Danvers‘s Hometown News Site

Jeffrey Cohen’s THE BALLAD OF ISABEL WINSLOW doesn’t waste a second of its 15-minute runtime. This sharply dressed short manages to weave satire, social critique, romance, and high-stakes trickery into one delightfully witty package. Though compact in runtime, it feels complete—an entire world distilled into a single con. The world needs more period comedy; there’s something magical about dropping untamed humor into a timeframe that feels like it wasn’t meant for laughs.

IND, TALK TO ME is a film that will forever resonate with you. It blends personal storytelling with a lens that transforms real-life experiences into something visually exhilarating. This isn’t just a story about grief or self-discovery—it’s a film that captures raw emotion, turning personal pain into an artistic endeavor.

PERLA, set in 1980s Vienna, presents a captivating tale that intertwines personal ambition with political tension. The story follows Perla (Rebeka Poláková,) a Slovak painter who has sought refuge in Austria, leaving behind the constraints of communist Czechoslovakia. Her life takes an unexpected turn when Andrej (Noel Czuczor,) the estranged father of her daughter Julia (Carmen Diego,) reappears, claiming to be ill. This encounter propels Perla into a journey that challenges her newfound freedom and forces her to confront unresolved issues from her past.

Gabriele D'Annunzio's chaotic and theatrical occupation of Fiume in 1919 is one of history’s strangest political episodes. Igor Bezinović’s FIUME O MORTE! The film brings this story to life in an engaging and unexpectedly lively way. Far from a conventional historical retelling, it blends drama, humor, and reflection, transforming the past into a commentary on how performance and propaganda shape politics, both then and now.

Every so often, a film refuses to stay confined to its narrative and challenges viewers to confront more profound questions about human relationships and the boundaries society imposes on them. This story of a woman’s carefully controlled life unraveling after her estranged brother re-enters her world is just that experience. Set within a remote religious community, it’s a visually striking and emotionally raw exploration of how the past, personal and collective, shapes the present.

WONDROUS IS THE SILENCE OF MY MASTER strikes an immediate chord with its balance of elegance and depth, creating a journey that feels as introspective as it does expansive. Set against the backdrop of 19th-century Montenegro, this film is more than a historical retelling—it’s a contemplative look at identity, displacement, and the struggles of maintaining a connection to home in a world that demands change. From the very start, it’s clear that this is a project driven by deliberate craftsmanship, with every element designed to immerse the viewer in its reflective narrative.

Mackenzie Donaldson delivers a narrative steeped in the stark realities of a world that continues to challenge you in every way possible. She threads a suspenseful tale that places us on the brink of a civil war in North America. ALL THE LOST ONES combines personal struggles with the broader societal breakdown, creating a reflective and unsettling cinematic experience.

At its heart, ALTONA is a compelling documentary that brings a unique perspective to the true crime genre. Directed by the Affolter brothers (Heath, Thomas, Nathan, and Jon,) this film delves into a chilling incident that forever changed the fabric of a small Canadian community. Through a blend of animation and raw, unfiltered eyewitness accounts, the film recounts the tragic events of one fateful evening and invites viewers to reflect on the emotional aftermath. The documentary's narrative is anchored in the personal journey of Tyler Pelke, whose story of resilience and recovery intertwines with a broader examination of a community's quest for healing and forgiveness.

In the world of horror-comedy, SCARED SHITLESS carves out a niche with its ingenious blend of suspense and laughter, framed around a seemingly mundane day of plumbing that spirals into a surreal confrontation with a nightmare. The film revolves around Don (Steven Ogg) and his son Sonny (Daniel Doheny), plumbers thrust into an extraordinary situation beneath the bowels of an apartment complex where not just the pipes but also monstrous creations block their path.

What do you do when the final curtain threatens to fall? AND NOW I LAY ME DOWN captures the poignant twilight of Celia Dalvi's (Jane Kaczmarek) celebrated yet waning career in Hollywood. In a tale that twists the typical script, Celia orchestrates what she imagines to be her last perfect day, only to encounter the unpredictability that life off-camera invariably brings.

In Christian Loubek’s study on compassion and empathy, we follow the contemplative journey of Lennox Malcolm Lewis, portrayed by Mykee Selkin (and Baer Hamilton Loubek and Blake McLennan), whose life unravels through a series of poignant flashbacks initiated by a childhood letter he discovers amidst moving boxes. This narrative, intended to bridge past and present, challenges the traditional formatting of a film, which might leave some viewers longing for clearer signposts along the timeline. As the story unfolds, it dives deep into Lennox’s upbringing by his mother (Erika Hamilton,) exploring the demanding balance she maintains between nurturing her son’s life through homeschooling and managing her career.

Writer/Director Felipe Marinheiro brings us a film that dives into the turbulent seas of romance and the mystical unknown, challenging our perceptions of what is real and merely a product of magical intervention. Luna played with intense emotion by Madison Vice, leads us through a story that stirs the soul and provokes deep reflection on the authenticity of love reignited by supernatural forces. As Luna treads a fragile line between yearning and reality, her emotional journey raises critical questions about the genuineness of love manipulated by unseen hands.

The documentary INAY, directed by Thea Loo, dives into the complex and emotionally charged topic of immigration, spotlighting the Filipino-Canadian community. It combines personal stories with broader social issues, exploring the profound effects of immigration laws that have long separated families across continents. The narrative weaves through the landscapes of Canada, from Ottawa to Vancouver, capturing the essence of the Filipino-Canadian experience in its true colors.