Author Archives: Sarah Smith

Refugia World was founded by actress, activist and philanthropist Liana Cornell. Alongside her passion for supporting grassroots solutions to the climate crisis, Liana has specific interest in animal rights, rainforest conservation and protecting our Oceans. Liana says, “I am an activist because I have no other choice. I cannot sit by while the world burnsContinue reading “Video Interview with Liana Cornell Writer, Director & Producer of ‘REFUGIA – Episode 1′ and James Crawley”

Rachel Fowler is a brave and candid filmmaker whose striking exploration of a largely untouched subject matter, the tragedy of stillbirth, is as heartbreaking as it is uplifting. For the production of her directorial debut, Rachel carried out a hugely admirable amount of research, ensuring an accurate and proper treatment of the subject. She thenContinue reading “Interview with Rachel Fowler, Writer & Director of ‘Stillness’”

Kai Fiáin’s spirited queer folktale ‘Dippers & Oysters’ is an imaginative and fresh film which embodies so many of the mantras we hold dear at Brighton Rocks. The Irish screenwriter, director and producer cut their teeth as a filmmaker exploring LGBTQ asylum seekers, globalisation and working class subcultures through documentary. ‘Dippers & Oysters’ marks theirContinue reading “Interview with Kai Fiáin Writer & Director of ‘Dippers & Oysters’”

In a dark, grimy corner of a bar somewhere in LA, three old Barflies get to bickering about one salty, charming, two faced swindler from the past… So pull up a barstool, get a drink and find out just “who the F**k is Jacky Bumpers?” in this candy coloured Super8mm film. Before the screening atContinue reading “Video Interview with Alan Richard Halls Writer and Director of ‘Who the F**k is Jacky Bumpers?’ & Chip Carey Actor and Producer”

James Card is an award winning short-film director who eventually gave into the burning desire to make a feature film and produced his brilliantly engaging, improvisation-based feature ‘Finally Nearly Getting There’. Inspired by the mumblecore subgenre of American independent film, ‘Finally Nearly Getting There’ takes us on an all-too-typical British meander through the countryside toContinue reading “Interview with James Card, Writer & Director of ‘Finally Nearly Getting There’.”

Heartbreak and the ways in which we deal with it is a rich and well-trodden path, so it is always a treat when we come across a freshly delivered perspective, as shines through in comedy short ‘Pigeon’. Directed by Kiki Allgeier, founder of creative production company Go Parachute, the US-based filmmaker was looking for aContinue reading “Interview with Kiki Allgeier, director of ‘Pigeon’”

Mark Nelson’s ‘A Place About 50 Miles West Of Nowhere’ is a beautiful experimental exploration of life in New York City through an abstract expressionist and surreal lens. The film is gorgeously layered with images from the city, allegory and poetic observations and musings narrated by actress and producer Andromeda Godrey. Alongside being a delightContinue reading “Interview with Dancer Georgia Poole & Choreographer Annie Waller from Latitude Dance on ‘A Place About 50 Miles West of Nowhere’”

Films, among so much more, encourage debate. They are a vehicle for expressing ideas, beliefs and spark something deep within us. These are the aspects which filmmaker Mark Nelson wanted to explore in his latest project ‘A Place About 50 Miles West Of Nowhere’. Mark has taken his background in photography, years of buddhist beliefContinue reading “In Conversation with Mark Nelson, Director of ‘A Place About 50 Miles West Of Nowhere’”

It is thought 1 in 50 people may suffer with OCD. And that figure is expected to actually be higher due to the shame people can feel about opening up. The whole team behind ‘Waving’ are keenly aware of the difficulties some may have reading this article and watching the film. Executive producer Catherine BenfieldContinue reading “In Review: ‘Waving’ by Rolfin Nyhus & Steven Brumwell”

The film essay is a form which has been embraced by many of the greatest filmmakers over the years – Chris Marker, Agnes Varda, Jean-Luc Godard, to name a few. When filmmaker Adam E. Stone lost his father, he wanted to pay homage to and explore writings and unsolved mysteries left behind. Adam, a greatContinue reading “Interview with Adam E. Stone, director of ‘Atmospheric Marginalia’”

Forbidden love, systemic prejudice and senseless suffering are three themes deftly explored by NFTS graduate Director Em J. Gilbertson’s clever and nuanced depiction of a time where the imbalance of gender roles and expectations on women were patently absurd. ‘Requiem’ is set against the backdrop of the violent witch trials of the 1600s and centresContinue reading “Interview with Em J. Gilbertson, director of ‘Requiem’”

Today marks one year since the Russian Federation invaded Ukraine. A year in which the world seemed to take a giant leap backwards, with the upheaval causing trauma and tragedy for millions of lives. ‘Once Upon a February’ by Russian filmmaker Julia ​​Shlenskaya is an intensely personal project that makes a brave attempt to comeContinue reading “Interview with Julia Shlenskaya, director of ‘Once Upon a February’”

Filmmaker Mick Child, founder of Forge Photography & Film Production, first graced our screens at Brighton Rocks in 2022 with his live action short ‘Villa’. He is back with a thought-provoking micro movie, ‘This Bee Movie, Our Future’, focusing on the increasing strains on our climate. Mick has been tinkering with photography since the ageContinue reading “Interview with Mick Child & Dane Foxx, director and narrator of ‘This Bee Movie, Our Future’”

Generative AI in all of its weird and wonderful forms is set to bring about a huge revolution in filmmaking. Whether ultimately this is for better or worse, whilst this technology is continuously evolving, now is the time to be embracing the advances and playing with the various forms. This is exactly what artist andContinue reading “Interview with Matteo Di Gioia, director of ‘Italian Boi’”