Author

About the Author /

James is DN’s resident horror fan and is inspired by all academic, formal and Ethan Hawke-related aspects of filmmaking. When he isn’t writing for DN you’ll most likely find him on Bluesky, reading a graphic novel or and being sat on by his cat Peanut.

Animation, Film Festival

10 Striking Short Films From the 2023 Edition of Annecy International Animation Film Festival

As Annecy starts to wind down, DN provides a list of ten highlights from the short films featured in this year's impressive programme.

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Live Action

The Sole Survivor of a Climbing Accident Recalls His Supernatural Encounter in Giles Buchanan’s Horror ‘Terror’

Giles Buchanan recounts the practical trials and tribulations of shooting on the Ben Nevis mountain face for his ambitious Lovecraftian horror short.

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Live Action, Premiere

A Man in Turmoil Searches for Meaning in Sergey Spirin & Andrei Beresnev’s Visually Stunning Short ‘IYOV’

Co-Directors Sergey Spirin and Andrei Beresnev open up on how they captured the staggering environments of Georgia for their spiritual drama.

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Animation, Music Video

Patrick Hanser’s A.I. Generated Music Video for ‘Cores’ Is a Kaleidoscopic Tapestry of Classic Art Styles

Patrick Hansen unpacks the challenges and benefits of taking on an animator mindset when creating A.I. imagery for his inventive, multi-styled music video.

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Music Video

Turkina Faso Envisages a Romantic Late-Night Odyssey in Her Dreamy Music Video for Herbert’s ‘Two Doors’

Turkina Faso reveals the formative experiences she had as a first-time narrative director on the set of her excursion through London beds, hearts and dreams.

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Film Festival, Live Action

Grief & Political Rage Converge in Musa Alderson-Clarke’s Searing Cannes Selected Thriller ‘Killing Boris Johnson’

Musa Alderson-Clarke takes DN through the challenge of baking white hot tension into the fabric of his Cannes premiering short about a young man in turmoil.

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Documentary, Premiere

Robin Trouillet Crafts a Portrait of a Hard Raver Who Goes Again the Grain in ‘Turning Man – 81RPM’

Robin Trouillet reveals how he created a three-dimensional portrait of a unique individual with an uncompromising spirit for his music documentary short.

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Art & Fashion, Premiere

Alexandra Bas Welcomes a More Vulnerable Masculinity in Joyous Fashion Short ‘The Distance Between Us’

Filmmaker Alexandra Bas explains her creative process operating as both director and cinematographer on her vibrant fashion short.

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Animation

An Immigrant Battles Loss and Her Legal Status in Tsvetelina Zdraveva & Jerred North’s Drama ‘Yellowbird’

Co-Directors Tsvetelina Zdraveva & Jerred North break down the production roles they each occupied in order to craft their animated immigrant drama.

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Music Video

Olivia de Camps Subverts Masculinity in Gendered Spaces for Rodney Chrome’s ‘Break the Internet’

Olivia De Camps tells DN how she used production design to subvert hyper-masculine environments in her high-octane music video for Rodney Chrome.

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Live Action, Premiere

Lia Williams’ Tender Prison Drama ‘Samovar’ Poetically Imagines the Defiant Survival of Raoul Wallenberg

Lia Williams tells DN how she drew from her experience as an actor when directing Angus Wright and Alex Lawther for her historical drama.

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Live Action, Premiere

A French Exchange Student Stumbles Into a Family Tragedy in Joe Weiland’s Upbeat Comedy Drama ‘Gorka’

Joe Weiland explains how the wide, vibrant frames of his seaside comedy drama are emblematic of the film's themes of connection and catharsis.

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