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.

Article

James Maitre Top Ten Feature Films of 2018

"The seeds that John Cassavetes planted oh so many years ago are still providing a fruitful harvest in 2018." James gathers a top ten crop of 2018 films.

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Live Action

An Oppressive Regime Reaches Boiling Point in Dean Puckett’s Folklore Short ‘The Sermon’

DN speaks to Dean Puckett about 'The Sermon' his allegorical folklore horror short about an isolated village reaching boiling point.

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Documentary

Robert Knoth & Antoinette de Jong’s Interactive Doc ‘Poppy’ Explores How Drug Money Fuels Global Conflicts

DN speaks to Robert Knoth about exploring the link between global war & organised drug crime through layered, multifaceted interactive doc 'Poppy'.

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Animation

Renata Gasiorowska Explores Sex-Positive Liberation in Erotic Animated Comedy ‘Pussy’

Renata Gasiorowska tells DN how she caused a scandal when a group of school children accidentally attended a screening of her erotic comedy short 'Pussy'.

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Live Action

Inés Barrionuevo & Agustina San Martín Traverse the Maelstrom of Teenage Insecurity in ‘The Swedish Cousin’

DN speaks to Inés Barrionuevo & Agustina San Martín about creating vulnerability by casting non-actors true to their characters in 'The Swedish Cousin'.

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Live Action

It’s a War of Parenting Opinions in Marley Morrison’s Comedy Short ‘Baby Gravy’

Director Marley Morrison tells DN how her journey of becoming a parent in a same-sex relationship influenced her comedy short 'Baby Gravy'.

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Film Festival, Live Action

A Sexual Education Lesson Becomes Eruptive For All The Wrong Reasons in Alice Seabright’s ‘Sex Ed’

Alice Seabright discusses using an intense one-take shot to honestly portray a man on the edge of self-destruction within the confines of a Sex Ed lesson.

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Film Festival, Live Action

A Mother Protects Her Daughter at All Costs in Fateme Ahmadi’s ‘Bitter Sea’

Fateme Ahmadi talks to DN about the intense camera work of 'Bitter Sea' her short film about an immigrant mother's hope of a better life for her daughter.

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Animation, Film Festival

Anna Mantzaris Explores the Catharsis of Explosive Impulses in Animated Comedy ‘Enough’

Anna Mantzaris tells DN how moving to London and Roy Andersson inspired her short comedy animation about a loss of self-control, 'Enough'.

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Live Action

A Male Government Conspires to Change the Fate of Women in Alicia Macdonald’s Satire ‘Domestic Policy’

DN speaks with Alicia MacDonald about comedy, tragedy and everything in between in her government conspiracy satire 'Domestic Policy'.

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Live Action

The Ties of Family Are Tested in Mikael Bundsen’s Queer Short ‘Mother Knows Best’

DN speaks with Mikael Bundsen about 'Mother Knows Best', his queer short about a son revealing an uncomfortable truth his mother wasn't ready for.

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Documentary, Live Action

The Lines of Reality & Fiction Blur in Dominique Van Olm’s Sibling Short ‘Little Brother’

DN speaks with Dominique Van Olm about documenting her brother's first trip to Toronto in form-bending narrative sibling documentary, 'Little Brother'.

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