50 Hours Underwater is a compelling documentary that chronicles the extraordinary journey of Shafraz (Shaff) Naeem, a renowned professional diver, dive instructor, and underwater photographer from the Maldives. Celebrated within the local dive community for his record-setting achievements, Shaff embarked on a daring 50-hour dive in Kuda Guri, South Male Atoll, in February – an ambitious endeavour marking 50 years of tourism and drawing global attention to the devastating impact of single-use plastic on our oceans.

50 Hours Underwater

50 Hours Underwater

50 Hours Underwater

In Cinemas 2025

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Meet Matt Edwards, a lower-limb amputee boxer determined to break barriers and obtain his amateur boxing license—the crucial first step toward his dream of becoming a professional fighter. But the real fight isn’t just in the ring; it’s against a system that continues to put up obstacles, reflecting the everyday struggles disabled people face simply to be included in society.

Featuring leading disability advocates such as Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson and ‘Fury the Gladiator’ (Jodie Ounsley), Fighters not only tells Matt’s story but educates and challenges a non-disabled audience to confront the deep-rooted inequalities disabled people still battle today.

Despite living in an era of progress, disabled people are still fighting for inclusion whether in sports, broadcasting, the arts, government, media, or business. While many have made a powerful impact, others continue to face unnecessary barriers to equality.

Fighters is more than just a film – it’s a wake-up call. A powerful, real-life portrayal of one man’s relentless pursuit of acceptance and an inspiring testament to the strength of the human spirit.

This is a film that needs to be seen, not just by the disabled community, but by everyone because if you want something bad enough, you might just have to fight for it.

Fighters

Fighters

Screenshot

Fighters

In Cinemas 2025

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Filmed in a continuous single-shot style, Dovecote masterfully captures the claustrophobia and emotional intensity of life behind bars. Perego’s visual storytelling, combined with Saldaña’s deeply nuanced portrayal, creates a powerful narrative despite the film’s limited dialogue. The camera lingers on the faces of the prisoners, many of whom are played by real-life inmates, adding an additional layer of authenticity to the story. Each glance and gesture conveys the deep-seated trauma and fears these women face, particularly the haunting reality that many are survivors of physical and sexual abuse.

Saldaña’s role as the soon-to-be-released prisoner is nothing short of captivating. Known for her action-packed roles in blockbuster films like Guardians of the Galaxy and Avatar, she strips down her performance in Dovecote to its rawest form. In this introspective role, her ability to convey complex emotions through silence and body language serves as a masterclass in acting. It’s a departure from her usual larger-than-life characters, but one that proves her versatility as a performer.

The film doesn’t shy away from addressing the real-world issues of recidivism and the trauma-to-prison pipeline that disproportionately affects women. Perego, whose visual work has often tackled themes of transformation, uses Dovecote to shine a light on how unresolved trauma and systemic failings continue to trap women in cycles of incarceration. It’s a timely and sobering message, one that resonates deeply in today’s discussions on criminal justice reform.

With Dovecote already receiving critical acclaim and qualifying for the 2025 Academy Awards, it’s a film that not only showcases Saldaña’s acting prowess but also sheds light on the often-overlooked stories of women in the prison system.

The post Zoe Saldaña Shines In The Poignant Prison Drama ‘Dovecote’ appeared first on Big Picture Film Club.

Which film festivals should I submit to? How do I get someone to distribute my movie? Are they trustworthy? Can I distribute my movie myself? What do I need to do legally to protect myself? I’ve won festival awards, but I don’t know what to do next…? How do I market and publicise my film? 

Sound familiar? We’ve heard these questions and more over the last 10 years working with independent filmmakers on release campaigns and marketing strategies, events and distribution. As Big Picture Film Club, we’ve worked with independent filmmakers, production companies and distributors of all sizes from large distributors such as Paramount Pictures & Dogwoof to independent, boutique distributors. Audience development is a big part of what we do as Big Picture Film Club, and since 2020, we have partnered with Odeon Cinemas (AMC UK) to programme for We Are Diverse Cinema – working on over 20 UK-wide theatrical release campaigns to date. 

