Festivals
- Afghanistan, Africa, Cate Blanchett, Culture, Drama films, Europe, Festivals, Film, Iran, Middle East and North Africa, Migration, Rotterdam film festival, Short films, Somalia, South and Central Asia, Syria, Ukraine, World news
Displacement Film Fund review – Cate Blanchett masterminds short film collection that brims with life and intensity
Rotterdam film festivalA set of shorts by film-makers from Afghanistan, Iran, Ukraine, Syria and Somalia are s…
-
Water blessings and celestial offerings: Thailand’s Loy Krathong and Yi Peng festivals – in pictures
Millions of Thai take part in ancient annual festivities on 5 November that are held on the full moon of the 1…
- Biology, Cannes film festival, Coronavirus, Culture, Drama films, Festivals, Film, India, Infectious diseases, Martin Scorsese, Medical research, Microbiology, Science, South and Central Asia, World news
Homebound review – emotionally rich study of friends in rural India trying to get home in the pandemic
Neeraj Ghaywan’s film benefits from excellent lead performances, strong cinematography and an apparent mentors…
-
‘There has been an awakening’: ancient sects on the rise in Modi’s India
Some 400 million devotees will attend this year’s Kumbh Mela festival. Pilgrims and politicians explain why it…
- Bollywood, Business, Comedy, Comedy films, Culture, Drama films, Festivals, Film, Film industry, India, South and Central Asia, Superhero movies, World news
Superboys of Malegaon review – boisterous heartwarmer about movie-loving underdogs
Inspired by a true story, this feelgood Indian film is about some Bollywood superfans making their own movies …
- Cannes film festival, Culture, Drama films, Festivals, Film, India, Mumbai, South and Central Asia, World cinema, World news
All We Imagine As Light review – dreamlike and gentle modern Mumbai tale is a triumph
Cannes film festivalPayal Kapadia’s glorious Cannes competition selection is an absorbing story of three nurse…
- Afghanistan, Culture, Documentary films, Festivals, Film, South and Central Asia, Taliban, Venice film festival, World news
Hollywoodgate review – a fascinating insight into the Taliban’s insular world
It’s no surprise that Ibrahim Nash’at’s documentary lacks in-depth interviews – his subjects barely tolerate h…
-
Malaysia’s gay community fears backlash after Matty Healy’s outburst
The 1975 singer’s onstage condemnation of homophobic laws has angered conservatives and left some LGBTQ+ peopl…
- Asia Pacific, Culture, Festivals, LGBTQ+ rights, Malaysia, Music, Music festivals, The 1975, World news
Malaysia bans The 1975 after Matty Healy defies anti-LGBTQ+ laws with stage kiss
Singer’s protest kiss with bandmate and criticism of anti-homosexuality law leads to ban and festival cancella…
- Cannes 2022, Cannes film festival, Culture, Drama films, Festivals, Film, Pakistan, Romance films, Society, South and Central Asia, Transgender, World cinema, World news
Joyland review – subtle trans drama from Pakistan is remarkable debut
Saim Sadiq’s film explores the unsettled social and sexual identities of a widower and his children with delic…
-
Three children among six killed during Indian kite-flying festival
Victims reportedly bled to death when glass-coated strings were entangled around their necksSix people, includ…
-
Japan celebrates Coming of Age Day – in pictures
Japan’s Coming of Age Day (Seijin-shiki) is a national holiday held in January to recognise young people who h…
- Animals, Birds, Cannes 2022, Cannes film festival, Conservation, Culture, Delhi, Documentary films, Environment, Festivals, Film, India, South and Central Asia, Wildlife, World news
‘A gaping wound’: how a film about birds of prey is a warning to India’s capital city
Meditative documentary All That Breathes is about two brothers’ devotion to protecting black kites against a b…
-
Holi: a festival of colours – in pictures
The Hindu festival of Holi is under way in India. The celebration heralds the arrival of spring Continue readi…
- Classical music, Culture, Drama films, Festivals, Film, India, Music, South and Central Asia, Venice film festival, World cinema, World news
The Disciple review – Indian classical musician sings a lonely tune
Years of adherence to stringent rules leave a performer at odds with modern society in this melancholy film fr…