Bond on Cinema

Filmmaker Ida Melum follows her BAFTA-nominated and Annie Award–winning short Night of the Living Dread, she returned with Ovary-Acting. The film has been BAFTA longlisted and Annie nominated, marking a significant milestone in its awards-season journey. After its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival this past year, Ovary-Acting went on to win the Best Short Animation Grand Prize at the Rhode Island International Film Festival (RIIFF), cementing its status as one of the most distinctive animated shorts of the year. Ovary-Acting offers a joyful yet incisive look at one of life’s most pressing questions and stands as a vibrant celebration of the continued evolution of stop-motion animation. Ladies and gentlemen, A comedic and deeply personal story, Ovary-Acting explores the emotional rollercoaster of contemplating parenthood in the modern world. With wit, honesty, and meticulously handcrafted animation, the film examines questions of biology, ethics, practicality, and bodily autonomy balancing cheeky humor with genuine emotional resonance. The main character Eva is stuck at her sister's baby shower a thirty-something woman is forced to decide whether she wants to have kids or not after unexpectedly giving birth to her reproductive organs. The project reunites Melum with BAFTA-nominated writer Laura Jayne Tunbridge (Sweetpea, Requiem), whose layered and incisive script deftly balances comedy with heartfelt storytelling. I really loved this film and I’m a guy, but I found the use of humor enlightening as well as a bit informative to try to understand an element of life that many women go through. Us men for the most part, we don’t really understand women, because we don’t take time to listen. I found OVARY-ACTING a film that helps women realize they are not alone and hopefully help men listen more. I can see why this wonderful animated short if BAFTA long listed. #BAFTA #trending #podcast #trendingpodcast #shortfilm #animatedshort #filmmaker #filmmaking #filmdirector #stopactionanimation #animation #ovary #uterus #womanhood #biologicalclock 

Writer/Director Mekhai Lee acted in many professional productions, including Broadway’s “The Color Purple.” He is the writer/director & co-creator of original web-series entitled For the Boys to much acclaim. He i a member of the Half-Initiative Director Program and is the 2022 Director’s Fellow on HBO’s Succession. Mekhai also wrote and directed an original short film called “Them That’s Not” which premiered at NewfestPride ‘25 Film Festival, and has since screened at numerous Film Festivals including Bushwick, Newfest Film Festival, and Chicago International Film Festival where it was the recipient of the Golden Hugo Award, making the film official Academy Award Eligible. He is also one of six directing recipients of the NAACP 2025 Cinematic Shorts Competition, which took place at the 2025 NAACP National Convention. His new short film THEM THAT’S NOT is about a prison furlough brings an estranged father and his distant daughter together at their mother's repass. Ladies and gentlemen, THEM THAT’S NOT is a beautiful film in every way. The storyline of a father and daughter reconnecting, but hidden within their estranged relationship, a secret connection is revealed. This film is a filmmaker’s dream and what I mean by that is the story is told with incredible patience and outstanding visuals. The cinematography places a central role in this film with the correct framing of the characters, that emphasizes their emotions and dialogue. As I said the color palette brings forth the warmth of home and family. The use of sign language keeps the audience focused, as if we lean in to hear a whisper, we can transported into the lives of Drea, Carol and Samuel. I can see why this film is already Oscar Qualified so early in it’s journey to the 2027 Academy Awards. And what a joy it is for me to kick off this year with such an incredible short film. #shortfilm #film #cinema #filmmaker #filmmaking #trending #spotify #itunes #cinephile #screenwriter #storytelling #filmproduction #cinematography #sxsw #filmfestival #oscars #academyawards

Ladies and gentlemen, EXTREMIST is a short film that warns us that censorship of free speech is happening all over the world. Even countries who preach democracy and freedom are slowly taking away our right to free speech. EXTREMIST shows us the absurdity of the lengths that a government will go too to silence its citizens. Sasha Skochilenko decided to stand by her principles in the midst of standing up for the truth, but the blessing of injustice caused her voice to rise above the Russian tyranny.  Alexander’s film is a powerful narrative short, a film that fits into the category of being a social impact film. And we need more filmmakers to stand up for truth, especially if they are willing to face the consequences their actions.  #oscars #academyawards #shortfilm #russia #ukraine #justice #injustice #film #cinema #bondoncinema #filmmaker #filmmaking #filmdirector #cinematography #cinephile #interview #trending 

