We have been very quiet on the blog front for quite a long time.

We have been immensely busy with our various screenings, and somehow writing goes out the window when time is tight.

Nevertheless, our screenings have been going immensely well, we are developing a very nice, interactive, audience of keen filmmakers, actors, writers, directors, and of course the audience.

This week we held a fabulous screening of the French award winner A PROPHET. Sometimes hype can lead to disappointment, but A PROPHET does not go down this road. It is an immensely absorbing film. How can one enjoy spending 2 and a half hours in a prison, and actually want to spend some more.  But I did - I didn’t want the film to end.

This can only be attributed to a sophisticated script with razor sharp dialogue, and Jacques Audiard’s canny choice of actors. Tahar Rahim is tipped as one of the great actors. It is early days but he nevertheless rises to the challenge in this film - he carries it. I will be immensely interested to see the next film he is in.

A PROPHET was introduced by Cinemoi director, Julian Plante, who gave an excellent speech putting the film in the context of issues faced by Arabs in France. It is refreshing to have this casually intellectual approach to film, which can be so lacking in British film. We are so scared to be political. The French are not. British filmmakers can certainly learn alot from the French.

We also showed short film LORRAINE by emerging talent Julius Amedume. Julius film “A GOAT’S TAIL” was actually one of the first films we ever showcased so it was nice to meet up again. LORRAINE is a well produced film, albeit, disturbingly violent. A slightly elderly lady in the audience voiced her disdain. Yet, I am sure the audience could not deny its visual presence.

The following night we showed the fabulous Nick Love film, THE FIRM……