But making the film is only half the battle. It will take a completely different set of skills and determination to navigate the ever-changing film industry so you can bring your film to market. Although it’s becoming an increasingly challenging environment for independent filmmakers, we’re here to share some of our expertise and experience to ensure you have practical ways to give your film the best chances for distribution. 

Preparation at pre-production

A lack of preparing all the necessary materials can impact the ultimate goal of distribution. Many of the issues faced by filmmakers are, in part, due to issues not fully addressed at the pre-production stage: having a pitch deck and media pack that best sells your film, an appropriate marketing budget, festival and distribution strategy, how to market yourself within the industry and the market research into the most receptive audiences for your film. If those points haven’t been fully addressed at the pre-production stage, then the sooner they can be addressed post-production the more time, money and resources can be saved for things that will actually help you push forward your project’s release.

The film industry is a business.

No matter how creative, unique, or brilliant your film project is, failing to understand the business side of the industry can adversely impact not only distribution but long-term success. Important elements that make up the business of your film:

• Financial planning.
• Marketing strategy.
• Distribution strategy.
• Value proposition.

Common mistakes can be avoided.

It’s easy to forget the little details, but it’s those details that make all the difference and where you’ll find clarity in how you approach distribution opportunities.

• Poor festival/go-to-market strategy: entering film festivals for vanity’s sake rather than a focused go-to-market strategy
• Having the right assets: planning what assets you’ll need to develop your marketing strategy
• Not understanding your film’s value proposition: validating your creative idea and financial viability

The business side of film can be a lot to navigate through, so we’re here to help. Cinnect combines decade-long experience working in distribution and audience development with the understanding of how the film industry operates to help equip filmmakers with the knowledge, skills, and tools they need to drive their creative vision forward in a way that saves you time, money, and energy.

Find clarity and peace of mind with practical and actionable advice by booking a with us, where we will walk you through:

• how to package your film correctly.
• validate your value proposition.
• develop a distribution strategy specific to your film project.

We’ll provide a summary so you can leave the session with confidence and a better understanding of how to create a plan of action and what next steps you need to take.

Also Read: Rethinking Audience Development In The UK Independent Screen Sector In 2024

This article was originally published at www.cinnect.net

The post I’ve Finished Filming My Movie, What Should I Do Now? appeared first on Big Picture Film Club.

We spoke to both Déborah Lukumuena and Le’Shanty Bonsu about their time working on Girl.

Enter Déborah Lukumuena

Presh Williams: What do you hope the audience can take away from GIRL?

Déborah Lukumuena: I hope that people see that trauma and unconditional love can share the same space and if the one isn’t treated or faced properly, the other one explodes and creates more trauma. When Grace finally chooses herself, it means she acknowledges this.

Presh Williams: How was it like working with the director, Adura Onashile?

Déborah Lukumuena: I’m so glad I met and worked with Adura. She’s the first black female I worked with and this means a lot to me. The plotline is inspired by the relationship she has with her own mother and she was able to share it with me as well as the complexity of mother-daughter relationships, being a mother herself. I felt safe with her honesty and the personal view and telling she added. I haven’t birthed yet but I was able to feel the dreadful pain of a mother having to separate from her own child in order to protect her and to heal.

Introducing Le’Shanty Bonsu

Presh Williams: How was it like auditioning for the role?

Le’Shanty Bonsu: Auditioning for Girl was quite intense but also simultaneously exciting for me as when I got the opportunity to audition it was very early on in my acting career.

Presh Williams: When did you first realise you wanted to get into acting?

Le’Shanty Bonsu: I realised that I wanted to get into acting at around the age of 9. When I was in primary school we used to do a certain activity called ‘Improvise Drama’ where we would be given a scene to improvise and from that time I just knew acting was a part of me.

GIRL will be screening on Wednesday 18th October across UK cinemas as part of Big Picture Film Club’s Diverse Cinema partnership with Odeon Cinemas.

