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.

Art & Fashion

A Man Faces Existential Purgatory in Lisette Donkersloot’s Experimental Sci-Fi Short ‘Lead Balloons’

Lisette Donkersloot talks to us about creating a cinematic atmosphere of pure hopelessness for her experimental narrative short 'Lead Balloons'.

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Live Action

Emotional Connections Are Forged in Unlikely Places in Paavo Hanninen’s Identity-Swapping Drama ‘Tourist’

Paavo Hanninen reveals how he used the pre-packaged expectations of New Orleans to find the central human drama of his 16mm short 'Tourist'.

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Art & Fashion

Raw Environments Expose True Human Nature in Kevin McGloughlin & Jacob Jonas’ ‘Weakness of the Flesh’

Co-Directors Kevin McGloughlin & Jacob Jonas talk to DN about the organic and collaborative process behind surreal dance short 'Weakness of the Flesh'.

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Music Video

Stefano Ottaviano Celebrates the Motivating Spark That Leads to Great Change in ‘One By One’

Stefano Ottaviano walks DN through the euphoric feeling of self-actualisation that underpins his music video for Diplo's anthemic 'One By One'.

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Documentary, Premiere

Argyro Nicolaou & Margaux Fitoussi’s ‘I, Tony’ Is a Meta-Documentary About the Desire to Be Remembered

Argyro Nicolaou and Margaux Fitoussi discuss harnessing the unpredictable energy of photographer Tony Moussoulides in their experimental biopic 'I, Tony'.

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Animation, Premiere

Hannah Brewerton’s Animated Satire ‘Hit and Run’ Pokes Fun at Tactics of Distraction in British Politics

Hannah Brewerton explains how she channelled her frustrations with the 2019 UK general election into art for her RCA graduate animation 'Hit and Run'.

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Live Action

Paavo Hanninen Channels Quarantine Paranoia for His Strange Romantic Comedy Short ‘I Think I’m Dying’

Paavo Hanninen walks DN through the process of mapping a 3D model of his own house to cinematically storyboard his comedy short 'I Think I'm Dying'.

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Live Action

Talia Smith Mines Her History of Growing up in South Africa for Oscar-Winning Domestic Motherhood Drama ‘Umama’

Talia Smith recounts how her personal history informed the diasporic tension she exorcised through her Student Academy Award-winning NYU drama 'Umama'.

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Film Festival

Ten Remarkable Animated Shorts From Annecy 2021

A spectacular showcase highlighting the breadth of the animated form - DN lauds ten stand-out animated shorts playing Annecy 2021.

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Live Action, Premiere

A Young Down Syndrome Man Adopts a Heroic Identity to Confess a Lifelong Love in Émile V. Schlesser’s ‘Superhero’

Émile V. Schlesser speaks to DN about the challenges of executing an ambitious water-based set piece for his debut short film 'Supehero'.

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Art & Fashion, Premiere

Liam Young Examines the Lasting Effect of a Childhood Spent in Pub Culture in Visual Poem ‘Pub Kid’

Liam Young deconstructs his visual poem 'Pub Kid', an examination of pub culture as seen through the eyes of a young boy raised amongst the locals.

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Music Video

Colin Read Captures the Overwhelming Feeling of Mass Expectation in His Stylish ‘Wildfire’ Promo

Colin Read walks DN through the production challenges of his constantly in motion music video for Cautious Clay's self-reflective track 'Wildfire'.

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