Sofiia Chui-kov-ska, an Ukrainian artist based in Paris, France. She is one of seven directors of the Oscar Shortlisted animated short film THE SHYNESS OF TREES. The short film won a Student Academy Award in the Animation category of the 52nd Student Academy Awards, organized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Sofiia was involved in a bit of everything in the project but mainly character animation and compositing. She works as a freelance animator and is developing a short animated film on the side. Their Oscar Shortlisted animated short film THE SHYNESS OF TREES is about Hélène, 40 years old, comes to visit her aging mother in the french countryside. But her mother isn't being her usual self. She seems to have formed a strange bond with the plants, insects, and the old oak tree at the end of her garden. #animation #animator #shortfilm #oscars #academyawards #film #filmmaker #filmdirector #cinema #bondoncinema #lifeanddeath #creation 

Writer/director and composer Trevor Morris has contributed to 35 Feature Films and over 700 hours of dramatic Television. He is a 5 time EMMY nominee and 2X winner. He has collaborated with Ridley and Tony Scott, Antoine Fuqua, Gore Verbinski, and Jerry Bruckheimer among others. BUTTERFLY ON A WHEEL marks Trevor’s first narrative film as writer-director. Here, he fuses music, emotion and visual storytelling into a grounded portrait of mental health, resilience and creative freedom. With the film’s rich Toronto setting, soulful performances and exploration of OCD and anxiety through the lens of a young artist’s coming-of-age, BUTTERFLY ON A WHEEL is painfully beautiful, but powerfully triumphant. A film that everyone who sees it can find something to relate too, and maybe lead them to their own healing journey. #oscar #academyawards #shortfilm #ocd #anxiety #music #musiccomposer #filmscore #filmmaker #filmmaking #filmdirector #cinema #storytelling #cinematography 

Ladies and gentlemen, Entirely hand drawn and animated by Blaise over three years in his Florida studio, SNOW BEAR tells the story of a lonely polar bear navigating a rapidly changing Arctic in search of connection. With stunning 2D animation, the film uses expressive visuals and a poignant original score to capture the emotional landscape of isolation, hope, and ecological fragility. Blaise drew inspiration from his own personal journey and a profound reverence for nature. With Snow Bear, he set out to capture the universal longing for connection and the resilience it takes to endure life’s harshest seasons. By using hand drawn, frame by frame animation, Blaise channels raw emotion into every image, weaving a story that reflects both personal vulnerability and the fragile beauty of the environment. The film features a powerful original score by Grammy winning composer Mark Mancina, known for his work on The Lion King, Moana, Brother Bear, and Tarzan. He is joined by composer Marlon E. Espino, whose credits include Moana, The Lego Batman Movie, and The Sea Beast. Together, the duo delivers a sweeping, immersive soundscape that heightens the film’s emotional impact. The film has also garnered early acclaim from global conservation organizations, including Polar Bears International and the National Parks Conservation Association, both of whom have endorsed the film’s environmental message. Earlier this year, Aaron received the Winsor McCay Award, one of animation’s highest honors, recognizing his lifetime achievement and contributions to the art form. Now, with SNOW BEAR shortlisted for the 98th Academy Awards®, his legacy expands into new territory, bridging hand drawn artistry, ecological urgency, and deeply personal storytelling. #DISNET #THELIONKING #MULAN #MOANA #brotherbear #oscars #academyawards #film #cinema #shortfilm #animation #animator 

Writer/director duo Julia Aks and Steve Pinder and their hilarious Oscar Shortlisted short film JANE AUSTEN’S PERIOD DRAMA. The film is set in 18th century England and following its successful world premiere at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, the whimsical live-action short was selected for the prestigious OSCAR-qualifying Cleveland International Film Festival, where it was named one of the top ten films to watch. Personally, I would name this as the Top film to watch, period. Yes, pun intended! Set in 1813 England, in the middle of a long-awaited marriage proposal, Miss Estrogenia Talbot gets her period. Her suitor, Mr. Dickley, mistakes the blood for an injury, and it soon becomes clear that his expensive education has missed a spot. The stunning cinematography was created by Emmy-nominated Luca Del Puppo and rivals any multi-million dollar Jane Austen film such as Pride & Prejudice. Co-writer/directors Julia Aks and Steve Pinder’s wonderful partnership began in 2016 when Steve was directing a SOUND OF MUSIC parody whilst studying at USC and discovered Julia’s impeccable Julie Andrews impersonation. In 2019, the two came together once again to co-direct a Julie Andrews parody of Ariana Grande’s 7 RINGS. The parody went viral, and the pair began a string of collaborations for Julia’s YouTube channel. #janeausten #period #comedy #shortfilm #juliaaks #stevepinder #luadelpuppo #filmmaker #filmmaking #tribecafilmfestival #tribeca #soundofmusic #england #cinematography #menstruation

