Kiwi Filmmaker Gains Traction with Debut Feature SMOKY

One day Smoky was there, and the next he was gone… What happens when a man disappears and the people closest to him seem strangely unwilling to search for him?

New Zealand mystery-thriller SMOKY deserves attention as one of the most intriguing debut feature films currently emerging from Aotearoa’s independent film scene. Writer-director James Fink-Jensen began developing the project in 2025, and is already gaining international recognition having been shortlisted for the Young Director Award in Cannes for Best First Feature Film…

No Budget, No Rules, No Excuses: How Haven Got Made Anyway

If you’ve ever wanted to make a feature film but didn’t have the funds, cast, time, crew or previous feature filmmaking experience… This is your sign to do it anyway.

BoddyBag presents Haven – a gory, dark comedy, whodunnit feature film.

The idea was planned out in a three-hour car journey.
Written within three weeks.
100 pages shot within 10 days.
The whole project is expected to be completed within 12 months from conception.

In Need of Seawater – Documentary Short Film

Sponsored Article A beautiful walk through the life of poet Mark Anthony Thomas; In Need of Seawater. It’s an absolute treat of a short film for any poetry lover. “When I was 21 I wanted to reflect on life, so I started working on my second book called The Poetic Repercussion,” Mark begins. “Everything IContinue reading “In Need of Seawater – Documentary Short Film”

Boddybag: The Creative Kiwi Duo Bringing Joy Back to Film Sets

Sponsored Article “Make stuff that is fun, make stuff that can impact someone in a good way, make stuff that is ridiculous, be curious in others and everyday things outside of what you know.”– Julia Boddy // Actor Julia and James Boddy are New Zealand’s hidden filmmaking gems who have recently returned to our shoresContinue reading “Boddybag: The Creative Kiwi Duo Bringing Joy Back to Film Sets”

Lasting Flames (short film)

The grief of heartbreak is both a unique and universally relatable theme explored in the short film Lasting Flames. It perceives break-ups as a grieving process; mourning someone who is still alive.

Written and directed by Federica Alice Carlino – recently recognised as the most awarded director under 35 – Lasting Flames is a deeply personal project that almost wasn’t pursued.

“I wrote this project based on a very personal feeling and experience. It took me a while to decide whether or not to produce this short, as it came from a deep emotional place,” Carlino said.

Private Cinema Hire: Another Look at the Classics

Based at ODEON cinemas across the UK, an exciting service has become available: Hire a cinema. All to yourself. I knew cinema hire was a thing for large private screenings or elaborate Hen Do’s, but I thought that was only by special request and at great expense. I definitely didn’t know it was a sparklyContinue reading “Private Cinema Hire: Another Look at the Classics”

Up and Coming Talent: Shayla Tharp

I love being sent new talent to watch!

Shayla Tharp is an actor who hails from Iowa, USA and is currently living in London.

Former personal assistant to comedic actress Kristen Johnston, Tharp has spread her wings and pursuing her own acting path.

In the short that I watched of Tharp playing her interpretation of Annie Wilkes from the 1980 horror Misery, her confidence held my attention. Her ability to channel Wilkes’ characteristics without copying Kathy Bates’ performance was unreal…

Folded Whispers: A Night of Poetry with Mark Anthony Thomas

Mark Anthony Thomas is an economic development official in Baltimore, Maryland. However, he has an extensive creative background in writing. Thomas is a published poet and has recently released a short film documenting a live reading of his original poetry.

Folded Whispers is performed in Kelly Strayhorn Theater to friends and members of the Pittsburgh community. It captures a collection of his work that covers love, loss, race, identity, urbanisation and the pandemic…