Posted by Robin Menken

Celebrate the launch of Made in Hungary - Hungarian Film Festival in Los Angeles

October 25 - October 27 (Lumiere Cinema

9036 Wilshire Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90211)

The film festival's mission is to showcase the diversity and richness of contemporary Hungarian cinema to American audiences, offering a selection of acclaimed Hungarian full-length feature films across various genres. Additionally, the festival promotes Hungary as a prime destination for international film productions, highlighting its versatile locations, skilled professionals, and favorable conditions for filmmaking. The three-day festival is organized by the Liszt Institute New York in collaboration with the Hungarian National Film Institute.

Made in Hungary screenings will take place between 25-27 October at the Lumiere Music Hall in Beverly Hills. They will show 8 movies: 7 current Hungarian full-length feature films and Oscar and Bafta winning “Poor Things” filmed in Hungary with talented local film professionals, among them Best Production Design Oscar winning Zsuzsa Mihalek set decorator.

“Made in Hungary is not just about films; it's about building bridges between cultures, sharing stories that touch our hearts, and experiencing the unique perspectives that Hungarian cinema and film industry have to offer.

We are honoured to have such a vibrant community of artists and film lovers with us, and we hope you find inspiration, joy, and connection in every screening. Let’s enjoy the magic of Hungarian cinema together!"

Csaba KÁEL-Hungary’s Government Commissioner for the Development of the Hungarian Film Industry, Chairman of the National Film Institute Hungary

Ádám Breier’s first feature “All About The Levkoviches” is a tender family dramedy set in the Jewish Quarter in Budapest, surrounded by its Communist past. After losing his beloved wife Zsuzsa (Máhr Ági), pugnacious boxer and ex- champion Tamás Levkovich (Bezerédi Zoltán) reunites with his son Ivan (Szabó Kimmel Tamás), an orthodox Jew. Ivan flies in from Israel to sit Shiva, bringing his young son Ariel. The generations face a rocky road to reconciliation.  Secular, atheist Tamás is visibly uncomfortable with his emotions. Roma fighter, Tamás’s student Feri (Váradi Roland) helps melt Tamás.

An antic score by Albert Márkos uses polka music to raise spirits. Breier’s film was a hit at this years Palm Springs Film Festival.

Rozália Szeleczki's "Cat Call" ("Cicaverzum") was part of the Hungarian Incubator programme. 

Fáni (Franciska Töröcsik is a 30-year-old architect and still single.  Traumatized by her father's early death, she cannot help foreseeing each suitor's death. The only woman architect at her office, she is patronized by her all male staff. Her progressive ideas for repurposing structures fall on deaf ears.

Except for the new man, star planner Mihaly(Csaba Polgá) who seems interested in her and her ideas. Mihaly moves in next door. He's interested in her but Fáni bunds with Smoothie, his Tom Cat. Why not, she can hear him speak! Jealous Smoothie warns her that her suitor Mihaly in already married ,and begins courting her instead.

The whimsical Tom-Rom-Com is blessed with witty production design by Pater Sparrow and art direction by Adrienn Gal

Posted by Robin Menken

Celebrate the launch of Made in Hungary - Hungarian Film Festival in Los Angeles

October 25 - October 27 (Lumiere Cinema

9036 Wilshire Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90211)

The film festival's mission is to showcase the diversity and richness of contemporary Hungarian cinema to American audiences, offering a selection of acclaimed Hungarian full-length feature films across various genres. Additionally, the festival promotes Hungary as a prime destination for international film productions, highlighting its versatile locations, skilled professionals, and favorable conditions for filmmaking. The three-day festival is organized by the Liszt Institute New York in collaboration with the Hungarian National Film Institute.

Made in Hungary screenings will take place between 25-27 October at the Lumiere Music Hall in Beverly Hills. They will show 8 movies: 7 current Hungarian full-length feature films and Oscar and Bafta winning “Poor Things” filmed in Hungary with talented local film professionals, among them Best Production Design Oscar winning Zsuzsa Mihalek set decorator.

