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A Magazine for

João Paulo Simões

Filmreel Forward

Filmreel’s preview of 2015 is unashamedly mainstream-flavoured, some will be relieved to hear. Others will find this to be in direct contrad…

Filmreel’s preview of 2015 is unashamedly mainstream-flavoured, some will be relieved to hear. Others will find this to be in direct contrad

Filmreel The Gyllenhaal Paradigm

The landscape of Film remains sketchy and it's entirely our fault. Dotted with the odd landmark that a few individuals managed to leave behi…

The landscape of Film remains sketchy and it's entirely our fault. Dotted with the odd landmark that a few individuals managed to leave behi

Filmreel THE MATTER OF HYPE, VOL II.

There’s one thing someone should’ve said to Lars Von Trier, and not just before he made his latest film, Nymphomaniac. This should’ve been s…

There’s one thing someone should’ve said to Lars Von Trier, and not just before he made his latest film, Nymphomaniac. This should’ve been s

Filmreel OUR 2014 PREVIEW.

One way of looking at 2014 is to acknowledge it as yet another year of ongoing transition in film. This process occurs in direct parallel wi…

One way of looking at 2014 is to acknowledge it as yet another year of ongoing transition in film. This process occurs in direct parallel wi

Filmreel Migrations.

The exodus began with the freest of them all. Those who can genuinely escape themselves via their craft and ability to convince through unme…

The exodus began with the freest of them all. Those who can genuinely escape themselves via their craft and ability to convince through unme

Filmreel DOC/FEST 2013, PART 1 / WALTER MURCH.

The facts after-the-fact: International and UK delegate attendance at the 20th edition of Sheffield Doc/Fest rose by 18%, breaking all previ…

The facts after-the-fact: International and UK delegate attendance at the 20th edition of Sheffield Doc/Fest rose by 18%, breaking all previ

Filmreel Doc/Fest 2013 Previews.

Doc/Fest is upon us once more, and this year is set to be one of the most remarkable in the history of this conglomeration of distant voices…

Doc/Fest is upon us once more, and this year is set to be one of the most remarkable in the history of this conglomeration of distant voices

Filmreel Entitlement II.

Previously on Filmreel: The unacknowledged need to set boundaries and parameters for the artistic expression of others was placed under my …

Previously on Filmreel:

The unacknowledged need to set boundaries and parameters for the artistic expression of others was placed under my

Filmreel Unexpected Turns.

The stretch limo appears to glide as it roams through crowded avenues. Something which is emphasised by the best stylised rear and side proj…

The stretch limo appears to glide as it roams through crowded avenues. Something which is emphasised by the best stylised rear and side proj

Filmreel Looking back at Doc/Fest 2012.

To be perfectly honest, documentaries are still a source of discomfort to me - a sort of lifelong ambivalence which remains practically unch…

To be perfectly honest, documentaries are still a source of discomfort to me - a sort of lifelong ambivalence which remains practically unch

Filmreel The Slow Demise of the Regional.

In my filmmaking practice, I always have a lot more questions than I have answers - something I regard as a positive trait. This is not to s…

In my filmmaking practice, I always have a lot more questions than I have answers - something I regard as a positive trait. This is not to s

Filmreel Entitlement.

This month's Filmreel addresses, once more, a rather subjective concept. It took me some time to 'sell the theme' to our very open-minded ed…

This month's Filmreel addresses, once more, a rather subjective concept. It took me some time to 'sell the theme' to our very open-minded ed

Filmreel (In)voluntary Circumcisions.

This is where I stand on the subject of censorship: every single aspect of the human condition - no matter how dark, difficult or inconvenie…

This is where I stand on the subject of censorship: every single aspect of the human condition - no matter how dark, difficult or inconvenie

Filmreel Film Architectures.

The second stage of structuring the narrative of a film is to build upon and around the psychological foundations of each scene. I realise I…

The second stage of structuring the narrative of a film is to build upon and around the psychological foundations of each scene. I realise I

Filmreel Taglines.

No art form has associated itself more with the notion of entertainment than film. Tragic, isn't it? But let's not worry about the restricti…

No art form has associated itself more with the notion of entertainment than film. Tragic, isn't it? But let's not worry about the restricti

Filmreel On a Misty Island.

The reassuring view from above - which introduces the island as an orderly, quaint paradise - gives way to the helicopter descent to the bui…

The reassuring view from above - which introduces the island as an orderly, quaint paradise - gives way to the helicopter descent to the bui

Filmreel Spliced Memories - Part 2.

...And here's the second round of our insider's view of the art of film editing. Having delivered the image article in the last issue, we no…

...And here's the second round of our insider's view of the art of film editing. Having delivered the image article in the last issue, we no

Filmreel Spliced Memories Part 1.

This month's Filmreel focuses on the art of film editing. Entire books have been successfully (and comprehensively) written about the subjec…

This month's Filmreel focuses on the art of film editing. Entire books have been successfully (and comprehensively) written about the subjec

Filmreel My pick of the fest.

With considerable regret, I was only able to attend a handful of screenings at this year's Sheffield Doc/Fest. Nevertheless, I would like to…

With considerable regret, I was only able to attend a handful of screenings at this year's Sheffield Doc/Fest. Nevertheless, I would like to