Brighton Rocks

The 48 Hour Film Project, the world’s largest filmmaking event where camera, production, editing and creative skills are tested to the maximum as participants sign themselves up to make a movie in a weekend. Brighton based Rachel Pearson and Anton Armour-Gautier decided to plunge themselves into the veritable deep end as part of the localContinue reading “Interview with Rachel Pearson & Anton Armour-Gautier from ‘Looking Back’”

Back in September 2017 the UK media was engrossed by the tantalising story of a young woman who got trapped after throwing her turd out the window. Not to be outdone by us Brits, American filmmaker Eric Larson decided to explore this very topic in his aptly named comedy-horror ‘The Clogging’. Prepare yourself for aContinue reading “In Review ‘The Clogging’ by Eric Larson”

Those hazy memories of youth, some good, some bad and others in that indecipherable grey area, are deftly brought to light in Phoebe Wood’s searingly painful short ‘My First Time was in a Car Park’. Her Brighton-made short film, based on an award-winning theatre piece, is a heartbreakingly reflective look at one of the mostContinue reading “In Review ‘My First Time was in a Car Park’ by Phoebe Wood”

The pain and heartbreak of a final goodbye is devotedly brought to the screen in the short film ‘One More’, directed by London-based filmmaker and Met Film alumna J Taylor Brookes. One more opportunity to create a cherished memory with a loved one, one more chance to be together and revel in each other’s company,Continue reading “Interview with J Taylor Brookes, Director of ‘One More’”

Adam Bellamy‘s ‘Vulnerable’ is poignantly powerful short film drawn from personal experiences the filmmaker went through as a child. His directorial debut served as a form of catharsis for the actor and director as he worked with a trusted and creative team to bring the film to life. Set in the tranquility of a typicalContinue reading “Interview with Adam Bellamy, Writer, Director & Producer of ‘Vulnerable’”

Grief and loss are huge, unfathomable topics which need to be treated with the tenderness and care they deserve when brought to the screen. ‘Gone But Not Forgotten’ by Jack Peter Mundy does exactly that. Considering the tale it depicts, that of a teenager, James, struggling to cope with the disappearance of his older brotherContinue reading “In Review – ‘Gone But Not Forgotten’ by Jack Peter Mundy”

‘175’, by Iranian-British filmmaker Kasra Karimi, opens with an all too recognisable and distressing scene – a heartbroken woman who can only watch as her partner is ravaged by the cruelty of cancer. The tone is immediately set and the audience instantly drawn into the intimate world built by Karimi. The filmmaker’s affecting short film,Continue reading “In Review ‘175’ by Kasra Karimi”

A woman goes home after the death of her mother. As she weaves her way through the empty house, memories bubble to the surface at every touch. ‘Dustlight’, by Chryssanthi Kouri, is a quiet, largely dialogue-free piece exploring the lingering effects of grief and the momentous struggle we all face as adults. It demands youContinue reading “Interview with Chryssanthi Kouri Director, Writer & Producer of ‘Dustlight’”

‘Pasture & Storm’ by Chris Frazer Smith documents the incredible coming together of musicians, led by composer Sadie Harrison, culminating in a final triumphant live concert. “Armed with only the project timeline and overview of the compositions from composer Sadie Harrison I embarked on the simple path of documenting Pasture & Storm whenever the individualsContinue reading “Video Interview with Chris Frazer Smith, Writer, Director & Producer of ‘Pasture & Storm’”

Agency, consent and female rights are understandably delicate and challenging themes to broach cinematically and can be done very poorly. This is absolutely not the case with the excellent and nuanced short film ‘Portrait’ by filmmaker Grace Louey. Set in a South London school, where these exact situations occur with terrifying frequency, a young girlContinue reading “Interview with Grace Louey, Director of ‘Portrait’”

Like it or not, society is bound by norms of conduct that act as a guidance for acceptable behaviour. But what happens when the rules and restrictions which are supposed to put order in our lives actually do the opposite and cause mayhem? Writer and director Stelios Kouk, upon hearing an absurd story about theContinue reading “Interview with Stelios Kouk, Writer & Director of ‘Smoking in Public’”

‘Soulmate’, written and directed by Richard Fenwick offers us a tantalising glimpse into a not-so-distant future where technology has advanced to the, frankly terrifying, point of AI developing consciousness. ‘Soulmate’ is based within a familiar category existing alongside genre-arthouse classics such as ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’ and ‘Ex Machina‘ which delve into the menacing threatContinue reading “In Review ‘Soulmate’ by Richard Fenwick”

‘Pasture and Storm’ is a musical project conceived by composer and musician Sadie Harrison, celebrating the unique talents and musical abilities of left-hand-only pianists. Filmmaker Chris Frazer Smith’s documentary of the same name takes us on a cadenced journey through the power of music, diversity and inclusion – pillars of Sadie’s work. Chris, already anContinue reading “Interview with Chris Frazer Smith, Writer, Director & Producer of ‘Pasture & Storm’”

Stories about motherhood have been a staple of cinema since its origins and vary from pithy little comedies to demonising horrors. British-Moroccan writer and filmmaker Elias Suhail has taken his own lived experience of the struggles mothers face as the origins for his stunningly poignant short film ‘Beneath a Mother’s Feet’, which we are thrilledContinue reading “Interview with Elias Suhail, Writer & Director of ‘Beneath a Mother’s Feet’”

One of the pillar stones of Brighton Rocks International Film Festival is our support of the undersung hero, and who represents that more than female filmmakers..? Whether you are behind or in front of the camera, an all-female cast and crew, or telling a female-led story, we want to see your films. While there hasContinue reading “New Programme for Brighton Rocks Introducing ‘Women Rock’”

‘The Lies We Tell Ourselves’ is a delightful meta mockumentary spiked with tragedy, comedy, satire and self-reflection. Written and directed by Finnish-Australian filmmaker Saara Lamberg, she accurately and sometimes heartbreakingly analyse the pitfalls and injustices of the industry whilst reflecting on her own body of work and self as a filmmaker and person in theContinue reading “In Review ‘The Lies We Tell Ourselves’ by Saara Lamberg”

‘Hello’ by filmmaker Mac Montero is a salacious, filthy joy of a short comedy. Set in London in the 90’s a businesswoman calls her boyfriend during her lunch break for phone sex. What follows is a beautifully scripted and provocative conversation which doesn’t quite go to plan. All set within the confines of an iconicContinue reading “Interview with Mac Montero Writer & Director of ‘Hello?’”

‘Don’t Choke’ by Sonny Baez takes no time in setting the tone as it takes you on a fast-paced, frenetic and surreal ride as we follow a highly competitive game of tennis between two warring parents in the middle of a divorce. But this is no normal game – the winning prize is custody ofContinue reading “In Review ‘Don’t Choke’ by Sonny Baez”

‘Skewered’ is an off-beat dark comedy with lashes of horror and a dash of musical numbers. A Lamplight Production directed by Nick Ray Rutter and co-written with Ben Richardson and brother Noah Rutter, it is an unexpected tale of shame, infidelity and a couple’s doomed relationship, enveloped within a juicy, meat-filled wrap – the gloriousContinue reading “In Review ‘Skewered’ by Nick Ray Rutter”

‘Passing Through‘ by David Walter Hall is a tense, revelatory family drama set in the soporific languor of the South of France. Rife with family estrangement, battles amongst couples and personal secrets it is a highly commendable first feature film by David. As the film continues it festival circuit, Brighton Rocks is thrilled to beContinue reading “Interview With David Walter Hall Writer, Director & Producer of ‘Passing Through’”