“Made in Hungary is not just about films; it's about building bridges between cultures, sharing stories that touch our hearts, and experiencing the unique perspectives that Hungarian cinema and film industry have to offer.

We are honoured to have such a vibrant community of artists and film lovers with us, and we hope you find inspiration, joy, and connection in every screening. Let’s enjoy the magic of Hungarian cinema together!"

Csaba KÁEL-Hungary’s Government Commissioner for the Development of the Hungarian Film Industry, Chairman of the National Film Institute Hungary

Ádám Breier’s first feature “All About The Levkoviches” is a tender family dramedy set in the Jewish Quarter in Budapest, surrounded by its Communist past. After losing his beloved wife Zsuzsa (Máhr Ági), pugnacious boxer and ex- champion Tamás Levkovich (Bezerédi Zoltán) reunites with his son Ivan (Szabó Kimmel Tamás), an orthodox Jew. Ivan flies in from Israel to sit Shiva, bringing his young son Ariel. The generations face a rocky road to reconciliation.  Secular, atheist Tamás is visibly uncomfortable with his emotions. Roma fighter, Tamás’s student Feri (Váradi Roland) helps melt Tamás.

An antic score by Albert Márkos uses polka music to raise spirits. Breier’s film was a hit at this years Palm Springs Film Festival.

Rozália Szeleczki's "Cat Call" ("Cicaverzum") was part of the Hungarian Incubator programme. 

Fáni (Franciska Töröcsik is a 30-year-old architect and still single.  Traumatized by her father's early death, she cannot help foreseeing each suitor's death. The only woman architect at her office, she is patronized by her all male staff. Her progressive ideas for repurposing structures fall on deaf ears.

Except for the new man, star planner Mihaly(Csaba Polgá) who seems interested in her and her ideas. Mihaly moves in next door. He's interested in her but Fáni bunds with Smoothie, his Tom Cat. Why not, she can hear him speak! Jealous Smoothie warns her that her suitor Mihaly in already married ,and begins courting her instead.

The whimsical Tom-Rom-Com is blessed with witty production design by Pater Sparrow and art direction by Adrienn Gal

Posted by Robin Menken

Celebrate the launch of Made in Hungary - Hungarian Film Festival in Los Angeles

October 25 - October 27 (Lumiere Cinema

9036 Wilshire Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90211)

The film festival's mission is to showcase the diversity and richness of contemporary Hungarian cinema to American audiences, offering a selection of acclaimed Hungarian full-length feature films across various genres. Additionally, the festival promotes Hungary as a prime destination for international film productions, highlighting its versatile locations, skilled professionals, and favorable conditions for filmmaking. The three-day festival is organized by the Liszt Institute New York in collaboration with the Hungarian National Film Institute.

Made in Hungary screenings will take place between 25-27 October at the Lumiere Music Hall in Beverly Hills. They will show 8 movies: 7 current Hungarian full-length feature films and Oscar and Bafta winning “Poor Things” filmed in Hungary with talented local film professionals, among them Best Production Design Oscar winning Zsuzsa Mihalek set decorator.

“Made in Hungary is not just about films; it's about building bridges between cultures, sharing stories that touch our hearts, and experiencing the unique perspectives that Hungarian cinema and film industry have to offer.

We are honoured to have such a vibrant community of artists and film lovers with us, and we hope you find inspiration, joy, and connection in every screening. Let’s enjoy the magic of Hungarian cinema together!"

