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Original Filmmaking
1917 At the height of the First World War during Spring 1917 in northern France, two young British soldiers race against time, crossing enemy territory to deliver the warning and keep a British battalion of 1,600 men, which includes Blake’s own brother, from walking into a deadly trap. Directed by Sam Mendes and written by Mendes and Krysty Wilson-Cairns. Read more / Trailer /
AVA Ava (Jessica Chastain) is a deadly assassin who works for a black ops organization, traveling the globe specializing in high profile hits. When a job goes dangerously wrong she is forced to fight for her own survival. Directed by Tate Taylor and written by Matthew Newton. Read more /
DOORMAN A female driven action film with a strong emotional core. It tells the story of Ali Gorski (Ruby Rose) , an officer in the Marines who encountered traumatic events while serving her country and returns home looking for an opportunity to heal. She seeks refuge as a doorman at a labyrinthine, historic, New York apartment building until she encounters mercenaries intent upon destroying everything in their way to retrieve precious art hidden in the walls of the building. Directed By Ryuhei Kitamura from a screenplay by Lior Chefetz, Joe Swanson and Devon Rose Read more
FATMAN To save his declining business, Chris Cringle (Mel Gibson), also known as Santa Claus, is forced into a partnership with the U.S. military in Fatman. Making matters worse, Chris gets locked into a deadly battle of wits against a highly skilled assassin (Walton Goggins), hired by a precocious 12-year-old after receiving a lump of coal in his stocking. ‘Tis the season for Fatman to get even, in the action- dark comedy that keeps on giving. Read more / Trailer
FREAKY Audiences have seen an array of body-swap films, but most of those films have been straight comedies. Freaky takes the body-swap movie format and turns it on its head with a teenage girl switching bodies with a relentless serial killer. Read more / Trailer /
THE GENTLEMEN (formerly known as Toff Guys and Bush) This crime comedy written and directed by Guy Ritchie, from a story by Ivan Atkinson, Marn Davies, and Ritchie, follows American expat Mickey Pearson who has created a highly profitable marijuana empire in London. When word gets out that he is looking to cash out his business, it triggers plots, schemes, bribery and blackmail in an attempt to steal his domain out from under him. Read more /
GREENLAND A family fights for survival as a planet-killing comet races to Earth. iJohn Garrity (Gerard Butler) and his family experience the best and worst in humanity as the countdown to global apocalypse approaches zero strikes. This thriller is directed by Ric Roman Waugh from a screenplay by Waugh, Chris Sparling and Mitchell LaFortune. Read more / Trailer
HONEST THIEF A bank robber tries to turn himself in because he’s falling in love and wants to live an honest life…but when he realizes the Feds are more corrupt than him, he must fight back to clear his name. Read more / Trailer
JIU JITSU Jake McCall (Nicholas Cage) is a combat vet. The aliens have taken him, cloaked his brain with an array of false memories and perceptions, and robbed his life of the one thing he needs to save the world. This Sci-Fi Martial Arts franchise is from writer-director Dimitri Logothetis, Director/Producer of several Kickboxer sequels. Read more / Trailer
LIKE A BOSS A comedy directed by Miguel Arteta and written by Sam Pitman & Adam Cole-Kelly. Two female friends (Tiffany Haddish and Rose Byrne) with very different ideals decide to start a beauty company together. One is more practical, while the other wants to earn her fortune and live a lavish lifestyle. Things take a turn for the worse when their benefactor (Salma Hayek) starts stealing from them. Read more /
MADE IN ITALY A heart-warming father son story set in glorious Tuscany about bohemian London artist Robert (Liam Neeson), who returns to Italy with his estranged son Jack (Micheál Richardson) to make a quick sale of the house they inherited from his late wife. Neither expects to find the once beautiful villa in such a state of disrepair…. Renovations go badly, with father and son soon finding themselves at odds. As Robert and Jack painstakingly restore the villa to its previous glory, they also start to mend their relationship. The future may now look quite different and surprise them both. Read Interview with writer-director James D’Arcy / Trailer
MY SPY A hardened CIA operative has been demoted and finds himself at the mercy of a precocious 9-year-old girl, where he has been sent undercover begrudgingly to surveil her family. When Sophie discovers hidden cameras in her apartment she uses her tech savviness to locate where the surveillance operation is set. In exchange for not blowing JJ’s cover Sophie convinces him to spend time with her and teach her to be a spy.
