The 4th annual Romford Film Festival kicks off today with 'Kings of Mulberry Street' - a feel good film from South Africa where two local boys try to defeat local crime lords through Bollywood charm and 'Puppet Killer' a pseudo horror comedy that cleverly utilises every classic Horror Movie in its screentime to have you rolling in your seats! We are really proud that the festival is going ahead in its physical form and showing almost 200 films from around the world in 5 days. It could posibly be the first one since the covid-lockdown in March. It is so important that we do not let the pandemic collapse the great independent film networks that are created through festivals and we hope that the independent film industry is robust enough to prevail! We have been working with the festival since its creation, voluntarily supporting the brand, design and student volunteers that usually run the day to day festival - we also support the running of the ECG Film Festival that run...

Blue was a beautifully constructed film in terms of cinematography and lighting but it fell short in its actual storytelling. Some of the film’s flaws can be excused by the small budget of an independent movie, but nothing can excuse the weaknesses in the film’s script. Blue tells a tale we all know well, complete with the xenophobia of a small town, the star crossed lovers, the pure hearted damsel in distress. Instead of being intensely character driven and emotive, the film was riddled with needless scenes and none of the characters were developed enough to elicit any sympathy from the audience. The female lead particularly was especially one sided. Whilst there was certainly potential for conflict and deep criticism of society, the film overall fell flat. This being said, there were plenty of positives for the viewer that made it possible to overlook some of the awkward scene transitions and uninspiring script. The soundtrack was simple yet evocative. The use of colour was beautiful...

This was the best film I saw at the festival and certainly one I would watch again. Mr Rudolpho’s Jubilee, deserving winner of Best Costume Design, finds its element in its ridiculousness. Complete with a bright, colourful cast of characters, each of whom were unique in their own way, and some great humour, this was incredibly entertaining to watch. For the most part the dialogue was fresh and clever, relying on the power of the understatement for the best comedic effect. Whilst the tightness of the storytelling did slip a little towards the end, the way each of the individual plot strands tied together was very well crafted. The musical inserts did not feel forced but instead accentuated the atmosphere of absurdity and preposterous fun that made the film so enjoyable. What this film achieved on its small budget is a remarkable example of storytelling, proving that excessive CGI is not always a necessary requirement for an excellent film. Mr Rudolpho’s Jubilee is mad and ludicrous in...

Blurring the lines between short film and music video, A Battling Body is a one and a half minute long masterpiece. In such a short space of time, this film packed a powerful punch. It was beautifully shot, with exquisite lighting, stunning direction and evocative music. The emphasis on movement made this short film compelling to watch, even if it was more of a character portrait than a plot driven story. Only masterful storytelling can pack so much emotion into such a short space of time. To some viewers, this film may fall short due to the lack of dialogue or of a cast of characters. It could be a challenging and confusing watch. Viewers may appreciate the beautiful choreography but dismiss the film as nothing more than a dance short. But that is to misunderstand the message. The film portrays the fight between the human body and muscular sclerosis in order to spread awareness of this disease. A Battling Body is a powerful film that is worth a watch. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Review by Rebecca, a NO ...

The Aliens is a movie based around a man and his search for extraterrestrial beings which bends the sci-fi genre in order to produce an original heartwarming tale of faith, love and hope. The Aliens truly brought an outer worldly touch to the big screen conveying a true sentiment and connection to characters for all those who are searching for the something missing from our lives. The score added to this picture immensely, creating a soundtrack full of emotion and beauty. The parallel between the aliens from outer space which the main character searches for and the 'illegal aliens' closer to home who end up being the most important thing in his life also brings a small but brilliant touch to the overall theme of the movie, bringing forward a sense of compassion from both the characters and audience. However I feel like the movie began to drift towards the end with an unnecessary  build up of conflict and loose ends tied up when they didn't need to be.  Despite this aliens w...