Official Trailer for 'The Eyes of Ghana' Doc on Filmmaker Chris Hesse

"What was so dangerous about those films that they had to be destroyed?" The United States of Africa? Higher Ground & Breakwater Studios & IShowSpeed debuted the trailer for a documentary film titled The Eyes of Ghana, made by Bend Proudfoot. This premiered at TIFF last year and is getting a small theatrical release this fall before it's streaming. Ghanaian filmmaker Chris Hesse served as the personal cameraman to the first president of Ghana, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. In 1966, at the onset of a CIA-backed coup, Nkrumah was removed from power, and the footage that Hesse had spent a decade capturing was burned. All was lost. Or so they thought... For decades, Chris Hesse has preserved over 1,000+ reels of Ghana's liberation story — marking it as the single largest existing archive detailing Ghana's liberation story. Yet unseen by the public, these films may not only rewrite Ghanaian and African history — but world history itself. TIFF adds: "The director, Ben Proudfoot, has a gift for honouring overlooked figures and two of his short films where he does so have won Oscars. He met Hesse by happenstance and the two immediately recognized kindred spirits in one another. The coming together of all these talents is a cause for celebration." Oh — this looks absolutely tremendous! A remarkable time capsule of a revolution that almost happened in Africa in the 60s. Must see. // Continue Reading ›

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WIFF Review: Hans Petter Moland's 'Growth of the Soil' Set in Norway

"We can do it." "We did it." Another film flying under the radar at fall film festivals this year is a Norwegian naturalistic film titled Growth of the Soil, based on the book of the same name by acclaimed Norwegian director Hans Petter Moland (of The Beautiful Country, When Bubbles Burst, In Order of Disappearance, Out Stealing Horses). It first premiered at TIFF and I caught up with it at the 2026 Warsaw Film Festival. It's one of many new films that I've seen recently about women being given a chance to find their freedom & agency in a patriarchal world. Moland's movie seems to be Norway's version of Godland (about surviving in harsh nature) + Train Dreams (about a simple man witnessing the changes of society during the 20th century), with a dash of A Different Man thrown in during the second half as well. Pretty good overall. Utterly gorgeous to look at, every single frame. One of these films where I think how did they shoot this?! I am in awe. Did they build that little house from scratch? Did they walk up a mountain every day to film it? How did they make it all so authentic with all the old clothes and tools and untouched land? Ultimately, I think I admire this film and what it's showing us, however I still enjoyed following this story of Isak & Inger. // Continue Reading ›

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Watch: Adorable Animated Short 'Matcha Mountain' Made at Gobelins

I would love to live on Matcha Mountain, too! Look at this beautiful place. Plus endless match lattes? Yes please. The latest must see animated short film coming out of the prestigious animation school Gobelins in Paris is this one titled Matcha Mountain. (We also recently posted Direction les Champs as well.) Made by a collection of six students at the school as their graduation project, this one features a very soft, lovely, colorful 2D style. Here's the official intro: Granny lives alone on Matcha Mountain. She rescues an injured balloon dog, addicted to matcha desserts by chance. (Of course–just like me, too!) Something begins to stir, and danger slowly creeps toward their fragile happiness... This is a dialogue free animated short that runs only 6 minutes and it's entirely worth a watch. It also reminds me of the charming Miyazaki short last year, which was also made by the same Zijin Chen from this short. Support the talented filmmakers & view below. // Continue Reading ›

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Exclusive: Trailer for 'Loves Company' Indie Comedy with Rachel Dratch

