYER FOR MY FATHER, 10min., USA
Directed by Sarah London
Decades after she and her late father found an unspeakable horror in the woods, Lola receives a package of his ashes, and along with it the ghost of their shared trauma.

https://instagram.com/aprayerformyfather

Watch the Audience Feedback Video:
https://www.wildsound.ca/videos/audience-feedback-a-prayer

WEREWOLF MARGARITA, 10min., USA
Directed by Jax Deerman Kinlaw
A young woman is stalked by a werewolf.

Watch the Audience Feedback Video:
https://www.wildsound.ca/videos/audience-feedback-werewolf

HORNED, 4min,. USA
Directed by Jerrod D Brito
When a cocky cam boy jokingly live-streams a creepypasta dare, he inadvertently summons an ancient demon who craves more than just his soul.

Watch the Audience Feedback Video:
https://www.wildsound.ca/videos/audience-feedback-horned

DISINFECTANT, 6min., USA
Directed by Zach Ryan Doumit, Elias Gold
The Janitor loves his job and the Demon is hungry.

Watch the Audience Feedback Video:
https://www.wildsound.ca/videos/audience-feedback-disinfectant

EP. 1245 – FILMMAKER DANNY GERMANSEN (MANIFESTATION)

festreviews PODCASTS

“A mentally ill person feels neglected by society and takes revenge.”

“When life is meaningless and everything is hopeless, where do you go?”

Inspired by the life of Danny Germansen.

Manifestation is an semi-autobiographical art-house short film about a mentally ill person who takes revenge on society because he feels neglected by his family, the social system, the community around him, and Society in general. He was mentally abused as a kid and adult by a psychopathic father. The film draws parallels to the environmental issues of the present and to the white supremacy that created our capitalist society that we live in today. It’s a tale of a social outcast who suffered weltschmerz and lived a life of loneliness, alienation and isolation in a society that is emotionally desolated. During the 17-minute film, the viewer experiences a nihilistic view of the world from the social outcast’s point of view.

Manifestation

https://www.facebook.com/BrujoArtCompany

https://www.instagram.com/brujo_art_company

Written & Directed by DANNY GERMANSEN

Starring: MAREK MAGIERECKI, MIKKEL W. KNUDSEN, BIANCA KLINGENBERG-DUPONT, SUZANA LUNGU

Subscribe to the podcast:

https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod/

https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod

Today’s FilmFreeway Deadline: CRIME/MYSTERY Film Festival

festreviews deadlines, festival deadlines , , , , , ,

This festival now takes place every single month giving filmmakers 4 tiers to showcase and promote their film (All accepted films get all four tiers).

Submit to the Festival via FilmFreeway:

1) Screening #1 is held in Toronto or Los Angeles where you will also obtain your audience feedback video.
2) Screening #2 virtually on the Film Festival streaming service (optional)
3) Podcast interview on Film Festival Radio on ITunes
4) Blog interview promoting you and your film.

All festival dates have been promoted to private screenings with the same Audience FEEDBACK videos made for the short & feature films, and recorded script readings performed by professional actors for the screenplays. This is our way of showing community over distance so everyone around the world can experience our Audience Feedback videos.

Monthly Deadlines

Short Film Festival – Occurs once a month in Los Angeles and Toronto

Your film will get screened in front of a large, broad audience.

– We are a feedback festival and you will actually hear what the industry and film lovers think of your film.

NEW Showcase: Submit your FEATURE FILM and receive an audience feedback promotional/testimonial video of your film. Great video to use to get into more festivals and/or promote your film. All submissions receive the committee’s feedback notes on their film no matter what, as per their request.

Today’s Film Festival: UNDER 5 Minute Film Festival – May 31st / June 1st event

festreviews Uncategorized , , , , ,

Go to the Daily Film Festival Platform http://www.wildsound.ca and sign up for the free 7 day trial to watch a new and original festival every single day.

