Raindance: Use your voice

The 28th Raindance Film Festival came to an end this weekend, after making much of its programme available for free online. Although the closing film was cancelled due to England's new lockdown. I managed to see 21 films this year, a slight uptick on previous years, perhaps because all screenings were virtual, but also because this year's festival didn't have the usual clash with London Film Festival. There are four final highlights below, plus this year's award winners. Note that Stardust was the festival's opening film, and Thou Shalt Not Hate is my best of the fest...

Stardust

dir Gabriel Range; with Johnny Flynn, Jena Malone 20/UK ***.

There's a loose, scruffy charm to this biopic about a pivotal moment in David Bowie's life. Shot 1970s-style, and emphasising how tricky it is for a flashy British artist to make it in the United States, the film is likeable and witty, with lively characters and terrific attention to detail. Filmmaker Gabriel Range gets too ambitious with story structure, but this is an involving movie that has a strong impact... FULL REVIEW > 

Thou Shalt Not Hate [Non Odiare]

dir Mauro Mancini; with Alessandro Gassmann, Sara Serraiocco 20/It ****

Skilfully shot and edited, this involving Italian drama takes a complex approach to the rise in right-wing hatred across the world, holding the focus tightly on a very personal story. Director-cowriter Mauro Mancini keeps the tensions simmering all the way through the film, creating suspense over whether this will erupt into a violent clash or a chance for redemption. And the complex emotions gurgling underneath make it darkly involving... FULL REVIEW > 

FOMO Fear of Missing Out

dir Attila Hartung; with Yorgosz Goletsas, Gergely Bouquet 19/Hun ***

Fast and snappy, this heavily pointed Hungarian drama is shot like an MTV show from around 1990, with quick-cut, hand-held scenes of pretty young people at raucous parties. It's also a vicious satire of lad culture that leads to a provocative, unsettling drama about assault. So while the film feels more than a little melodramatic, it's an important topic dealt with in a story that continually challenges accepted attitudes... FULL REVIEW > 

Drag Kids

dir-scr Megan Wennberg; with Stephan Hirst, Jason Kerr 19/Can ****

This observational documentary takes a look at pre-teens who love to perform in drag on-stage. Filmmaker Megan Wennberg follows four children from three countries as they travel to Montreal to perform together at Pride and compete at a ball. This gives the movie a terrific story structure, watching they plan, practice and develop a hilarious camaraderie. They also begin to understand the positive impact of drag culture on global society... FULL REVIEW > 

A W A R D S

• 
  Film of the Festival: NOT TO BE UNPLEASANT BUT WE NEED TO HAVE A SERIOUS TALK
• Spirit of the Festival: THE HAT
• Raindance Icons: Jude Law and Sally Hawkins
• International Feature: FORCE OF HABIT
• UK Feature: HE DREAMS OF GIANTS
• Documentary Feature: THE STATE OF TEXAS VS MELISSA
• Music Documentary: TOPOWA! NEVER GIVE UP
• Discovery Award: Antonio Lukich (MY THOUGHTS ARE SILENT)
• Performance: Johnny Flynn (STARDUST)
• Director: Milcho Manchevski (WILLOW)
• Screenplay: FORCE OF HABIT
• Cinematography: Tim Cragg (THE GREAT GREEN WALL)

NB. My anchor page for Raindance is HERE and all of the full reviews are linked there. And I'll add more over the coming months as I see them.