My guest today is writer/director Christopher M. Anthony and his BAFTA-qualified feature film, HEAVYWEIGHT. The film stars Jason Isaacs, Nicholas Pinnock and Jordan Bolger to name a few.  He taught himself animation and interned for The Jim Henson Company at the age of 15. His first official job in London was for Hensons.  Over the years he worked on a number of pioneering projects, developing the tools and pipelines that made London a world leader in VFX. The key turning point being Prisoner of Azkaban. He went on to develop perhaps the original atomization effect seen in many films today.  This was originally for X-Men 3, later used to kill Voldemort and later copied many times over. In 2008 he moved to San Fransisco to work at Lucasfilm on Indiana Jones and became a BAFTA member soon after.  Today we discuss his BAFTA-qualified feature film, HEAVYWEIGHT, where the greatest fight is in your mind and not in the ring.  Ladies and gentlemen, HEAVYWEIGHT follows wildcard boxing contender, 'Diamond' Derek Douglas, and his support team ahead of a title fight he doubts he can win.  The pressure escalates in real-time, as dirty tricks and revelations are revealed. HEAVYWEIGHT is an intense and visceral experience exploring a side of elite sport rarely seen. This film is character-driven and dialogue heavy, which I love. The film is actually fast-paced and gets to the heart of the story quickly. This is how you do a film right.  This film is tense, emotional at times, but helps us to learn that in life, the biggest fight is what happens when we let outside sources affect our thoughts. As long as we don’t allow those thoughts to enter our hearts, we still have a chance to win in life.  #boxing #MMA #fighting #sportfilm #filmmaking #filmmaker #filmdirector #jasonisaccs #nicholaspinnock #jordanbolger #trending #cinema #cinematography #bondoncinema #BAFTA 

My guests today are writer/directors Natalie Musteata and Alexandre Singh and the absolutely spectacular medium-length French-language film TWO PEOPLE EXCHANGING SALIVA.  NATALIE MUSTEATA is a writer, curator, and filmmaker. She holds a Doctorate in art history and a Masters in film from The Graduate Center, CUNY. She is the curator of several exhibitions including if I can’t dance to it, it’s not my revolution, Haverford College, and UNREST: Revolt against Reason. In 2018, she produced Alexandre Singh’s richly imaginative short film The Appointment, which played in over 40 film festivals where it won several awards for “Best Short Film”, as well as co-curated the exhibition A Gothic Tale at the Legion of Honor Museum, San Francisco.  In 2024, she co-wrote, directed, and produced with Singh a medium-length French-language film TWO PEOPLE EXCHANGING SALIVA, featuring Zar Amir, Luàna Bajrami, and Vicky Krieps. ALEXANDRE SINGH is a Brooklyn based visual artist, born in Bordeaux, France, to Indian and French parents. His work is inspired by a love of imaginative storytelling. His work is represented in numerous private and public collections, including the Museum of Modern Art the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum; and the Centre national des arts plastiques in Paris. In 2019, Alexandre made his debut short film, THE APPOINTMENT, which premiered at the Legion of Honor Museum, San Francisco, in his solo exhibition A Gothic Tale, and then played at PÖFF Shorts, Leuven, and Bogo Shorts amongst many others. Their mind blowing cinematic masterpiece TWO PEOPLE EXCHANGING SALVIA takes place in a society where kissing is punishable by death, and people pay for things by receiving slaps to the face. And there is so much more. Ladies and gentlemen, TWO PEOPLE EXCHANGING SALIVA is about In a society where kissing is punishable by death, and people pay for things by receiving slaps to the face. Angine, an unhappy woman, shops compulsively in a department store. There, she becomes fascinated by a playful salesgirl. Despite the prohibition of kissing, the two become close, raising the suspicions of a jealous colleague. There are very few films that leave me speechless and this is one of them. It is one of the most original storylines, one of the most beautiful films cinematically and so engaging you want to watch over and over again.  The black and white visuals are so stunning, they are very portrait like. It enhances the emotion of every character and the close ups of each one makes you feel you can look into their soul.  There is something the French can do better than any other filmmaker, and that’s make a film with such romance, even if one is forbidden to kiss. You still feel that romance in the cinematography. The French do it better and TWO PEOPLE EXCHANGING SALVIA is proof we need more French cinema in our lives.  #love #forbiddenlove #lovers #flirting #jealousy #film #frenchcinema #cinema #filmmaking #filmmaker #filmdirector #filmproduction #shopping #trending #cinematography #cinematographer #blackandwhitefilm #art 