Csaba KÁEL-Hungary’s Government Commissioner for the Development of the Hungarian Film Industry, Chairman of the National Film Institute Hungary

Ádám Breier’s first feature “All About The Levkoviches” is a tender family dramedy set in the Jewish Quarter in Budapest, surrounded by its Communist past. After losing his beloved wife Zsuzsa (Máhr Ági), pugnacious boxer and ex- champion Tamás Levkovich (Bezerédi Zoltán) reunites with his son Ivan (Szabó Kimmel Tamás), an orthodox Jew. Ivan flies in from Israel to sit Shiva, bringing his young son Ariel. The generations face a rocky road to reconciliation.  Secular, atheist Tamás is visibly uncomfortable with his emotions. Roma fighter, Tamás’s student Feri (Váradi Roland) helps melt Tamás.

An antic score by Albert Márkos uses polka music to raise spirits. Breier’s film was a hit at this years Palm Springs Film Festival.

Rozália Szeleczki's "Cat Call" ("Cicaverzum") was part of the Hungarian Incubator programme. 

Fáni (Franciska Töröcsik is a 30-year-old architect and still single.  Traumatized by her father's early death, she cannot help foreseeing each suitor's death. The only woman architect at her office, she is patronized by her all male staff. Her progressive ideas for repurposing structures fall on deaf ears.

Except for the new man, star planner Mihaly(Csaba Polgá) who seems interested in her and her ideas. Mihaly moves in next door. He's interested in her but Fáni bunds with Smoothie, his Tom Cat. Why not, she can hear him speak! Jealous Smoothie warns her that her suitor Mihaly in already married ,and begins courting her instead.

The whimsical Tom-Rom-Com is blessed with witty production design by Pater Sparrow and art direction by Adrienn Gal

Posted by Robin Menken

Celebrate the launch of Made in Hungary - Hungarian Film Festival in Los Angeles

October 25 - October 27 (Lumiere Cinema

9036 Wilshire Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90211)

The film festival's mission is to showcase the diversity and richness of contemporary Hungarian cinema to American audiences, offering a selection of acclaimed Hungarian full-length feature films across various genres. Additionally, the festival promotes Hungary as a prime destination for international film productions, highlighting its versatile locations, skilled professionals, and favorable conditions for filmmaking. The three-day festival is organized by the Liszt Institute New York in collaboration with the Hungarian National Film Institute.

Made in Hungary screenings will take place between 25-27 October at the Lumiere Music Hall in Beverly Hills. They will show 8 movies: 7 current Hungarian full-length feature films and Oscar and Bafta winning “Poor Things” filmed in Hungary with talented local film professionals, among them Best Production Design Oscar winning Zsuzsa Mihalek set decorator.

“Made in Hungary is not just about films; it's about building bridges between cultures, sharing stories that touch our hearts, and experiencing the unique perspectives that Hungarian cinema and film industry have to offer.

We are honoured to have such a vibrant community of artists and film lovers with us, and we hope you find inspiration, joy, and connection in every screening. Let’s enjoy the magic of Hungarian cinema together!"

Csaba KÁEL-Hungary’s Government Commissioner for the Development of the Hungarian Film Industry, Chairman of the National Film Institute Hungary

Ádám Breier’s first feature “All About The Levkoviches” is a tender family dramedy set in the Jewish Quarter in Budapest, surrounded by its Communist past. After losing his beloved wife Zsuzsa (Máhr Ági), pugnacious boxer and ex- champion Tamás Levkovich (Bezerédi Zoltán) reunites with his son Ivan (Szabó Kimmel Tamás), an orthodox Jew. Ivan flies in from Israel to sit Shiva, bringing his young son Ariel. The generations face a rocky road to reconciliation.  Secular, atheist Tamás is visibly uncomfortable with his emotions. Roma fighter, Tamás’s student Feri (Váradi Roland) helps melt Tamás.

An antic score by Albert Márkos uses polka music to raise spirits. Breier’s film was a hit at this years Palm Springs Film Festival.

Rozália Szeleczki's "Cat Call" ("Cicaverzum") was part of the Hungarian Incubator programme. 

Fáni (Franciska Töröcsik is a 30-year-old architect and still single.  Traumatized by her father's early death, she cannot help foreseeing each suitor's death. The only woman architect at her office, she is patronized by her all male staff. Her progressive ideas for repurposing structures fall on deaf ears.