ORDINARY LOVE (aka Normal People) A story of love, survival and the epic questions life throws at each and every one of us. Liam Neeson and Lesley Manville star as Tom and Joan, a married couple with an easy relationship and a depth of love which expresses itself through tenderness and humor. When Joan is diagnosed with breast cancer, the course of her treatment shines a light on their relationship as the pair face the challenges that lie ahead and the prospect of what might happen in the future. It is written by award-winning Northern Irish playwright Owen McCafferty, making his feature-writing debut. Read more /
PENINSULA takes place four years after the zombie outbreak in Train to Busan. The Korean peninsula is devastated and Jung Seok, a former soldier who has managed to escape overseas, is given a mission to go back and unexpectedly meets survivors. South Korean action zombie film directed by Yeon Sang-ho. Screenplay by Park Joo-Suk and Yeon Sang-ho. Read more
THE PHOTOGRAPH When famed photographer Christina Eames unexpectedly dies, she leaves her estranged daughter Mae Morton (Issa Rae) hurt, angry and full of questions. When a photograph tucked away in a safe-deposit box is found, Mae finds herself on a journey delving into her mother’s early life and ignites a powerful, unexpected romance with a rising-star journalist, Michael Block (LaKeith Stanfield). Written and directed by Stella Meghie. Read more /
QUEEN & SLIM Romantic drama film directed by Melina Matsoukas (in her feature directorial debut) and written by Lena Waithe, from a story by James Frey and Waithe. Described as a modern day take on the legend of Bonnie and Clyde, the plot follows two African-Americans who must go on the run after killing a police officer during a traffic stop gone wrong. Read more /
RUN From the visionary writers, producers and director of the breakout film Searching, comes a suspense thriller that shows that when mom gets a little too close, you need to RUN. Read More / Trailer
TENET (stylized as TENƎꓕ) A man fights for the survival of the entire world, and journeys through a twilight world of international espionage on a mission that will unfold in something beyond real time. Not time travel. Inversion. Read more / Trailer /
UNDERWATER Mysterious creatures terrorize crew members aboard a research station located seven miles below the surface of the ocean. Science fiction thriller film directed by William Eubank and written by Brian Duffield and Adam Cozad. Read more / Trailer /
UNHINGED Russell Crowe, stars in Unhinged, a psychological thriller that explores the fragile balance of a society pushed to the edge, taking something we’ve all experienced – road rage – to an unpredictable and terrifying conclusion. Read more / Trailer
THE WAR WITH GRANDPA Peter and his Grandpa Jack used to be very close, but when Grandpa moves in with the family, Peter is forced to give up his most prized possession, his bedroom. Peter will stop at nothing to get his room back, scheming with friends to devise a series of pranks to drive him out. But, Grandpa doesn’t give up easily and before long, it’s an all out war! Directed by Tim Hill with Robert De Niro, Christopher Walken, Laura Marano, Juliocesar Chavez. Read more/ Trailer
WAVES From writer-director Trey Edward Shults comes the searing story of one family pushed to the brink of destruction, and how they find rebirth and renewal through love, connection, communication, and atonement. It is a uniquely structured story of American life right now, tracing the different trajectories and coping strategies of two South Florida siblings searching for meaning and identity in the wake of trauma. Centered on an African-American family living in South Florida, Waves is also an examination of parental pressure and the limitations of parental love—how finding communication between parent and child, and allowing vulnerability to be expressed on both sides, is essential to the survival of both. Read more
Real-Life Stories
A HIDDEN LIFE Austrian farmer and conscientious objector Franz Jägerstätter faces the threat of execution for refusing to fight for the Nazis during World War II. Written and directed by Terrence Malick. Read more / Trailer /
BOMBSHELL From award-winning director Jay Roach and screenwriter Charles Randolph, comes an explosive story based on the real-life chain of events of the Fox News scandal – which saw multiple women accuse former Fox News CEO and chairman Roger Ailes of sexual harassment – it offers a revealing look inside the most powerful and controversial media empire of all time. Read more / Trailer
SIX MINUTES TO MIDNIGHT This British war drama is set in 1939 where influential families in Nazi Germany have sent their daughters to a finishing school in an English seaside town to learn the language and be ambassadors for a future looking National Socialist. Read more
FATIMA A faith-based drama film directed by Marco Pontecorvo that tells the story of a 10-year-old shepherd, Lúcia dos Santos, and her two young cousins, Francisco and Jacinta Marto, who reported having received apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Fátima, Portugal, circa 1917. Read more / Trailer /
