Q&A: Carla Simón’s ‘Summer 1993’ is a Touching Cinematic Memoir

Following the death of her parents in Barcelona, six-year-old Frida (the haunting Laia Artigas) is sent to her uncle’s (David Verdaguer) picturesque countryside home, in Carla Simon’s autobiographical feature debut SUMMER 1993. Frida battles with a sense of loneliness and displacement while also yearning to fit into the picture with her new family. Punctuated by […]

Q&A: Jason Kohn’s ‘Love Means Zero’ is Shakespearean Tennis Tale

With his notorious no-nonsense approach to coaching, Nick Bollettieri is regarded as a controversial figure in the world of tennis—but also, crucially, as a mentor with the know-how to push players to greatness in LOVE MEANS ZERO. Director Jason Kohn balances the pointed questions to his subject, who remains intransigent throughout, with interviews with many […]

Q&A: Atsuko Hirayanagi’s ‘Oh Lucy!’ Finds Newfound Confidence

In this offbeat tale, OH LUCY! follows Setsuko Kawashima (Shinobu Terajima)—a lonely, chain-smoking introvert who is wasting away at her office job in Tokyo. Setsuko’s world is turned upside down when she meets a charismatic English teacher, John (Josh Hartnett), who draws her out of her shell with the help of a blond wig and the […]

Q&A: Jennifer Peedom Paints a Pastoral Picture in ‘Mountain’

Narrated by Willem Dafoe, MOUNTAIN takes the viewer on a sweeping journey to the most awe-inspiring summits on earth. A collaboration between BAFTA-nominated director Jennifer Peedom and Richard Tognetti’s Australian Chamber Orchestra, the film glorifies our species’ pursuit of peril: from ice climbers, snowboarders, and wing-suiters, the thrill-seekers’ daredevil antics will leave audiences gasping for breath. […]

Q&A: Kaveh Mazaheri’s ‘Retouch’ is Hauntingly Thoughtful

In RETOUCH, when her husband suffers a serious accident, Maryam makes a fateful choice. Directed by Kaveh Mazaheri. Screening in the I’ll Be On My Way shorts program at HIFF25. What an amazing yet shocking film you’ve made! Please describe RETOUCH in your own words. Kaveh Mazaheri: Thank you so much. RETOUCH is a minimal and somehow complex […]