Except for the new man, star planner Mihaly(Csaba Polgá) who seems interested in her and her ideas. Mihaly moves in next door. He's interested in her but Fáni bunds with Smoothie, his Tom Cat. Why not, she can hear him speak! Jealous Smoothie warns her that her suitor Mihaly in already married ,and begins courting her instead.

The whimsical Tom-Rom-Com is blessed with witty production design by Pater Sparrow and art direction by Adrienn Gal

Posted by Robin Menken

Celebrate the launch of Made in Hungary - Hungarian Film Festival in Los Angeles

October 25 - October 27 (Lumiere Cinema

9036 Wilshire Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90211)

The film festival's mission is to showcase the diversity and richness of contemporary Hungarian cinema to American audiences, offering a selection of acclaimed Hungarian full-length feature films across various genres. Additionally, the festival promotes Hungary as a prime destination for international film productions, highlighting its versatile locations, skilled professionals, and favorable conditions for filmmaking. The three-day festival is organized by the Liszt Institute New York in collaboration with the Hungarian National Film Institute.

Made in Hungary screenings will take place between 25-27 October at the Lumiere Music Hall in Beverly Hills. They will show 8 movies: 7 current Hungarian full-length feature films and Oscar and Bafta winning “Poor Things” filmed in Hungary with talented local film professionals, among them Best Production Design Oscar winning Zsuzsa Mihalek set decorator.

“Made in Hungary is not just about films; it's about building bridges between cultures, sharing stories that touch our hearts, and experiencing the unique perspectives that Hungarian cinema and film industry have to offer.

We are honoured to have such a vibrant community of artists and film lovers with us, and we hope you find inspiration, joy, and connection in every screening. Let’s enjoy the magic of Hungarian cinema together!"

Csaba KÁEL-Hungary’s Government Commissioner for the Development of the Hungarian Film Industry, Chairman of the National Film Institute Hungary

Ádám Breier’s first feature “All About The Levkoviches” is a tender family dramedy set in the Jewish Quarter in Budapest, surrounded by its Communist past. After losing his beloved wife Zsuzsa (Máhr Ági), pugnacious boxer and ex- champion Tamás Levkovich (Bezerédi Zoltán) reunites with his son Ivan (Szabó Kimmel Tamás), an orthodox Jew. Ivan flies in from Israel to sit Shiva, bringing his young son Ariel. The generations face a rocky road to reconciliation.  Secular, atheist Tamás is visibly uncomfortable with his emotions. Roma fighter, Tamás’s student Feri (Váradi Roland) helps melt Tamás.

An antic score by Albert Márkos uses polka music to raise spirits. Breier’s film was a hit at this years Palm Springs Film Festival.

Rozália Szeleczki's "Cat Call" ("Cicaverzum") was part of the Hungarian Incubator programme. 

Fáni (Franciska Töröcsik is a 30-year-old architect and still single.  Traumatized by her father's early death, she cannot help foreseeing each suitor's death. The only woman architect at her office, she is patronized by her all male staff. Her progressive ideas for repurposing structures fall on deaf ears.

Except for the new man, star planner Mihaly(Csaba Polgá) who seems interested in her and her ideas. Mihaly moves in next door. He's interested in her but Fáni bunds with Smoothie, his Tom Cat. Why not, she can hear him speak! Jealous Smoothie warns her that her suitor Mihaly in already married ,and begins courting her instead.

The whimsical Tom-Rom-Com is blessed with witty production design by Pater Sparrow and art direction by Adrienn Gal

Posted by Robin Menken

Celebrate the launch of Made in Hungary - Hungarian Film Festival in Los Angeles

October 25 - October 27 (Lumiere Cinema

9036 Wilshire Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90211)

The film festival's mission is to showcase the diversity and richness of contemporary Hungarian cinema to American audiences, offering a selection of acclaimed Hungarian full-length feature films across various genres. Additionally, the festival promotes Hungary as a prime destination for international film productions, highlighting its versatile locations, skilled professionals, and favorable conditions for filmmaking. The three-day festival is organized by the Liszt Institute New York in collaboration with the Hungarian National Film Institute.

