Jessica Dowse’s Float is a poignant, understated short film that resonated with audiences at the 7th edition of Brighton Rocks. With quiet precision, Dowse explores how fleeting human connections—even unlikely ones—can pierce through isolation, offering moments of unexpected clarity. The sea here is no passive setting but a dynamic, almost antagonistic force. Dowse avoids clichédContinue reading “In Review – ‘Float’ by Jessica Dowse”
Author Archives: Sarah Smith
Protected: Interview with Sam Brain Writer & Director of ‘Shell’
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Interview with Nathan Haines – Writer & Director of ‘An Imperfect Cadence’
Writer & Director Nathan Haines from Iron Box Films talks to us about his debut short film An Imperfect Cadence. A gripping drama that explores the intersection of artistic ambition and physical limitation. Haines’ meticulous attention to authenticity sets the film apart, he deliberately chose the harp, recognising that a harpist’s story hadn’t been extensivelyContinue reading “Interview with Nathan Haines – Writer & Director of ‘An Imperfect Cadence’”
Interview with Pardeep Sahota Writer & Director of ‘OK/NOTOK’
OK/NOTOK, written and directed by Pardeep Sahota follows a working-class British Asian woman confined to her apartment during external turmoil when a mysterious stranger enters her life. Their relationship unfolds over two years through a unique single-shot format that never moves the camera. The film’s most striking feature is its static camera approach, with eachContinue reading “Interview with Pardeep Sahota Writer & Director of ‘OK/NOTOK’”
In Review – ‘Where Are All the Gay Superheroes?’ by Tom Paul Martin
Screening at the 8th edition of the Brighton Rocks International Film Festival on the 21st of June at 7pm as part of our beloved LGBTQIA+ Rocks strand. With all the look, feel, lustre and panache of a billion-dollar Marvel Universe production, Tom Paul Martin delightfully breaks the mould with the familiar chiselled, handsome characters soContinue reading “In Review – ‘Where Are All the Gay Superheroes?’ by Tom Paul Martin”
Interview with Sara Chia-Jewell & Antonis Papamichael of ‘Loyal’
‘Loyal’ is a heartwarming comedy that transforms the simple concept of coffee shop loyalty cards into an exploration of community, connection, and cultural diversity in modern London. Directed by Sara Chia-Jewell and Antonis Papamichael, this charming short film captures the essence of suburban diaspora life and reflects the vibrant multicultural tapestry of the North LondonContinue reading “Interview with Sara Chia-Jewell & Antonis Papamichael of ‘Loyal’”
Interview with Ranw Aso-Rashid Writer, Director & Producer of ‘The Silent Choice’
Ranw Aso-Rashid’s latest work, ‘The Silent Choice‘, set entirely within a single café, tackles toxic masculinity, coercive control, and family dysfunction through an intimate character study. The film builds tension methodically, notably without musical accompaniment, inviting viewers into the carefully crafted dialogue. Drawing inspiration from Tarantino’s dialogue-driven scenes, particularly ‘Inglourious Basterds, this stylistic choice createsContinue reading “Interview with Ranw Aso-Rashid Writer, Director & Producer of ‘The Silent Choice’”
Interview with Jake & Sarah Mavity, Director and Writers of ‘Calico’
What makes a short film extraordinary is its authentic foundation. Calico centers on Lorrie, a teenager with vitiligo navigating the challenging waters of school life and self-love with a delightful little helping hand from a most unlikely source. The duo spent years in pre production finding the right actor, interviewing teenagers with vitiligo and incorporatingContinue reading “Interview with Jake & Sarah Mavity, Director and Writers of ‘Calico’”
Interview with Festival Director James Rowlins – Our Town Has Plenty
Our Hastings Rocks Festival director, James Rowlins, sat down with Cat & Patsy from the brilliant new podcast and YouTube show our town has plenty. Subscribe to their channel here for all of the latest news about what’s going on in Hastings & St Leonards, filming by Jamie De Ath. James talks about why heContinue reading “Interview with Festival Director James Rowlins – Our Town Has Plenty”
Interview with Benjamin Verrall Writer & Director of ‘Shouting at the Sea’
Shot entirely in and around his beloved Hastings, Benjamin Verrall’s Shouting at the Sea is a love letter to the town he grew up in and the beauty of friendship. After years spent apart, Joe and Katherine reunite and, with the sea as their witness, heal old wounds and reconnect as adults. The cinematography isContinue reading “Interview with Benjamin Verrall Writer & Director of ‘Shouting at the Sea’”
In Review ‘Shouting at the Sea’ by Benjamin Verrall.