HARRIET Based on the life of abolitionist Harriet Tubman (Cynthia Erivo), who escaped slavery and led hundreds of enslaved people to freedom on the Underground Railroad. Focus Features’ website highlights the movie by saying, “Based on the thrilling and inspirational life of an iconic American freedom fighter, Harriet tells the extraordinary tale of Harriet Tubman’s escape from slavery and transformation into one of America’s greatest heroes. Her courage, ingenuity, and tenacity freed hundreds of slaves and changed the course of history.”is a 2019 American biographical film about slave-turned-abolitionist Harriet Tubman. Directed by Kasi Lemmons, who wrote the screenplay with Gregory Allen Howard. Read more /
I STILL BELIEVE This Christian biographical drama is directed by the Erwin Brothers and based on the life of singer-songwriter Jeremy Camp. Based on Camp’s memoir of the same title, it focuses on Camp’s romance with his first wife, Melissa, whom he married in October 2000 despite knowing she was dying. The couple were informed after their honeymoon that Melissa’s cancer had spread. She died in February 2001, four-and-a-half months after they married. It dramatizes Camp’s teenage years, his rise as a well-known singer, and meeting his second wife, Adrienne. Read more /
JUDY Celebrates the voice, the capacity for love and the sheer pizzazz of “the world’s greatest entertainer”, Judy Garland during her final concert in London in 1968. Directed by Rupert Goold, it is an adaptation by Tom Edge of the Olivier- and Tony-nominated West End and Broadway play End of the Rainbow by Peter Quilter. Read more / Trailer /
JUST MERCY Legal drama film directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, based Bryan Stevenson’s memoir Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption, screenplay by Cretton and Andrew Lanham. It tells the true story of Walter McMillian, who with the help of young defense attorney Bryan Stevenson appeals his murder conviction. . Read more / Trailer /
THE KING OF STATEN ISLAND A bracing comedy about love, loss and laughter on Staten Island. Read more / Trailer
LES MISERABLES Inspired by the 2005 Paris riots, and Ladj Ly’s short film of the same name, Les Misérables is a provocative insight into the tensions between neighborhood residents and police. Screenplay by director Ladj Ly and Giordano Gederlini. Read more /
MRS LOWRY & SON This biographical drama is set in Pendlebury Greater Manchester, chronicling the life of the renowned British artist L. S. Lowry. It was directed by Adrian Noble from a screenplay written by Martyn Hesford who also wrote the original play, and considers the relationship between Lowry and his mother Elizabeth. Read more / Trailer
RICHARD JEWELL The film is based on an article published by Vanity Fair in 1997 and chronicles Richard Jewell’s life during the events that led to an attack at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia. Jewell (Paul Walter) works as a security guard at AT&T when he discovers the plot that resulted in the Centennial Olympic Park bombing. He then heroically saves lives after a bomb was detonated during the 1996 Summer Olympics. However, the FBI identifies him as one of many suspects and this leads to his unjust vilification by journalists and the press. The FBI clears him after 88 days. This biographical drama is directed and produced by Clint Eastwood and written by Billy Ray, based on the 1997 article “American Nightmare: The Ballad of Richard Jewell” by Marie Brenner, published in Vanity Fair. Read more /
Adaptations
A MILLION PIECES An alcoholic for ten years and a drug addict for three, checks into a rehab facility where he finds similar broken souls yearning and fighting for a better life. A story of recovery and love, a story of friendship and hope. Written and directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson and based on the book of the same name by James Frey. Read more / Trailer/
AFTER WE COLLIDED Tessa finds herself struggling with her complicated relationship with Hardin; she faces a dilemma that could change their lives forever. This romantic drama stars Josephine Langford and Hero Fiennes-Tiffin, directed by Roger Kumble, and written by Anna Todd and Mario Celaya. It is based on the 2014 new adult fiction novel of the same name written by Anna Todd and it is the sequel to the film After. Read more / Trailer
THE CALL OF THE WILD Adapted from the Jack London’s beloved literary classic, this heart-warming adventure vividly brings to the screen the story of Buck, a big-hearted dog whose blissful domestic life is turned upside down when he is suddenly uprooted from his California home and transplanted to the exotic wilds of the Alaskan Yukon during the Gold Rush of the 1890s. As the newest rookie on a mail delivery dog sled team–and later its leader–Buck experiences the adventure of a lifetime, ultimately finding his true place in the world and becoming his own master. Based on the Jack London’s 1903 novel The Call of the Wild and the remake of Twentieth Century Pictures’ 1935 film of the same name. Directed by Chris Sanders and , written by Michael Green. Read more/ Trailer
CAN YOU KEEP A SECRET A young woman spills all of her secrets to a stranger on a plane when she thinks it’s about to crash. She later meets the man and discovers he is her company’s new CEO, and he knows all of her humiliating secrets. Romantic comedy film directed by Elise Duran, based on the novel of same name by Sophie Kinsella, with the screenplay was adapted by Peter Hutchings. Read more / Trailer
BLUE STORY Best friends Timmy (Stephen Odubola) and Marco (Micheal Ward) go to the same high school in Peckham but live in neighbouring London boroughs. When Marco’s beaten up by one of Timmy’s primary school friends the two boys wind up on rival sides of a never-ending cycle of postcode gang war in which there are no winners … only victims. This British drama was written, directed, and narrated by Rapman (Andrew Onwubolu) through the medium of rap. The film is Rapman’s feature directorial debut and is based on his 2014 YouTube series of the same name. Read more