Made in Hungary screenings will take place between 25-27 October at the Lumiere Music Hall in Beverly Hills. They will show 8 movies: 7 current Hungarian full-length feature films and Oscar and Bafta winning “Poor Things” filmed in Hungary with talented local film professionals, among them Best Production Design Oscar winning Zsuzsa Mihalek set decorator.

“Made in Hungary is not just about films; it's about building bridges between cultures, sharing stories that touch our hearts, and experiencing the unique perspectives that Hungarian cinema and film industry have to offer.

We are honoured to have such a vibrant community of artists and film lovers with us, and we hope you find inspiration, joy, and connection in every screening. Let’s enjoy the magic of Hungarian cinema together!"

Csaba KÁEL-Hungary’s Government Commissioner for the Development of the Hungarian Film Industry, Chairman of the National Film Institute Hungary

Ádám Breier’s first feature “All About The Levkoviches” is a tender family dramedy set in the Jewish Quarter in Budapest, surrounded by its Communist past. After losing his beloved wife Zsuzsa (Máhr Ági), pugnacious boxer and ex- champion Tamás Levkovich (Bezerédi Zoltán) reunites with his son Ivan (Szabó Kimmel Tamás), an orthodox Jew. Ivan flies in from Israel to sit Shiva, bringing his young son Ariel. The generations face a rocky road to reconciliation.  Secular, atheist Tamás is visibly uncomfortable with his emotions. Roma fighter, Tamás’s student Feri (Váradi Roland) helps melt Tamás.

An antic score by Albert Márkos uses polka music to raise spirits. Breier’s film was a hit at this years Palm Springs Film Festival.

Rozália Szeleczki's "Cat Call" ("Cicaverzum") was part of the Hungarian Incubator programme. 

Fáni (Franciska Töröcsik is a 30-year-old architect and still single.  Traumatized by her father's early death, she cannot help foreseeing each suitor's death. The only woman architect at her office, she is patronized by her all male staff. Her progressive ideas for repurposing structures fall on deaf ears.

Except for the new man, star planner Mihaly(Csaba Polgá) who seems interested in her and her ideas. Mihaly moves in next door. He's interested in her but Fáni bunds with Smoothie, his Tom Cat. Why not, she can hear him speak! Jealous Smoothie warns her that her suitor Mihaly in already married ,and begins courting her instead.

The whimsical Tom-Rom-Com is blessed with witty production design by Pater Sparrow and art direction by Adrienn Gal

Following on from a successful panel discussion at ID Screening Days 2024, Nadia M. Oliva explores how organisations can navigate programming and conversations that reflect their values while assessing the risks and challenges of operating in the charged era of contemporary discourse. Cinema offers us a lens on the world.  As an intrinsically empathic medium, […]

The post Programming Progressively and Responsively in Challenging Times appeared first on Independent Cinema Office.

Feature Thriller to Have World Theatrical Premiere Followed by Digital and Cable Release in Mid-September

Stonecutter Media has acquired North American rights to The Path, the new feature thriller, written and directed by Tom Archdeacon, co-founder of Frost Pictures. The Path will have its world theatrical premieres on September 12 in New Jersey and September 19 in Beverly Hills and will be tentatively released digitally on September 24th on streaming/TVOD on VUDU, Amazon, Apple TV, and iTunes, as well as on most major cable and satellite on demand platforms in the US and Canada, including Dish, DirecTV, Spectrum, Xfinity, Sling TV, Verizon Fios, Altice USA, etc.