The opening scene of a film is as crucial as the first page of a book. It must captivate the audience, drawing them into a meticulously crafted world while offering a glimpse of the narrative treasures within. Shouting at the Sea written and produced by the team at Toffee Hammer and directed by Benjamin Verrall,Continue reading “In Review ‘Shouting at the Sea’ by Benjamin Verrall.”
Interview with Jamie Langlands & Meghan Adara Writer, Director and Lead Actress of ‘The Cellar’
In his directorial debut Jamie Langlands brings a young woman’s worst nightmare alive. Meghan Andara, the star of indie horror the ‘The Cellar‘, carries through the terror and peril with a standout performance. We are not ones to give away spoilers here on RocksBlog as what unfolds in an underground dungeon must be seen. Langlands,Continue reading “Interview with Jamie Langlands & Meghan Adara Writer, Director and Lead Actress of ‘The Cellar’”
In Review ‘Buñuelesque’ by Gregory Wait
Luis Buñuel, one of the most influential filmmakers of his era, was lauded for his avant-garde approach to cinema, delivering scathing critiques of bourgeois society through outrageous and morally provocative scenarios. He delighted in skewering the pretensions and hypocrisies of the upper classes, employing surrealist techniques to expose the absurdity of their social conventions. London-basedContinue reading “In Review ‘Buñuelesque’ by Gregory Wait”
Interview with Phil Ross Writer, Director & Producer of ‘Tanushka Marah, The Palestinian Candidate’
In the heart of Brighton and Hove, amidst political upheaval, filmmaker Phil Ross, an award nominated filmmaker whose film ‘Portrait’ was enjoyed by audiences at Brighton Rocks 2024, found himself embarking on a surprising and revelatory journey into documentary filmmaking. His subject: Tanushka Marah, a British Palestinian theatre director, mother and activist who made the boldContinue reading “Interview with Phil Ross Writer, Director & Producer of ‘Tanushka Marah, The Palestinian Candidate’”
In Review ‘Hangers in July’ by Christian Schifano
Italian-American writer and director Christian Schifano, who divides his time between New York and London, has produced a truly gorgeous example of a coming-of-age story that boldly crosses thematic boundaries. ‘Hangers in July’ centers around the abandon of youth and the gnawing desire to find a sense of belonging through the lenses of privilege, class,Continue reading “In Review ‘Hangers in July’ by Christian Schifano”
In Review ‘Love Lost’ by Pablo Saura
Writer and director Pablo Saura’s ‘Love Lost’ is a tale of loss, longing and an unyielding quest to find connection, but at its heart, it is a family drama. Saura deftly diverts our expectations as the narrative unfolds, leading us to believe that what we are embarking on is a sinister snapshot of the underbellyContinue reading “In Review ‘Love Lost’ by Pablo Saura”
Interview with Tova Krentzman, Writer, Director & Producer of ‘Fire Tower’
After working as a cook in a wildfire fighting camp in Northern Alberta, Yukon based filmmaker Tova Krentzman, found herself drawn to the “unsung heroes” who are so integral to protecting people and forests from devastating wildfires and put her talents and passion into the making of her documentary highlighting their incredible work. ‘Fire Tower’Continue reading “Interview with Tova Krentzman, Writer, Director & Producer of ‘Fire Tower’”
Interview with Patrick Ireland, Writer & Director of ‘Ill Fares The Land’
Written in 2022, Patrick Ireland‘s ‘Ill Fares The Land’ is continuing to make a stamp on the festival circuit with its incredibly timely and thought provoking narrative. Set in a small, forgotten coastal British town, similar to where the filmmaker grew up, Patrick imaginatively brings to life a literal example of the ever increasing dissonanceContinue reading “Interview with Patrick Ireland, Writer & Director of ‘Ill Fares The Land’”
Interview with Cameron Lee Horace, Writer & Director of ‘The Other Woman’
‘The Other Woman’ was made as part of filmmaker Cameron Lee Horace’s final university project, inspired by a script by Miles Gibson. This vintage-infused dramatic short film takes us on a journey into the past as Maisie, a woman who refused to submit to some of the more stringent and perhaps normal dating practices ofContinue reading “Interview with Cameron Lee Horace, Writer & Director of ‘The Other Woman’ “
Interview with Alan Halls & Chip Carey of ‘DuPhomf’s Passing’
There’s nothing quite like a film which causes you to enter down a tunnel of existential questioning. Even more so when it is an abstract three and a half minute super 8mm tall tale set in the arid vastness of the American West. Filmmaking duo Alan Halls & Chip Carey, previously featured on RocksBlog forContinue reading “Interview with Alan Halls & Chip Carey of ‘DuPhomf’s Passing’”
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