My guest today is BAFTA-nominated and Oscar-Shortlisted Afghan filmmaker Elham Ehsas has he returns with There Will Come Soft Rains. Elham, whose acclaimed short Yellow earned both a BAFTA nomination and an Academy Award shortlist, is known for illuminating unseen perspectives with emotional clarity and unflinching humanity. With There Will Come Soft Rains, he continues this bold trajectory, casting a woman’s defiance as a metaphor for resilience in a changing world. Developed in close collaboration with global narrative-change organization Climate Spring, There Will Come Soft Rains challenges how climate stories are told on screen. Rather than relying on common tropes of dystopia and personal blame, spectacle or statistics, the film embeds the crisis in an intimate human story of grief, courage, and connection. It is one of the first films to explore climate change through the lens of Muslim faith and female defiance, voicing an urgent appeal to reimagine how we live, adapt to our changing world. Co-funded through Climate Spring and Film London’s Hot House Shorts Competition 2023, the production was also one of the first to adopt the Green Rider Handshake Agreement, ensuring a low-carbon, sustainable shoot. A powerful reminder that the climate crisis is both personal and universal, There Will Come Soft Rains reframes climate cinema as a story of faith, defiance, and human connection. It arrives as a film for our burning moment, timely, defiant, and unforgettable. Ladies and gentlemen, There Will Come Soft Rains challenges how climate stories are told on screen. Rather than relying on common tropes of dystopia and personal blame, spectacle or statistics, the film embeds the crisis in an intimate human story of grief, courage, and connection. It is one of the first films to explore climate change through the lens of Muslim faith and female defiance, voicing an urgent appeal to reimagine how we live, adapt to our changing world. Starring Olivia D’Lima as Mira, the film tells the story of a British-Pakistani woman haunted by the threat of rising sea levels who digs up her father’s grave to move him to higher ground. That single act sets faith, family, and the climate crisis on a collision course, forcing her to face tradition, authority, and her longing for sisterhood. The moment this film started, I noticed the framing and cinematography, which instantly telling me that it’s a multi-layered story.  Elham is a master filmmaker and he brings his mastery back to the silver screen with THERE WILL COME SOFT RAINS. Think of famed directors like John Ford, Quentin Tarantino and you understand that Elham’s talent sits at the top of the world in storytelling and seeing something profound through the camera lens.  I’ve watched the journey this film as taken, and it is being talked about even more so than is award winning film YELLOW, which is still one of my favorite short films ever.  Climate Change is a polarizing topic, and there are millions who stand on the opposite sides of this issue. But Elham makes the topic more human than anyone I’ve seen cover this topic. It’s all about humanity and Elham puts a human face to it, but it gives it tremendous heart.  #climatechange #trending #global #earth #film #cinema #filmmaking #filmmaker #filmdirector #filmproduction #cinematography #cinematographer #filmscore #savetheplanet 