DARK WATERS An attorney (Mark Ruffalo) links a number of unexplained deaths to one of the world’s largest corporations, DuPont. In the process, he risks everything – his future, his family, and his own life – to expose the truth. This legal thriller is directed by Todd Haynes and written by Mario Correa and Matthew Michael Carnahan. It is based on the 2016 article “The Lawyer Who Became DuPont’s Worst Nightmare” by Nathaniel Rich, published in The New York Times Magazine. Read more / Trailer
DOLITTLE Fantasy adventure comedy film directed by Stephen Gaghan, from a screenplay by Gaghan and John Whittington, and a story by Thomas Shepherd. It is based on the character Doctor Dolittle created by Hugh Lofting, primarily The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle. After losing his wife seven years earlier, the eccentric Dr. John Dolittle, famed doctor and veterinarian of Victorian England, hermits himself away behind the high walls of Dolittle Manor with only his menagerie of animals for company. But when Queen Victoria falls gravely ill, a reluctant Dolittle is forced to set sail on an epic adventure to a mythical island in search of a cure, regaining his wit and courage as he crosses old adversaries and encounters wondrous creatures.. Read more/ Trailer /
EMMA Jane Austen’s beloved comedy about finding your equal and earning your happy ending is reimagined in this delicious new film adaptation. Handsome, clever, and rich, Emma Woodhouse (Anya Taylor-Joy) is a restless queen bee without rivals in her sleepy little town. In this glittering satire of social class and the pain of growing up, Emma must adventure through misguided matches and romantic missteps to find the love that has been there all along. This British comedy-drama is directed by Autumn de Wilde and written by Eleanor Catton. The film also stars, Johnny Flynn and Bill Nighy. Read more / Trailer
FANTASY ISLAND In this supernatural horror the enigmatic Mr. Roarke makes the secret dreams of his lucky guests come true at a luxurious but remote tropical resort. But when the fantasies turn into nightmares, the guests have to solve the island’s mystery in order to escape with their lives. Directed by Jeff Wadlow and written by Jillian Jacobs, Chris Roach, and Wadlow, it is based on the 1977 ABC’s television series of the same name created by Gene Levitt. Read more /
FOUR KIDS AND IT Four children are upset to discover that their beach holiday is actually a bonding trip with potential step-siblings. During an argument, they stumble across the Psammead, “a magical, sandy, grumpy creature” who can grant them a wish a day, albeit reluctantly. Based on the eponymous 2012 novel by Jacqueline Wilson, directed by Andy De Emmony from a screenplay by Simon Lewis. Starring Paula Patton, Russell Brand, Michael Caine and Matthew Goode. Read more / Trailer
GRETEL & HANSEL (also known as Gretel & Hansel: A Grim Fairy Tale) A dark fantasy horror based on the German folklore tale Hansel and Gretel. The film is directed by Oz Perkins, produced by Fred Berger, Brian Kavanaugh-Jones, and Dan Kagan, and the screenplay is written by Perkins and Rob Hayes. The story is described as being set a long time ago in a distant fairy tale countryside and focuses on a young girl (Sophia Lillis) who leads her little brother (Sam Leakey) into a dark wood in desperate search of food and work, only to stumble upon a nexus of terrifying evil. Read more /
THE INFORMER Pete Koslow, a reformed criminal and former special operations soldier, is working under cover for crooked FBI handlers to infiltrate the Polish mob’s drug trade in New York. In a final step toward freedom, Koslow must return to the one place he’s fought so hard to leave, Bale Hill Prison, where his mission becomes a race against time when a drug deal goes wrong and threatens to identify him as a mole. Based on the novel of the same name by Roslund/Hellström. This film adaptation was directed by Andrea Di Stefano and written by Matt Cook. Read more / Trailer /
JOJO RABBIT Satirical black comedy film written and directed by Taika Waititi. When a Hitler Youth Johannes finds out his mother is hiding a Jewish girl in their attic he must then question his beliefs, while dealing with the intervention of his imaginary friend, an idiotic version of Adolf Hitler. Read more / Trailer/
LITTLE WOMEN This coming-of-age period drama explores the lives of the March sisters in 1860s New England, written and directed by Greta Gerwig, it is the eighth film adaptation of the 1868 novel of the same name by Louisa May Alcott. Read more /
MONSTER HUNTER Behind our world, there is another: a world of dangerous and powerful monsters that threaten to destroy the world, brave warriors combine their unique abilities to band together for the ultimate showdown. Written for the Screen and Directed by Paul W.S. Anderson. Based upon Capcom’s videogame “Monster Hunter.” Read more
MULAN Acclaimed filmmaker Niki Caro brings the epic tale of China’s legendary warrior to life in Disney’s “Mulan,” in which a fearless young woman risks everything out of love for her family and her country to become one of the greatest warriors China has ever known. Read more / Trailer