Official Trailer: https://youtu.be/chFp9YqjoGA

The film is about a young woman, who after losing her parents in a fatal car crash, returns home to care for her younger sister and help to manage the family farm. She soon begins to suffer strange and unsettling moments that grow into unexplainable happenings and terrifying events. Determined to sell the failing farm, the young woman and her sister eventually discover the dark past linked to their childhood home, as well as the strange circumstances surrounding her parents’ deaths.

Steve Karel, founder of The Stonecutter Group, comments, “We’re delighted to add The Path to our feature film offerings. We look for quality films in niche categories, and we feel the film will resonate very well with fans of the thriller/horror genre as we approach Halloween.”

“My goal was to make a truly scary film that delivers fright without cheap tropes and without blood and gore.  I wanted to create subtle tensions and have them build from the opening moments until the end credits roll,” explains Archdeacon.  “My vision was to produce a horror film that delivers terror through real drama and a twisting plot.”

The film stars Tess Hanna (Stuff from the 90's, The Sighting, Highway to Havasu), Taylor Colwell (Gotham, Only Murders In The Building, The Sinner), Brian McManamon (Gotham, Succession, American Horror Story, FBI, The Subject, Seeking: Jack Tripper), Alex MacNicoll (Brilliant Minds, The Society, Transparent) and Archdeacon, who has a featured role in the film. Frost Pictures' Brian Arnott is producer of the film, while Steve Karel and Spero Stamboulis negotiated the deal on behalf of Stonecutter Media.

Additional producers include Timothy Evan Jones, along with executive producers Stephen J. Scanapicco, Justin Bristoll, Al DeBatto and Bob Hertlig. Directors of photography are Christopher Hewitson and Patrick Joseph Greene and the film's score was composed by Michael James Romeo, renowned guitarist from the progressive metal band Symphony X.

The film was an official selection at the New Jersey HorrorCon Film Festival, Knoxville Film Festival, FANtastic Horror Film Festival and Garden State Film Festival. 

Irish American filmmaker/actor Tom Archdeacon began his acting career at the suggestion of the police officer who arrested him in a bar fight. The officer said, “You look like an actor... Why not put your energy into that instead?” So, he did. Tom took to acting right away and trained formally in Europe before moving to New York City.

In NYC, Tom quickly got work in

“The World of the Benshi” World Tour
April 18-20 UCLA Film And Television Archive

Posted by Robin Menken

The Art of the Benshi 2024 World Tour presented by the Yanai Initiative for Globalizing Japanese Humanities and the UCLA Film & Television Archive, which ran April 5 – 26, 2024, included 12 dates at six venues in five cities: New York, Washington, D.C., Chicago, Los Angeles and Tokyo.

The idea of the ambitious tour was the result of discussions during a three day symposium (and four film/benshi screening) held at UCLA Film And Television Archive, Hammer Museum in 2019.

At the 2019 symposium, Yanai introduced the first group benshi performance seen since 1920. “Not Blood Relations” and “Jiraiya the Hero” were both shown with narration provided by a trio of benshi. The modern benshi’s had never performed in this style, which died out in 1920 as result of criticism by the Pure Film Movement reformists.

To kick off the five performances in LA, The Japan Foundation, LA co-presented with the Yanai Initiative a lecture & demonstration on “The World of the Benshi" at Japan House.

Mr. Ichiro Kataoka, the lead benshi of the tour, gave a short demonstration and answered questions about the artistry and history of this enchanting live performance tradition.

Mr. Kataoka’s collection of rare benshi memorabilia is featured in the exquisite Tour catalogue, available at
https://yanai-initiative.ucla.edu/explore#publications.

Benshi Ichirō Kataoka performed "Blood Spattered Takadanobaba" (1928).

Over the following LA performances, LA devotees
had an opportunity to watch this early action film narrated by the other master benshi, demonstrating the
personal style, humor and didacticism of each performer.

Three scholars, Dr. Kotaro Shibata, Dr. Makiko Kamiya, and Dr. Fumito Shirai discussed the world of benshi – or “movie orators” – and the history of Japanese silent films.