DAVID TELLES - FREYR Short Film My guest today is David Telles, a Chicano filmmaker from Oakland, California, began his career in documentary film and music videos, mediums that continue to inform his narrative work. He believes stories can serve as medicine, offering audiences new ways of seeing the world. With Freyr, David delivers a daring and emotionally charged debut that underscores the transformative power of storytelling. As an Oscar-qualified film, Freyr stands as both a celebration of artistic vision and a testament to the opportunities fostered by Indeed Rising Voices, now in its fifth season of amplifying bold, underrepresented voices in cinema. Ladies and gentlemen, the Oscar-qualifying short film Freyr, directed by David Telles and based on an original story by Pulitzer Prize finalist Tommy Orange, has premiered at the Academy-recognized HollyShorts Film Festival.  Produced as part of Indeed Rising Voices Season 5, the acclaimed initiative from Lena Waithe’s Hillman Grad Productions and Ventureland in partnership with Indeed, Freyr announces Telles as a bold new voice in contemporary cinema. A haunting and poetic story, Freyr follows Frank, born with a third hand growing out of his chest, and Tom, the only person who ever truly saw him. At Frank’s funeral, Tom recounts the unlikely bond they shared, revealing a meditation on otherness, belonging, and the human need for connection. Starring Benairen Kane (Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation of North Dakota; descendant of the Hochunk Nation of Wisconsin and Prairie Band Potawatomi), the film resonates as both tender and provocative, exploring how difference can fracture and bind us in equal measure. #film #cinema #filmmaking #filmmaker #filmdirector #disabilit #chicano #bondoncinema 

My guest today is Daniel Persitz, the writer/director of the inspiring Oscar-qualified short film Key of Genius, based on the extraordinary true story of a blind, autistic musical savant and the Queen of England's nephew, Derek Paravicini.  The film was also co-written by the Academy Award-winning screenwriter David Seidler (The King’s Speech), the short film explores themes of resilience, brilliance, and human connection. By dramatizing the unlikely but life-changing relationship between Derek and his teacher, the film sheds light on the power of inclusion and the boundless possibilities of neurodiverse individuals. The film’s growing acclaim positions it not only as a powerful cinematic work, but also as an important cultural story about the transformative impact of mentorship and the extraordinary brilliance that can emerge in unexpected ways. Ladies and gentlemen, the inspiring short film Key of Genius, based on the extraordinary true story of a blind, autistic musical savant and the Queen of England's nephew, Derek Paravicini, has officially entered the Oscar-qualifying circuit.  Key of Genius is adapted from In the Key of Genius, the acclaimed biography written by professor and piano teacher Adam Ockelford, which chronicles his life as Derek’s mentor. The film captures the remarkable journey of a young man who, though born blind and autistic, discovered an extraordinary gift for music. It also celebrates the transformative role of mentorship, as Ockelford recognized Derek’s genius and devoted his life to nurturing his talent. This short film is extraordinarily beautiful in so many ways. These are the types of films I live for. Human stories that help us to become better human beings.  KEY OF GENIUS encourages us to become mentors, to look past a disability or even social status and see the gifts, talents and abilities that live in of us and those around us.  The message of this film is simple. We may well hold the key to help someone unlock their genius. Let’s be that someone.  I am going to keep my eye on this film as it makes its run to the Oscars and I want to see this one Shortlisted.  #genius #savant #neurodivergenct #autism #blind #piano #film #cinema #filmmaking #filmmaker #queenofengland #filmdirector #musicteacher #musicschool #cinematography #bondoncinema 

My guest today is acclaimed filmmaker Simon Panay as he unveils The Boy with White Skin, an evocative and haunting short film that weaves a powerful narrative exploring the collision between ancient tradition and modernity deep within the gold mines of West Africa.  This OSCAR-qualified live action short offers a rare and intimate glimpse into a little-known world where myth, sacrifice, and hope are deeply intertwined. With breathtaking cinematography and haunting performances, The Boy with White Skin invites audiences on a mesmerizing journey thro Ladies and gentlemen, The Boy with White Skin follows the story of a young albino boy entrusted by his father to a group of miners. The boy’s voice becomes a sacred tool in a mystical ritual believed to protect those who risk everything beneath the earth’s surface in pursuit of gold. In these gold mines, where myth bleeds into reality, albino children are regarded as possessing otherworldly powers. Their haunting songs, echoing through the darkness, are thought to invoke protection, fortune, and ward off unseen dangers. Through unflinching realism and lyrical storytelling, the film sheds light on a culture often misunderstood, revealing the resilience and spirit of communities shaped by the relentless quest for wealth. The Boy with White Skin is the result of over a decade of research, observation, and artistic evolution. While inspired by a real ritual that Panay was not allowed to film, the story remains firmly rooted in firsthand experience and a deeply personal vision. #albino #senegal #westafrica #goldmining #goldmines #myth #tradition #filmmaking #filmmaker #filmdirector #filmproduction #cinema #film #cinematography #bondoncinema  