Go to the festival page directly and watch dozens of films:
https://www.wildsound.ca/todays-film-festival/

Watch the Festival HERE:

https://www.wildsound.ca/videos/may-31-under-5-festival

See the Full Lineup of Films:

PLEASE CLICK 2, 4min., USA
Directed by Allexxis Youngs
Two friends fight to keep their sanity after encountering a
mysterious video online, there is no escape but to become a part of the video.

Watch the Audience Feedback Video:
https://www.wildsound.ca/videos/audience-please-click-2

RHYTHM TO MY EARS, 5min,. UK
Directed by Yuki Neoh
A deaf man’s day is disrupted by tinnitus, and he decides to take things into his own hands by combatting the noise with music and joy.

Home

Watch the Audience Feedback Video:
https://www.wildsound.ca/videos/audience-rhythm-to-my-ears

STRUGGLE, 5min., Armenia
Directed by David Babasiev
In the remote mountains a family facing intense challenges as the mother and their prized cow approach childbirth simultaneously.

Watch the Audience Feedback Video:
https://www.wildsound.ca/videos/audience-struggle

BLIND SPOT, 1min., Turkey
Directed by Mustafa Gönülver
The angry man wants to settle scores by throwing dart arrows at his ex-girlfriend, whose picture he hung on the dartboard.

Watch the Audience Feedback Video:
https://www.wildsound.ca/videos/audience-blind-spot

LOST ON THE BEACH, 3min., USA
Directed by Vince Eisenson
An older man reflects on his loses.

Watch the Audience Feedback Video:
https://www.wildsound.ca/videos/audience-lost-at-the-beach

WHISKEY, 3min., USA
Directed by John Thomure
Part 3 of the Still Lives series

https://www.instagram.com/thomurabitch

Watch the Audience Feedback Video:
https://www.wildsound.ca/videos/audience-whiskey

Today’s Film Festival: ANIMATION Film Festival – Best of EUROPEAN Films. May 31st/June 1st event

festreviews Uncategorized , , , , ,

Go to the Daily Film Festival Platform http://www.wildsound.ca and sign up for the free 7 day trial to watch a new and original festival every single day.

Go to the festival page directly and watch dozens of films:
https://www.wildsound.ca/todays-film-festival/

Watch the Festival HERE:
https://www.wildsound.ca/videos/may-31-animation-european

See Full Lineup of Films:

THE RITUAL OF A CITY, 4min., Albania
Directed by Bertrand Shijaku
SOME PEOPLE CLEAN THE CITY SOME OTHERS MAKE DIRTY JUST FOR LIVING

http://www.bota-shqiptare.al/
https://facebook.com/BOTASHQIPTARE

A STORY AT THE SEASIDE, 9min., Albania
Directed by Bertrand Shijaku
It is the party of the fishermen , children are playing on the sand , they go to find the shells but something went wrong …

WOMAN IN MY LAST NAME, 5min., Sweden
Directed by Rana Kadry
Woman is my last name is a celebration of the full spectrum of womanhood, from the complex vulnerability to the hidden power.

https://www.instagram.com/ranakadry/

WHAT IS LEFT, 6min., Italy
Directed by Bianca Costanzo, Federica Tornaghi, Gaia De Napoli, Cristina Capoano
Quel che rimane is a short film about a man who is left alone in the village where he was born. The man owns a restaurant and, despite the fact that his wife passed away and his daughter has left the town, he remains anchored in his old routine, continuing to run the tavern.

JELLY, 2min., Italy
Directed by Giovanna Senatore
Love can be dangerous, like pollution

SUBWAY, 5min,. Poland
Directed by Robert Ku?niewski
Typical situation on the subway. Plasticine grotesque. Social satire.

https://www.instagram.com/brasco698/

TETE- MACHINE, 9min., France
Directed by Mona Maud LEFEVRE
The dreamer is sleeping, isn’t he? He is speaking, but do we really know what he is talking about?

https://www.instagram.com/monamaudlefevre/

ONE UPON MY LIFE, 3min. UK
Directed by Juliana Andrade Venturini, Denis William Denyer
Semi-autobiographical tale of my move to the UK.

Tags