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.

Live Action, Premiere

A Relationship Unravels Upon the Discovery of Hidden Gun in Chloë Wicks’ Tragicomedy ‘Fragile Package’

Chloë Wicks deconstructs modern masculinity in her tragicomedy 'Fragile Package', about a couple who move into a new apartment and discover a gun.

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Animation, Art & Fashion

Lars Nagler Brings a Surreal Encyclopaedia to Life in His Short Animation ‘Shift Simmers Slips’

Lars Nagler explains the freely intuitive animation process behind 'Shift Simmers Slips' his surreal adaptation of Luigi Serafini's 'Codex Seraphinianus'.

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Live Action

Justin Doherty & Neil Fox Merge Challenging Cinema With Professional Film Practice in ‘Wilderness’

Justin Doherty & Neil Fox speak to DN about allying professional and emerging filmmakers on the production of their cinematically defiant feature debut.

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Animation, Film Festival

10 Essential Short Films to Stream at GLAS Animation 2021

DN delivers a recommended selection of ten cutting-edge animated shorts available to stream online at GLAS Animation 2021.

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Live Action

Sam McMullen Tackles the Futility of Nationalism in Irish Black Comedy ‘The Cocaine Famine’

Sam McMullen breaks down the key visual concepts he employed to translate his Irish black comedy 'The Cocaine Famine' from a well-known play to short film.

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Animation, Music Video

Tony Comley Weaves a Harmonic Spider Web for His Graceful Animated Music Video ‘Time to Recover’

Long-time alum Tony Comley walks DN through the self-reflective gestation behind his harmonious animated Serfaima Steer music video 'Time to Recover'.

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Live Action

LEONE Paints Youthful Romantics as Restless Bees in His Savvy Music Film ‘Sting Like a Bee’

LEONE discusses drawing parallels between youthful romance, the natural world and an iconic Italian car for his form-melding music film 'Sting Like a Bee'

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Film Festival, Live Action

Mitch Kalisa’s SXSW Winning Drama ‘Play It Safe’ Challenges the Unconscious Racism in Self-Defined Liberal Spaces

Mitch Kalisa explains the unconscious racism that informed 'Play It Safe' his drama school-set film about a student coaxed into playing a racial stereotype.

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Film Festival, Live Action

A Daughter Attempts to Restore Broken Familial Ties in Hannah Bang’s Coming of Age Drama ‘Soak’

Hannah Bang discusses channelling the visual flourishes of Wong Kar-wai & Park Chan-wook into the subtle cinematic style of her family drama short 'Soak'.

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Awards, Film Festival, Live Action

Ng Choon Ping & Sam H. Freeman Capture the Threat of Heterosexual Spaces in Intense Late-Night Thriller ‘Femme’

Co-Directors Ng Choon Ping & Sam H. Freeman discuss the importance of rehearsal when crafting the visceral tension of their jaw-dropping thriller 'Femme'.

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Awards, Film Festival, Live Action

A Taxidermist Sets Her Eyes on Stuffing a Human in Theo Rhys’ Bombastic Comedy Horror Opera ‘Stuffed’

Theo Rhys talks embracing the macabre for his ambitious horror musical 'Stuffed', the tale of a lonely taxidermist and her desire to stuff a human.

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Film Festival

Ten Unmissable Short Films at SXSW Online 2021

As the festivities kick off at SXSW Online 2021, DN offers a selection of ten must-see short films to check out at the festival this year.

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