THE SECRET GARDEN tells the story of Mary Lennox (Dixie Egerickx) a prickly and unloved 10-year-old girl who is sent back to England to live with her uncle, (Colin Firth). his remote country estate deep in the Yorkshire moors she begins to uncover many family secrets, and discover a wondrous secret garden. Read more / Trailer
THE SECRET: DARE TO DREAM Based on the ground-breaking best-selling book, it follows Miranda (Katie Holmes), a young widow trying to make ends meet while raising her three children and dating her boyfriend. A mysterious man reignites the family’s spirit an important secret that changes everything. Read more / Trailer
THE SONG OF NAMES “Can a film be both heartbreaking and heart-healing at the same time? The Song of Names is a triumphant combination of history, artistry, and deep pathos. Martin Simmonds (Tim Roth) has been haunted throughout his life by the mysterious disappearance of his “brother” and extraordinary best friend, a Polish Jewish virtuoso violinist, Dovidl Rapaport, who vanished shortly before the 1951 London debut concert that would have launched his brilliant career. Thirty-five years later, Martin discovers that Dovidl (Clive Owen) may still be alive, and sets out on an obsessive intercontinental search to find him and learn why he left. Read more / Trailer
SUMMERLAND Set over one extraordinary and memorable long hot English summer, the film tells the story of Alice, a reclusive woman who has closed her heart to the world and uses her scientific background to debunk the existence of other-worldly forces and magic. Read more
THE WITCHES A little boy and his kindly grandmother thwart the efforts of a coven of witches to rid Britain of children by turning them into mice. Read more / Trailer /
Horror / Supernatural
ANTEBELLUM A terrifying new thriller. Successful author Veronica Henley (Janelle Monáe) finds herself trapped in a horrifying reality and must uncover the mind-bending mystery before it’s too late. Written and directed by Gerard Bush and Christopher Renz. Read more / Trailer
BRAHMS THE BOY 2 When a young family moves to the Heelshire’s residence, terror strikes when a boy from the family discovers a doll called Brahms that appears to be eerily human. Directed by William Brent Bell and written by Stacey Menear. A sequel to the 2016 film The Boy Read more/ / Trailer
GRUDGE A single mother and young detective, Muldoon (Andrea Riseborough), discovers that a suburban house is cursed by a vengeful ghost that dooms those who enter it with a violent death. Now, she runs to save herself and her son from demonic spirits from the cursed house in her neighbourhood. Supernatural horror film written and directed by Nicolas Pesce and produced by Sam Raimi, Rob Tapert, and Taka Ichise. A reboot of the 2004 American remake of the Japanese horror film Ju-On: The Grudge (both of which were directed by Takashi Shimizu). It is the fourth instalment in The Grudge film series. The film’s events take place at the same time as those of the 2004 film. Read more /
THE NEW MUTANTS An original horror thriller set in an isolated hospital where a group of young mutants is being held for psychiatric monitoring. When strange occurrences begin to take place, both their new mutant abilities and their friendships will be tested as they battle to try and make it out alive. Directed by Josh Boone (The Fault in our Stars) and written by Josh Boone & Knate Lee, it stars Maisie Williams (Game of Thrones); Anya Taylor-Joy (Glass); Charlie Heaton (Stranger Things); Alice Braga (Predators); Blu Hunt (The Originals); and Henry Zaga (13 Reasons Why). Read more / Trailer
THE TURNING In this supernatural horror, a deeply haunting tale has been passed down to terrify audiences for more than 100 years. On a mysterious estate in the Maine countryside, where newly appointed nanny Kate (Mackenzie Davis) is charged with the care of two disturbed orphans, she discovers that both the children and the house are harbouring dark secrets and things may not be as they appear. Directed by Floria Sigismondi and written by Carey W. Hayes, Chad Hayes, and Jade Bartlett, it is a modern adaptation of the 1898 horror novella The Turn of the Screw by Henry James. Read more /
Reboot / Re-imagining / Remakes
GRUDGE A single mother and young detective, Muldoon (Andrea Riseborough), discovers that a suburban house is cursed by a vengeful ghost that dooms those who enter it with a violent death. Now, she runs to save herself and her son from demonic spirits from the cursed house in her neighbourhood. Supernatural horror film written and directed by Nicolas Pesce and produced by Sam Raimi, Rob Tapert, and Taka Ichise. A reboot of the 2004 American remake of the Japanese horror film Ju-On: The Grudge (both of which were directed by Takashi Shimizu). It is the fourth instalment in The Grudge film series. The film’s events take place at the same time as those of the 2004 film. Read more /
THE INVISIBLE MAN In this science fiction psychological horror a woman’s sanity begins to unravel as she desperately tries to prove that she is being hunted by someone nobody can see. Written and directed by Leigh Whannell. It is a very loose modern adaptation of both the novel of the same name by H. G. Wells and a remake of the 1933 film adaptation of the same name. Read more /
Animation
