Life Is A Film Fest

Haitian American writer-director Elisee Junior St Preux’s debut feature The Tropic Sun and His Eyes, both thematically and visually, brings Barry Jenkins’ Moonlight to mind.  It depicts the literal and spiritual journey of Ruben, an expat, as he travels to Haiti to visit his ailing father. It also serves as a coming-of-age story both for […]

Erika Burke Rossa‘s Rain Reign is the moving tale of a 12-year-old neurodivergent girl, who loves homonyms, prime numbers, and her dog Rain. When Rain goes missing after a hurricane, Rose is determined to find her with the help of her uncle.  Felice Kakaletris gives a compelling performance as Rose, illustrating the many hurdles she […]

2026 Tribeca Festival kicks off with Questlove’s Opening Night film Earth Wind & Fire (To Be Celestial vs. That’s the Weight of the World). The lineup includes: THE LAST DAY, Rachel Rose, Alicia Vikander, Wagner MouraTHE ACCOMPANIST, Zach Woods, Aubrey Plaza, Susan SarandonONLY WHAT WE CARRY, Jamie Adams, Sofia Boutella, Simon Pegg, Quentin TarantinoTHE REVISIONIST, […]

Costa Rican writer-director Valentina Maurel crafts an absorbing dysfunctional family drama centered on three women in her sophomore feature Forever Your Maternal Animal. Elsa returns to San José after years of studying in Belgium, only to discover that her sister Amalia has grown increasingly withdrawn. Her mother Isabel and father Nahuel are too wrapped up […]

Admirers of Apichatpong Weerasethakul should keep an eye out for the Thai film 9 Temples to Heaven by Sompot Chidgasornpongse, who worked as assistant director on many of his films. It is a gorgeous piece of slow cinema that takes a contemplative look at family, Buddhism, and mortality. The director openly embraces the influence of […]

Che Guevara: The Last Companions chronicles the fascinating journey of the six loyal guerrilla fighters fleeing Bolivia after Che’s capture and death while being pursued by 4,000 soldiers. It is the culmination of 20 years of work by director Christophe Réveille, who weaves together archival footage, animation, and interviews with both the surviving guerrillas and […]

It is no surprise that Greek director Konstantina Kotzamani’s Japanese film Titanic Ocean was selected for Cannes. It has striking visuals and production design. The performances are all commendable. Above all else, it is an original work that does not immediately bring other films to mind. The fact that it uses the song I Follow […]

Yemeni-Scottish director Sara Ishaq showcases the resilience of women, grappling with the seemingly endless civil war happening in her home country, in the riveting drama THE STATION. She incorporates fictional elements to separate the story from political context and make it more universal. Yemen, a once-thriving country, has been ravaged by war. Boys have to […]

Lila Pinell’s SHANA takes the viewer on a tragicomic ride alongside its heroine as she struggles to fit in and navigates an abusive relationship. The grainy 16mm photography and her hustling through the streets of Paris, racing against time to come up with the money she owes, are sure to bring the Safdies to mind. […]