On 1 November 2017, Hayley Squires, who won the British Independent Film Awards (BIFA) Best Newcomer in 2016, joined Maisie Williams of Game of Thrones to reveal the nominees for the 2017 British Independent Film Awards. The ceremony was scheduled for 10 December 2017 and was set to be hosted by writer and producer Mark … Read more
Intimacy, Estrangement, and the Crow: Chloé Robichaud on her Film, TWO WOMEN A Still from TWO WOMEN | Courtesy of CUFF The opening shot of Two Women settles on drifting snow, instantly placing the film in a recognizable Quebec winter. Inside their homes, women watch the world through windows and from behind doors — contained, … Read more
Thor: Ragnarok (2017) Director: Taika Waititi Screenwriter: Craig Kyle, Eric Pearson, Christopher L. Yost Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Cate Blanchett, Idris Elba, Jeff Goldblum, Tessa Thompson, Karl Urban, Mark Ruffalo, Anthony Hopkins, Taika Waititi When Taika Waititi, the New Zealand director behind What We Do in the Shadows (2014) and Hunt for the Wilderpeople … Read more
EBONY AND IVORY Intentionally Disrupts the “Biopic” Formula | Interview with Jim Hosking Still from EBONY AND IVORY | Courtesy of CUFF Ahead of the Canadian premiere of Ebony and Ivory at the Calgary Underground Film Festival on April 19, I spoke with director Jim Hosking over Zoom. Hosking returns to CUFF after opening the … Read more
John Carpenter’s Halloween (1978) is often credited with helping to define the modern slasher film. Its success led directly to sequels and imitators, and to the idea of a recurring Halloween-themed franchise. Rather than continuing the Michael Myers storyline indefinitely, Carpenter originally envisioned Halloween as an anthology series: each year a different frightening tale released … Read more
The Snowman (2017) Director: Tomas Alfredson Screenwriter: Hossein Amini, Peter Straughan, Søren Sveistrup Starring: Michael Fassbender, Rebecca Ferguson, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Jonas Karlsson, J.K. Simmons, Val Kilmer, Toby Jones What went wrong? That question nags after watching The Snowman. A film directed by Tomas Alfredson — the filmmaker behind acclaimed titles such as Tinker Tailor … Read more
Comedy, Grief, and the Crypto Sink: Talking $POSITIONS with Director Brandon Daley CUFF 2025 Spotlight – Interview with Director Brandon Daley $POSITIONS FILM POSTER $POSITIONS screens on April 18th at CUFF 2025 (Calgary Underground Film Festival). Director Brandon Daley will be attending the screening. I spoke with him over Zoom before the festival, and from … Read more
Evil Dead (1981) Director: Sam Raimi Screenwriter: Sam Raimi Cast: Bruce Campbell, Ellen Sandweiss, Richard DeManicor, Betsy Baker, Theresa Tilly Evil Dead remains one of the most influential independent horror films of its era. Dismissed by some as just another cabin-in-the-woods tale, it in fact revitalizes the trope through relentless imagination, raw energy and inventive … Read more
At the Table of Bubbles: Pete Ohs and the Cast of The True Beauty of Being Bitten by a Tick The True Beauty of Being Bitten By a Tick Still with Chloe Zhao | Courtesy of Exile PR Premiering at SXSW 2025, The True Beauty of Being Bitten by a Tick resists simple labels. At … Read more
Something Wicked This Way Comes… Not every Halloween movie needs to be a blood-and-gore fright fest. Some films capture the season’s magic, whimsy, and spooky atmosphere without relying on jump scares or brutal violence. This curated list highlights seven of the best Halloween-themed films that appeal to viewers who enjoy mood, charm, and supernatural elements—without … Read more