My guests today are writer/director Erik Jasaň and first AD, Patrik Krivanek and their Oscar-Qualified Short Film THE PROFESSONAL PARENT.  Erik is a Slovak director, screenwriter, and producer whose work addresses sensitive social issues. His debut The Professional Parent received an Honorable Mention at the 44th Thomas Edison Film Festival and was selected by multiple festivals. As a non-film-school student, he directed several short films and supported fellow filmmakers, creating student films under his direction that were included in official selections qualifying for the OSCARS.  Patrik Krivanek is a London- and Prague-based film and TV director, producer, and screenwriter. He explores diverse genres and creates visually and character-driven stories that are entertaining, socially relevant, and thought-provoking. Patrik is a member of BAFTA, BFI, ISA, and RTS. He has worked in assistant and executive roles on projects ranging from shorts to major features and high-end TV, collaborating with Academy Award, BAFTA, and Emmy winners including Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Gary Goetzman. Ladies and gentlemen, THE PROFESSIONAL PARENT is not only about professional care but also about moral choices within a system that offers few alternatives.  It is a story that reveals how society actually works, showing that people who think they are not racist often expose their prejudices in everyday life. The film also reflects on how inflation and poverty push families into situations where morality becomes a luxury. It is a sad and cruel reality, not only in Slovakia. The main character, Ingrid, at first appears to be a loving mother willing to cross moral boundaries—working in a grocery store during the day and prostituting herself at night to give her biological child a better life. Her intentions seem sincere, but gradually, as the story unfolds, her hidden racism comes to light, and Ingrid transforms into an anti-heroine. This is film is powerful and emotional. It shows us that in life, we have choices to make, both for ourselves and for others.  Those choices can test us and can reveal our true selves. THE PROFESSIONAL PARENT is lesson to all of us. We can all be better people, by simply treating those around us equally.  #slovakia #professionalparent #fostercare #fosterparents #film #cinema #filmmaking #filmmaker #filmproduction #filmdirector #cinematographer #cinematography #filmcomposer #parenting #bondoncinema  

My guest today is BAFTA-winning actor and producer Letitia Wright, making a powerful directing debut with her short film, Highway to the Moon. This emotional drama confronts the devastating impact of knives crime, aiming to raise crucial awareness about real-life issues. The conversation explores her inspiration, the film's message, and its significance in addressing societal challenges. #filmmaker #shortfilm #interview #movie #bondoncinema #film #filmmaking #cinematography #oscars #academyawards #youthv #youthvoices #treanding

My guest today is Jessica Rowlands, a two-time UCLA Screenwriting Award winner, spent much of her childhood between London and Zimbabwe, a place that remains a source of deep connection and inspiration.  Her newest short film RISE, is the culmination of her three-year collaboration with Zimbabwean artists and communities, a film with Zimbabwe in its very DNA - from the landscapes of Victoria Falls to the creative team who brought it to life. It is both a celebration of overlooked voices and a call to protect the youngest and most vulnerable among us, reminding us that a little belief in a little person can go a long way. With its celebration of found family, its insistence that no child be left unseen, and its message that belief and community can transform lives, RISE is more than a film -it is a call to courage, protection, and connection carried onto the world’s most prestigious stage. Ladies and gentlemen, RISE was written and directed by Jessica Rowlands and filmed entirely in Zimbabwe with an all-African cast and crew, RISE is inspired by the extraordinary true story of Tobias Mupfuti, a boxing coach who transformed his own difficult childhood into a lifelong mission: to see and uplift children often overlooked.  Through his academy and orphanage in Victoria Falls, Mupfuti has built a community where no child is unseen, creating a found family bound together by belief, support, and joy in the face of adversity. His close involvement in the filmmaking process brings authenticity and emotional truth to every frame. At the heart of the story is breakout child actor Sikhanyiso Ngwenya, discovered through street casting at just eight years old, whose performance radiates vulnerability, strength, and hope. His work earned him Zimbabwe’s National Arts Merit Award (NAMA) for Outstanding Actor, making him the youngest winner in the award’s history.  The moment this film was revealed to the world, the whispers of the Oscars had already began. A story of inspiration and encouragement to millions, if not billions of people from around the world. RISE shows us that one person can make a difference.  Everything about this film is fantastic, the story, the cinematography, the music score and sound mixing and yes, the award winning performances of both Sikhanyiso Ngwenya and Tongayi Chirisa bring this true story of boxing coach Tobias Mupfuti to life.  #zimbabwe #actors #filmmaking #filmmaker #filmdirector #boxing #inspiration #encouragement #facingfear #motivation #discipline #film #cinema #bondoncinema #oscars #academyawards   