THE ELFKINS– BAKING A DIFFERENCE The Heinzels are back! Headed by lively little Helvi, the gnomes breathe new life into a tumbledown pastry shop and discover their true purpose. For more than 200 years, the Elfkins have been living underground, hiding from the upper world and avoiding any interaction with the “ungrateful and mean” human beings. But one day, Helvi cannot bear the lack of space and individual fulfillment any longer. Together with two companions, Kipp and Butz, she climbs up to the earth‘s surface to find her fate. After hilarious adventures, Helvi‘s growing friendship with the initially grumpy pastry chef Theo will remind her and all the other Elfkins of their true purpose in life: helping others! Computer-animated film directed by Ute von Münchow-Pohl. Trailer
100% PERCENT WOLF In this Australian animation film, Freddy Lupin, heir to a proud family line of werewolves is positive he’ll become the most fearsome werewolf ever, Freddy is in for a shock when his first “warfing” goes awry, turning him into a ferocious – poodle. Trailer
MAGIC ARCH Delphy, a shy dolphin discovers the Magic Arch which can transform any fish into what it wishes to be. One day, the Arch is misused by the Morays which have become gigantic and plan to take over the peaceful Fish Town. Delphy needs to reunite with his long lost dad in order to gain the strength and power to conquer the Morays, protect his city and win over the love of his life. Trailer
DRAGON RIDER A magical adventure of courage, self-confidence, optimism and the beginning of an unusual friendship, a young silver dragon teams up with a mountain spirit and an orphaned boy on a journey through the Himalayas in search for the Rim of Heaven in this German animated fantasy film based on the novel of the same name by Cornelia Funke. It is directed by Tomer Eshed from a screenplay by John Smith. Read more / Trailer
ARCTIC JUSTICE (also known as Arctic Dogs Polar Squad) is a computer-animated comedy film co-written and directed by Aaron Woodley and co-directed by Dimos Vrysellas. Swifty the Arctic Fox works in the mailroom of the Arctic Blast Delivery Service, but he has much bigger dreams. He yearns to become a Top Dog, the Arctic’s star husky couriers. To prove he can do it, he commandeers one of the sleds and delivers a mysterious package to a secret location. Read more / Trailer
DREAMBUILDERS In this Danish animation film a girl discovers a world behind her dreams in which the dreambuilders create our dreams on theater stages, interfering with people’s dreams. Trailer
MOSLEY A computer–animated film produced by New Zealand animation company Huhu Studios. The film tells the story of Mosley, a “thoriphant” who rebels against his life of servitude and embarks on a treacherous journey to find the fabled city of Uprights. It was written and directed by Kirby Atkins who stars in the title role along with his young daughter Leah, playing the character of Rue. It is the first official New Zealand–Chinese co-production and the first New Zealand animated film. Read more /
ONWARD This computer-animated urban fantasy comedy film is set in a magical world populated with elves, trolls, mermaids, centaurs, fauns, satyrs, unicorns, gnomes, sprites, goblins and all other mystical creatures. Two teenage elf brothers embark on a quest to discover if there is still some magic left in the world so that they can spend one day with their father, who had died when they were too young to remember him. Directed by Dan Scanlon, screenplay by Scanlon and C. S. Anderson. Read more /
SCOOB! reveals how lifelong friends Scooby and Shaggy first met and how they joined with young detectives Fred, Velma and Daphne to form the famous Mystery Inc. Now, with hundreds of cases solved and adventures shared, Scooby and the gang face their biggest, most challenging mystery ever: a plot to unleash the ghost dog Cerberus upon the world. As they race to stop this global “dogpocalypse,” the gang discovers that Scooby has a secret legacy and an epic destiny greater than anyone imagined. Read more / Trailer
SONIC THE HEDGEHOG Sonic is an anthropomorphic blue hedgehog from another world, who comes to Earth to escape villains seeking to harness his energy. After accidentally causing a massive power outage while hiding out in the town of Green Hills, Montana he is targeted by the military and they hire the malevolent roboticist Dr. Robotnik to hunt him down. Meanwhile, former-SFPD officer-turned-Green Hills sheriff Tom Wachowski meets and soon befriends Sonic. With the help of his wife Annie Wachowski and his friend Billy Robb, they must help Sonic escape the military and Doctor Robotnik and stop Robotnik from using Sonic’s energy for universal domination. This Japanese-American adventure comedy animation film is based on the Sonic the Hedgehog video game franchise by Sega. The film is directed by Jeff Fowler (in his feature directorial debut) from a screenplay by Patrick Casey, Josh Miller, and Oren Uziel and a story by Casey and Miller. Read more /
TROLLS WORLD TOUR A computer-animated jukebox musical film. Poppy and Branch discover that there are six different troll tribes scattered over six different lands. Each tribe is also devoted to six different kinds of music — funk, country, techno, classical, pop and rock. When rockers Queen Barb and King Thrash set out to destroy the other music, Poppy and Branch embark on a daring mission to unite the trolls and save the diverse melodies from becoming extinct. The film is a sequel to the 2016 film Trolls, directed by Walt Dohrn with co-direction by David P. Smith, produced by Gina Shay, and written by Jonathan Aibel, Glenn Berger, Elizabeth Tippet, Maya Forbes and Wallace Wolodarsky, from a story by Aibel and Berger. Read more / Trailer
Sequels
