Magnus Carlsen is a chess prodigy, specifically speaking, becoming a World Champion in 2013 at the age of 22. I’m no chess expert myself, but I’ve always associated chess with old fogeys in the park taking forever to make their next move, and not dapper young men with crowds cheering for them as they enter the arena. Benjamin Ree’s Magnus seeks to change the view of chess. … Continue reading London Film Festival 2016: Magnus dir. Benjamin Ree (+Interview!)

Lion, originally titled A Long Way Home, is one of the latest films from the Weinstein Company, and is based off a book by Saroo Brierley. Dev Patel and Nicole Kidman headline this ‘based on a true story’ film. Lion follows Saroo’s life, lost from his family in India at the age of five and adopted by an Australian family, and later on reuniting with his real family using Google Earth, … Continue reading London Film Festival 2016: Lion dir. Garth Davis

1 August 1966 is a date that will stay with you long after viewing this documentary. Tower’s release marks the 50th anniversary following one of the worst mass shootings in American history. The deed was done by ex-Marine Charles Whitman, who took control over the school clocktower at the University of Texas, armed with ammunition and guns and shot 49 people, before being shot dead by the … Continue reading London Film Festival 2016: The Tower dir. Keith Maitland

X Japan is probably one of the biggest bands you’ve never heard of. And no wonder, as you’d probably only know of them if you happen to be into the J-rock scene. We Are X is here to change that, and shines a light on the quirky, weird and wonderful people that make up X Japan. We Are X opens on X Japan’s Madison Square Garden gig in … Continue reading London Film Festival 2016:We Are X dir. Stephen Kijak (+Interview)

In a decidedly non-traditional documentary, we’re introduced to 20th century heroine Gertrude Bell, sometimes known as the female Lawrence of Arabia. Born in 1868, Bell was a woman of many talents, dabbling in archaeology, travels to the Middle East, cartologist and explorer, who was integral to policy-making and could be said to be key to the creation of the modern Middle East. This isn’t the … Continue reading London Film Festival 2016: Letters From Baghdad dir. Sabine Krayenbühl and Zeva Oelbaum