My guest today is Scottish-Norwegian filmmaker Iain Forbes and his Oscar-qualified short film AFTER DARK.  The film was Oscar-qualified after winning Best International Short Film at the Foyle Film Festival in 2024, cementing Forbes’ reputation as one of Scandinavia’s most exciting emerging directors. Iain graduated from the Norwegian Film School, his short Revisited won a Student Academy Award in 2023. His latest film After Dark continues his run of acclaimed shorts, following Snowman and Semper Fi.  Iain also brings extensive experience as a first assistant director on Norwegian feature films including Disco, Knerten og Sjøormen, and Dancing Queen in Hollywood. The award-winning short film After Dark, confronts the unsettling questions that arise when empathy collides with fear, prejudice, and survival instinct. Ladies and gentlemen, the award-winning short film After Dark, confronts the unsettling questions that arise when empathy collides with fear, prejudice, and survival instinct. On his way home one night, Kristian encounters a young woman in desperate need of help. He agrees to accompany her to the train station, but as the night unfolds, he begins questioning both her story and himself. Through this tense and intimate encounter, After Dark explores the contradictions of human behavior, where compassion clashes with fear, and kindness is tested by preconceptions.  This film will get you thinking and actually shows us signs that we could be overlooking when someone reaches out to us for help. It all comes down to discernment and using wisdom. Even a good hearted person can be taken advantage of in these circumstances.  #stranger #film #cinema #shortfilm #filmmaker #filmmaking #trending #humanbehavior #filmdirector #oscars #academyawards #scotland #norway #preconceptions #prejudice #fear

Hannah Kathryn Kelso, a BAFTA and BIFA nominated writer from the small, rural community of Alloa in the east of Scotland. They graduated from NFTS in 2021, and their pilot script ‘The Velvet Teddies’ which was nominated for the All3Media New Drama Script Award. Kelso co-wrote the standout short film ‘Night of the Living Dread’ which received the nomination for BAFTA Best British Short Animation in 2022, and British Independent Film Awards Best Short in 2022, and there is interest in it as a feature. They were also shortlisted for BAFTAs prestigious Rocliffe TV comedy writing competition for their comedy pilot ‘Mooncats’ , and Kelso is a Warner Bros Creative Scholar and a Donald Dewar Arts Awardee. Kelso’s newest short, FIRST TIMER, is about a caregiver named Meghan and her first week on the job as a home carer. She's left alone to visit the elderly Bonnie who has a refreshing, yet challenging approach to her personal care. Ladies and gentlemen, Kelso’s newest short, FIRST TIMER, is about a caregiver named Meghan and her first week on the job as a home carer. She's left alone to visit the elderly Bonnie who has a refreshing, yet challenging approach to her personal care. This film is endearing on so many levels. It was such a joy to watch even though it ends on a bit of a sad note, we aren’t left with a feeling of sadness. We’re left with the feeling that we should all pay more attention to the older generation. Learn to interact with them, learn from them and even gain some wisdom from them.  Bonnie, even left Meghan with a few words of that wisdom, by saying, “You just keep going.” And many of you need to hear that, regardless of what happens in life, just keep going.  Kelso went bold by filming in 16mm, something I’m lucky enough to see once or twice a year. Real film adds a different feel to the story and in this case, it’s used to compliment the time period in which Bonnie has also lived. And she filmed life in full Technicolor.  The cinematography is bright, joyful and refreshing and complements the life of Bonnie, as well as again the words of wisdom she gave to Meghan. #caregiver #homecare #friendship #generational #film #cinema #scotland #bondoncinema #filmmaker #filmmaking #filmdirector #filmproduction #16mmfilm #16mm #kodak #cinephile 