BAD BOYS FOR LIFE The once inseparable duo of Marcus Burnett and Mike Lowery (Will Smith and Martin Lawrence) is coming apart: an aging Burnett has become a police inspector while Lowery, suffering a midlife crisis, is assigned to head up AMMO, a “young guns” group of millennial cops with whom he has nothing in common. This buddy cop action comedy is directed by Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah from a screenplay by Joe Carnahan and Chris Bremner, based on characters by George Gallo. It is the sequel to Bad Boys (1995) and Bad Boys II (2003) and the third and final instalment in the Bad Boys trilogy. Read more / Trailer /
BILL & TED FACE THE MUSIC The stakes are higher than ever for the time-traveling exploits of William “Bill” S. Preston Esq. (Alex Winter) and Theodore “Ted” Logan (Keanu Reeves). The now middle aged best friends set out on a new adventure to seek the song that will set their world right and bring harmony in the universe, with the helped by their daughters (played by Samara Weaving and Brigette Lundy-Paine), a new batch of historical figures and a few music legends. The film also stars Kid Cudi, Kristen Schaal, Anthony Carrigan, Erinn Hayes, Jayma Mays, Jillian Bell, Holland Taylor, Beck Bennett, William Sadler, Hal Landon Jr. and Amy Stoch. Read more / Trailer
BIRDS OF PREY (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn). The story follows Harley Quinn as she joins forces with Black Canary, the Huntress, and Renee Montoy to save Cassandra Cain from Gotham City crime lord Black Mask. This superhero film is based on the DC Comics team of the same name, It’s the eighth film in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) and a follow-up movie of 2016 film Suicide Squad, and is directed by Cathy Yan and written by Christina Hodson. Read more / Trailer
BRAHMS THE BOY 2 When a young family moves to the Heelshire’s residence, terror strikes when a boy from the family discovers a doll called Brahms that appears to be eerily human. Directed by William Brent Bell and written by Stacey Menear. A sequel to the 2016 film The Boy Read more/ / Trailer
ESCAPE ROOM 2 Director Adam Robitel will return for Escape Room 2, along with original writer Bragi F Schut (who co-wrote the first movie with Maria Melnik) and producer Neal H Moritz. Details of plot and cast to be confirmed. Read more / Read more about Escape Room
Superhero Films / Comic Book
BLOODSHOT After he and his wife are murdered, Marine Ray Garrison is resurrected by a secret team of scientists. Enhanced with nanotechnology, he becomes a superhuman, biotech killing machine – Bloodshot. As Ray first trains with fellow super-soldiers, he cannot recall anything from his former life. But when his memories flood back and he remembers the man that killed both him and his wife, he breaks out of the facility hellbent on revenge, only to discover that there’s more to the conspiracy than he originally thought. This superhero film is based on the Valiant Comics character of the same name. The film is directed by David S. F. Wilson (in his feature directorial debut) and written by Jeff Wadlow and Eric Heisserer. It also stars Eiza González, Sam Heughan, Toby Kebbell, and Guy Pearce. Read more / Trailer
MORBIUS Jared Leto plays film’s titular, blood-craving antihero, directed by Daniel Espinosa (Safe House, Life) and introduces the popular character who has been both enemy and ally to Spider-Man over the years. Morbius was a brilliant biochemist whose efforts to cure his own rare blood disorder result in him acquiring powerful abilities along with an insatiable hunger for blood. He first appeared in a 1971 issue of The Amazing Spider-Man and is the creation of Roy Thomas and Gil Kane — giving him the distinction of being the first Spider-Man villain not created by Stan Lee. Over the years, Morbius fought against and alongside Spider-Man at various points, often while struggling to control his vampiric hunger. Like Venom, he spent a considerable amount of time as a violent vigilante, often using criminals to sate his cravings for blood. This comic book film is based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name, produced by Columbia Pictures in association with Marvel and distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing. It is intended to be the second film in Sony’s Marvel Universe. The screenplays was crafted by Matt Sazama and Burk Sharpless, and it also stars Adria Arjona, Matt Smith, Jared Harris, and Tyrese Gibson. Read more /
Dance Films
STREET DANCER 3D A dance epic based on the multifarious colors of dance and the unity that occurs between two different groups coming together for a single cause. Set in London, the film is about 2 rival dance groups from India and Pakistan, who’ve been competing against each other every time they meet, be it at a cafe or at an underground street battle, until they eventually realize that they stem from the same roots and have a common purpose to stand for their people from the Asian subcontinent. Followed by the backdrop of a global dance competition, the film showcases how these underdogs stand strong against all odds. This Indian Hindi-language dance film is directed by Remo D’Souza. The movie features Varun Dhawan, Shraddha Kapoor, Prabhu Deva and Nora Fatehi in the lead roles. Read more /
Music in Films