Dr. Kotaro Shibata, who contributed the article "And the Shamisen Played On: Changing Silent Film Music in Japan" to the tour catalogue, showed slides of Japanese silent theaters (which introduced audiences to western music) and discussed the Japanese modifications of western silent film scores and musical arrangements.

Dr. Shibata, touched on the Pure Film Movement which advocated actresses rather than traditional Kabuki style female impersonators and other Western film innovations like closes ups and shorter takes.

Some of the critics of the PFM became directors (like Norimasa Kaeriyama, whose film "The Glow of Life" (1918), which was one of the first films to use actresses (ie: Harumi Hanayagi).

The Pure Film Movement’s attack on benshi lead to some changes. The introductory remarks that benshi's gave prior to the showing of a film, as well as group "kowairo setsumei" died out, leaving a form of setsumei performed by a solo benshi, combining narration, commentary, and performed dialog while the film was showing. This was the setsumei (“explained”) performance style of the Golden Age of benshi (1925-1932).

Dr. Shibata revealed the discovery of Film Narration in countries as diverse as Korea, Russian Czechoslovakia and France, and showed a fascinating clip of Rene Clair's 1947 "Man About Town" AKA "Silence Is Golden".

Employing research materials from the Hirano Collection, Dr. Fumito Shirai discussed how silent film musical-accompaniment scores, imported from overseas, were accepted in Japan and how they were combined with Japanese instruments and musical compositions when used.

In the early days of silent film, Japanese films were
narrated by groups of benshi ("kowairo setsumei”) at the

By DJ Cook

Ian Bjorn is an up-and-coming actor who was born in Switzerland to a Dutch father and a Danish mother. He moved to the UK at a young age and lives there today. This is Ian's first time in Cannes. He is excited to see what the festival has to offer!

What are some recent projects that you’ve been working on? 

“The most recent one wrapped up about a month ago, called Sanctum (upcoming). It was a series where I played a god-worshiping cannibal. What does that mean? Basically, I got to run around trying to break into this church to cleanse this pregnant woman of her sins by being a cannibal. I don’t want to ruin it, so I’m not going to say too much.”

“The one before that was a feature film called Dr. Sander's Sleep Cure (2024), which we filmed in Estonia. It’s about a man who struggles to sleep. He finds this tape that puts him to sleep, but in return, he gets these nightmares that get progressively worse. I played a supporting role as an RAF soldier, so I got to walk around in a pretty little hat figuring out if I was dead, in a dream, or in real life.”

Ian Bjorn - Dr. Sander’s Sleep Cure: Photo by Mart Sander

How did you get started as an actor? 

“By accident, actually. So, five years ago, I was just happy doing sports. I was playing football, doing athletics, and then a friend of mine, Harry Gray, came up to me and goes, ‘Ian, I want to make a short film.’ I said, ‘Fantastic, what’s that got to do with me?’ He goes, ‘Ian, I want you to be in there.’ ‘As like, in the background?’ ‘No, you’re going to play the lead.’

“So we ended up making five short films together, then he stopped making films, and I continued with sports and finishing school, and then it got to lockdown. And, like everyone, I had time to reflect on my life, and I thought, ‘What do I want to do?’ I really enjoyed acting; let’s give it a go. So I put my all into it, doing lessons, firstly over Zoom, and then in the studio as theatre. And then, build my way up, build my experience up, by making a short film, applying for lots of roles, making contacts... From there, I’ve ended up just building up the experience, and I haven’t looked back.”

What would be your dream project or dream director to work with?

“The genre would be action or psychological thriller, just because I love pairing acting with my sporting background. I can then do some action as I’m currently training in gymnastics and martial arts, so I’d love to bring that side of my life in with the acting side. So a nice action psychological thriller where I can unnerve the audience. I would love to play a serial killer, a psychopath;