Liz Rao - THE TRUCK Short Film My guest today is filmmaker Liz Rao and her debut Oscar-qualified live action short film “The Truck”. Academy Award®-winner Spike Lee and acclaimed actor-director Joan Chen have boarded the coming-of-age thriller as executive producers, lending high-profile support as the film entered post-production. Set against the simmering anxieties of post-Roe America, “The Truck” follows a Chinese American teenager and her boyfriend as they attempt to buy the morning-after pill in a small town where reproductive rights are contested and quietly policed. Liz Rao is a Brooklyn-based Screenwriter and Director. “The Truck” World-Premiered at Telluride, screened at MoMA, won the Grand Jury Prize at the Oscar-qualifying Florida Film Festival, won Best Screenplay at Flickers’ Rhode Island International Film Festival, screening in more than 50 festivals and counting, worldwide.  With Lee and Chen now championing her debut, “The Truck” is positioned as one of the year’s most anticipated indie breakouts, poised to ignite conversations around autonomy, identity, and the quiet horrors of coming of age in a country where choice is no longer a given. Ladies and gentlemen, Liz Rao’s THE TRUCK is tense, emotional and can be somewhat polarizing in a landscape that is constantly changing in America. Regardless, of what side of the aisle you are on in America, we are still dishing out judgement, even racism across our country.  The simple act of looking for the morning after pill can make some people feel they are wearing a scarlet letter and this topic isn’t going away anytime soon.  #morningafterpill #teenlove #americana #shortfilm #film #cinema #spikelee #filmmaker #filmmaking #filmdirector #filmproducer #oscars #academyawards 

Em & Selma Go Griffin Hunting is a Depression Era coming-of-age fable, set in an alternate 1930s where there exists a long-standing cultural paradigm that mothers take their adolescent daughters on a sacred rite-of-passage hunt to slay a mythical beast under maternal supervision.  From start of pre-production to the film’s premiere at Sundance 2025 (as one of just 21 US Narrative Shorts Films) was a painstaking four-plus year journey that enlisted a hand-picked team of international VFX artists whose collective filmographies span Marvel, Star Wars, Harry Potter, LOTR and Avatar universes.  These talented artists worked on weekends and after-hours to slowly bring a big vision to the screen on a very small indie-film budget, where the biggest currency was time and patience.   Ladies and gentlemen, Alex Thompson’s Oscar-qualifying short film EM & SELMA GO GRIFFIN HUNTING is a Depression Era coming-of-age fable, set in an alternate 1930s where there exists a long-standing cultural paradigm that mothers take their adolescent daughters on a sacred rite-of-passage hunt to slay a mythical beast under maternal supervision. On this hunt, daughter Em (Hereditary breakout & Tony-winner Milly Shapiro) doesn’t see eye-to-eye with mother Selma’s (Pollyanna McIntosh, AMC's Walking Dead) dogmatic adherence to darker aspects of this ritual, and tensions soon boil over. The team behind Em & Selma set out to craft a dark, poetic fairy tale with an underlying transgressive streak and arthouse filmmaking sensibilities to balance out its broader fantastic elements.  When I first saw this film, it blew me away because it was black and white, more of a noir-look which adds so much depth to the characters, the landscape, but also the story. The story is dark too.  The visual effects and cinematography are stunning and they should be when you have visual effects artist who have worked on Superman, The Marvels and even Avatar.  The story itself as I said is dark. The interactions between Em and Selma tell a much deeper story and one I was not expecting. It’s like watching three short films in one. You have the Griffin creature and the tiny flying ones, you a mother taking her daughter on a hunt as a right of passage, but Selma’s backstory starts to come into view in a very dark metaphorical way. Everything about this film was brilliant. Add actresses Pollyanna McIntosh from The Walking Dead and new actress Milly Shapiro, and you have a stunning film.  I could go on and on about this film and only one of two absolute original short films this year that dared to go all out with the storytelling and cinematography.  Took four years to make this film and it was worth the wait.  #fairytale #blackandwhitefilm #filmmaker #filmmaking #filmdirector #filmproducer #cinema #cinematography #vfx #thewalkingdead #animation #drama #oscars #academyawards