THE HIGH NOTE Set in the dazzling world of the LA music scene comes the story of Grace Davis (Tracee Ellis Ross), a superstar whose talent, and ego, have reached unbelievable heights. Maggie (Dakota Johnson) is Grace’s overworked personal assistant who’s stuck running errands, but still aspires to her childhood dream of becoming a music producer. When Grace’s manager (Ice Cube) presents her with a choice that could alter the course of her career, Maggie and Grace come up with a plan that could change their lives forever. Directed by Nisha Ganatra (Late Night) from a screenplay by Flora Greeson. Read more / Trailer
South African Films
TOORBOS René van Rooyen’s Toorbos is officially this year’s South African entry for the highly coveted Best International Feature Film Award for the 2021 Academy Awards. Read interview with writer-director Rene Van Rooyen
WESENS is a first of its kind independent Afrikaans found-footage film. This sci-fi mystery from writer-director Derick Muller is set in South Africa in 1967 and follows four South African Republican Intelligence Agents as they investigate an unidentified object that landed on a farm in the Karoo. They record this footage with their Super 8 and 16mm cameras. What follows is a mystery that will keep you guessing until the very last line. “The vision for Wesens was to create a truly unique and engaging feature film that gives audiences a bit more than a traditional genre film,” Derick Muller – writer and director of the film. The cast includes Albert Maritz (Griekwastad, Fynskrif, Trackers), Pietie Beyers (Binnelanders, Vergeet My Nie) and Morné Visser (The Kissing Booth, The Harvester, Dis ek, Anna). Read interview with writer-director Derick Muller / Trailer / Website
BHAI’S CAFE This South African film centres on the Patel Family and their cafe, the cornerstone of the Wynberg community in Cape Town. The cafe comes under threat from a ruthless property developer, as Bhai’s daughter, Rashmi, is swept off her feet, in true Bollywood fashion, by Patrick, the son of the property magnate. At the same time, Bhai and his family rally the community to square off with the property developer to stave off the bulldozers and save the Cafe. Directed by Maynard Kraak from a screenplay by Darron Meyer and Aaron Naidoo, based on a story by Rawoot and Executive Producer / Actor, Mehboob Bawa. Read more / Trailer /
FLATLAND Writer-director Jenna Bass’ journey of self-discovery for three different but equally trapped women. It paints a vivid and unique portrait of femininity against a hostile frontier land and questions what it means to be a woman today in South Africa and the world at large. Read more
GRIEKWASTAD It tells the tale of the search to find the truth behind the murders that shocked and divided a community. Directed by award-winning director and producer Jozua Malherbe, written by Tertius Kapp, based on the bestselling true crime novel by Jacques Steenkamp. Interview with Tertius Kapp
KNUCKLE CITY A new movie by Jahmil X.T. Qubeka. Beginning in 1994, ‘Knuckle City’ tells the story of Dudu Nyakama (Bongile Mantsai), an aging, womanising, professional boxer from the township and his career-criminal brother Duke (Thembekile Komani) who take one last shot at success and get more than they’ve bargained for. Qubeka says the energy of the Mdantsane landscape and the visceral fight for survival that is palpable on the streets inspired in him a deep yearning to chronicle the lives of its people through film. “It is my intention to capture the essence of life in Mdantsane, and the restless pursuit of being a champion within a society that often dictates you are a failure. I am determined to give audiences a glimpse into a world rarely seen, and a deeper understanding of the multi-faceted individuals inhabiting our land.” Read more / Trailer
MOFFIE It is based on the memoir, Moffie, by André-Carl van der Merwe and tells the story of a conscript who embarks on his military service in 1981 South Africa. Read interview with director Oliver Hermanus / Released on 13 March.
POPPIE NONGENA The drama tells the story of a South African isiXhosa mother, whose life revolves around finding stability for her family during a period of insufferable upheaval in the country when African women were forced, by arrests, fines and forced removal, to leave their homes and resettle in remote areas designated as black homelands. When her husband, Stone, became too ill to work, Poppie was deemed by the law to be an “illegal” resident in her own country. She engaged in a desperate struggle with the authorities for permission to stay, moving from house to house, applying for permits, applying for extensions, extensions of extensions, and using every means at her disposal to remain with her children. Caught in the crossfire of her children’s needs, her husband’s illness, community anger and repressive laws, she was finally forced to give in just as the 1976 riots for freedom erupted. Clementine Mosimane (The Wild) plays the role of Poppie, alongside Anna-Mart van der Merwe (Kanarie), veterans Chris Gxalaba (Long Walk to Freedom), Rolanda Marais (Binnelanders), David Minaar (Torings) and Lida Botha (Pad Na Jou Hart). Written and directed by Christian Olwagen, based on the award-winning novel by Elsa Joubert .Read more
VERGEET MY NIE The film is based on a 90’s love story of Mardaleen Coetzer and Hugo Derks. Portrayed by Marguerite Van Eeden and Sean-Marco Vorster, the couple are introduced to one another on the North West University’s campus in Potchefstroom. He falls head over heels in love, but she doesn’t return his affections. Years later they run into each other again in the United Kingdom, and here their journey to love starts again … but not without a few hurdles on their way. Directed by André Felts and scripted by Tarryn-Tanille Prinsloo. Read more /