TEAFF 22: The very good, the good and the not so good At international film festivals, as, I guess, in released films that I watch as a critic, I have found that one yard-stick has remained constant. Of films I see, the really remarkable ones lie in the range of 10-20%. The rest are either just about watchable or prompting a walk-out after about 20 minutes of endurance. So, a good festival, for me, is one in which I end up watching 20% + very good films, an average festival gives me only 11-2...

The Spanish Film Academy announced this Tuesday the nominees for the 40th edition of the Goya Awards, which will be presented on February 28 in Barcelona. Actress Toni Acosta and actor and producer Arturo Valls were responsible for unveiling the contenders in the 28 categories from the headquarters of the Spanish Film Academy, at an event overseen by notary Eva Fernández Medina. With 13 nominations, Los Domingos is the most nominated film, followed by Sirât, with 11 chances to ta...

    You have been a prolific producer for decades when many find it such a difficult feat to produce a film today. What is your secret recipe?   ALES: My path of becoming producer was a little bit longer than expected, since I was coming from post-socialist country and the profession of producer as we know now was starting to develop in the mid 90-ies. Before becoming a producer I was professionally active for a few years in theatrical distribution (working...

Happy Patel, Khatarnak Jasoos, Review: Unhap pee Lapet, CutterNak JustSnooze Cut to the chase. No, begin with the chase! 1991. Two British secret agents in speeding cars being given a hot chase in Panjor, Goa by another car. Bullets fly, but the chasers are not able to stop the fleeing MI7 agents. Left rear seat window glass rolls down. Out emerge the Don’s head, and his two hands, carrying a deadly double-barrel rifle, asking the British to die for their deeds. Applause, for the Don is...

  The Spanish Film Academy announced this Tuesday the nominees for the 40th edition of the Goya Awards, which will be presented on February 28 in Barcelona. Actress Toni Acosta and actor and producer Arturo Valls were responsible for unveiling the contenders in the 28 categories from the headquarters of the Spanish Film Academy, at an event overseen by notary Eva Fernández Medina. With 13 nominations, Los Domingos is the most nominated film, followed by Sirât, with 11 chanc...

  The Spanish Association of Film Journalists (AICE) has awarded the 2026 Feroz Honorary Award to Madrid-born actress Marta Fernández-Muro, who will receive the statuette at the thirteenth edition of the awards ceremony on Saturday, January 24, in Pontevedra. A scene-stealing performer and an essential face of Spanish cinema in the 1980s, AICE has bestowed its honorary award on an actress whose depth of work goes far beyond the comic roles that brought her widespread popularity. ...

The 2026 Feroz Awards, to be held on Saturday, January 24 at the Pazo da Cultura in Pontevedra, announced the nominations for their thirteenth edition, revealed by Milena Smit and Manu Ríos. The event was also attended by the city’s mayor, Miguel Anxo Fernández Lores, and the president of the Spanish Association of Film Journalists (AICE), María Guerra, who announced that the ceremony will be broadcast live on La 2 and RTVE Play. The ceremony will be hosted by Petra...

Third Eye Asian Film Festival accepts my proposal, institutes best debut director award In a rare occurrence, the organisers of the Third Eye Asian Film Festival (TEAFF), currently being held in Mumbai and Thane, accepted the proposal I put forth at their press conference on 22nd December, at the iconic Rajkamal Kalamandir complex, that, since there were several directors whose debut-making films were to be screened at the TEAFF, they should consider instituting an award for the Best Debut Di...

We are pleased to announce that we will be covering the 41st annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF) set to take place from February 4 through February 14, 2026. SBIFF is a 501(c)(3) non-profit arts and educational organization dedicated to discovering and showcasing the best in independent and international cinema. Recently, the festival celebrated its 40th year with multiple sold out events and screenings throughout the fest. SBIFF has become one of the leading film fe...

During the 2025 Bahamas International Film Festival (BIFF), I sat with award-winning Turkish writer producer Hakan Unal at the King's Surf Shack on Harbour Island. We spoke about his short films that have been awarded at multiple international film festivals around the world and his recent acceptance to the 2026 Sundance Film Festival.  BIFF is a boutique film festival of the highest standard, where film talent from all over the world gathers in ...