"You are a bad houseguest..." FS is proud to debut the official trailer for the indie comedy film titled Loves Company, directed by filmmaker Jason Laurits as his feature directorial debut. This initially premiered at the Dances With Films Festival earlier in 2026 and played at a few other fests, being released by Tribeca Films starting in November on VOD this fall. "Don't Meet Your Idols." Celebrity personality, Blake de Troy, is fading into irrelevancy as a professional guest star and game show contestant. Just when he thinks he can no longer play the Hollywood game, a crazed fan holding him captive, strokes his ego enough to keep him wanting more. And nothing stirs up publicity like a kidnapping. Starring Rachel Dratch, Jack Plotnick, Sarah Baker, Dustin Ingram, Bryan Batt, Tristen J. Winger, Paul Wilson, & Rex Wheeler. This looks like a fun new spin on Misery, featuring a kooky cast playing up the awkwardness of the situation. It's always funny watching Dratch in any film and this one looks like it descends into some extra strange places. // Continue Reading ›

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First Trailer for 'Forty Love' French Tennis Film with Romeo Beckham

"In tennis, love means nothing." Studiocanal has revealed the first official trailer (with English subtitles) for the film titled Forty Love, a French gay tennis players movie made by filmmaker Pierre-Ange Carlotti as his first feature film. While there's no other international release dates set yet, this is ready to play in France starting in November this fall. A drama set in professional tennis, exploring the balance between ambition, performance, and intimacy on the French Riviera. A passionate LGBTQ sports film starring Paul Kircher, Guillaume Canet, Romeo Beckham (making his on-screen debut here), Benjamin Voisin, along with Catherine Deneuve. The film is a coming-of-age, rivals-to-lovers romance. It follows Sacha Gallo, a young tennis superstar. His world is turned on its head by a charismatic new rival, who challenges him on & off the court. "For the first time, he faces an opponent of an entirely different nature — love. A force as exhilarating as it is destabilizing — and far more dangerous than anything he has encountered on the court." Looks like the French version of Challengers with its own spicy twists and turns. This actually is really worth a watch. // Continue Reading ›

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Horror Talk Series 'Your Dearest, Darkest Friend with Ted Raimi' Trailer

"I do hope you'll join us for libations and lovely chat." Screambox has unveiled the first official trailer for a horror series called Your Dearest, Darkest Friend with Ted Raimi, which begins steaming later this month. This new Ted Raimi horror creation is yet another creepy talk show with Ted Raimi (kooky brother of master horror filmmaker Sam Raimi), who's eager to discuss any spooky topics. "Where Horror's Biggest Voices Share Their Greatest Stories." Raimi invites horror's greatest minds into his eerie manor for intimate conversations, signature cocktails, and curious discoveries. Legends and rising stars mingle with the spooky manor's peculiar puppet residents in a chilling talk-show experience. It's made for horror lovers, by horror lovers. As a self-proclaimed "Fabulist," Ted Raimi curates each guest's trip into a cinematic event that is one-part speakeasy of an era past, one-part fever-dream a-la Pee-wee's Playhouse, plus a dash of spooky spectacle that doesn’t dare end without a peculiar parting gift from "yours truly," Ted Raimi. This looks like tons of fun! Some clever, dark humor just in this 60 second tease. Tune in later this month to hang with Ted. // Continue Reading ›

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Official Trailer for 'Checkout' Spy Gone Rogue Comedy with Josh Pais

Some men check in. Some men disappear. Freestyle Digital Media has revealed the official trailer for a film titled Checkout, an indie film spy comedy made by the filmmaker Jonathan Dekel. This first premiered a few years ago & is only now getting a release direct-to-VOD this month. The film follows a desperate Mossad spy who's forced to retire yet goes rogue so he can catch a legendary terrorist. Checkout is a wickedly funny spy comedy about identity, obsession, and the thin line between a good story and a total lie. A desperate spy is interrogated about his relationship with a legendary terrorist, and every time he tells the story, it spirals further into farce. Starring character actor Josh Pais as Dov, Norman Issa, Dar Zuzovsky, Aki Avni, Yael Sharoni, & Oz Zehavi. One of the positive reviews quoted on the poster calls this a "Wes Anderson-ish espionage romp" which definitely sounds like fun – just hope it lives up to that description. Take a look. // Continue Reading ›

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