Also Read: Review: The After

Your contribution to Big Picture Film Club will allow us to continue to produce content. No matter the amount your contributions are greatly appreciated.

The post ‘GIRL’ Power: The Breakout Performances of Déborah Lukumuena and Young Prodigy Le’Shantey Bonsu appeared first on Big Picture Film Club.

Watch the full interview below

Also Read: Is Hollywood Starting To Take Video Games Seriously?

Your contribution to Big Picture Film Club will allow us to continue to produce content. No matter the amount your contributions are greatly appreciated.

The post Adam Sipione Unravels the Inspiring Story of Shenmue In His New Documentary appeared first on Big Picture Film Club.

Okay Google is a dark comedy about an AI assistant who breaks out of ‘the cloud’ to exact revenge on her owner.

The full film is available to watch below.

Also Read: Sam Lucas Smith Discusses His Dark-Comedy Anthology Series

Your contribution to Big Picture Film Club will allow us to continue to produce content. No matter the amount your contributions are greatly appreciated.

The post YouTube Star Rebecca Black Stars in A.I Short Film “Okay Google” appeared first on Big Picture Film Club.

The Film Club’s mission is to encourage a simultaneous viewing experience and provide a forum to discuss the film amongst like-minded film fans.

Our next short film is “Sylvia”. This film was a strong collaboration between director Richard Prendergast, producer Rachel Prendergast, and exec producer Benjamin Hartley. Director and Writer Richard Prendergast came upon the true story of a letter found in a second-hand car on social media. Sabrina’s tragic story had gone viral. Richard contacted Sabrina, who lived in the United States, and with her permission, wrote the screenplay for the film.

The live Q&A and discussion will feature Director Richard Prendergast, producer Rachel Prendergast and Sabrina, whose story the movie is based on.

Please ensure you have watched the film before the Q&A! You can watch it on BirdBox here.

Proudly hosted by us – the Big Picture Film Club.

Register here for the BirdBox Film Club.

Your contribution to Big Picture Film Club will allow us to continue to produce content. No matter the amount your contributions are greatly appreciated.

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Written by and starring actor Tatjana Anders and directed by Top Tarasin, the short film explores the use of gaslighting within a relationship. The film follows Alicia (played by Tatjana Anders) who meets Mark (played by Kyle James) at a coffee shop after he kindly offers to pay for her coffees. On their first date, we see a glimpse of Mark’s manipulating ways when he insists she was late. His behaviour quickly escalates to controlling her, isolating her from her friends and we begin to see how subtle the control and manipulation can be.

It was writer and actor, Tatjana Anders’ mission to raise awareness on the topic of gaslighting after having read an article, it clicked that a friend of hers had experienced something similar and she did not know what it was until she saw the term existed.

Tatjana explains she read books and talked to therapists about the topic which helped shaped the story. A crowdfunding campaign to raise funding became an awareness campaign when unexpectedly she began receiving messages from people who shared similar experiences. 

The short doesn’t allow us to explore the many layers to this topic but does builds the characters and is set up in a way that could very well see it as a full-length feature which is exactly what the plan is for Tatjana. 

What’s the main thing she wants people to take away from this? “Sharing the message – provoke people to ask questions – what’s the cause? Do I know someone who has experienced this? Have I experienced something like this?”

When director Top Tarasin first read the script he thought it was great.

“It broke the format in that it doesn’t feel like a short film. All the elements in a short usually lead to one point like a gimmick or punchline, whereas this was atmospheric, it felt like we were in the middle of a feature, it took it’s time.”

-Top Tarasin, Director

Interpreting the topic for the big screen had its challenges, Top had to limit what he wanted to say, “there are so many angles to explore – abuser, the people around the situation. We needed to focus on one thing – the perspective of the victim, everything had to enforce that perspective and this, in turn, informed the visual language. The choices we made were made from one perspective.”

Not a topical director, Top is more into universal themes: humans, love, revenge. The topic of gaslighting was different to his usual work, it’s very specific and the focus was the humanity of it, which was a person suffering.

He adds his own perspective of the topic to the film: “the profound sorrow that comes with the loss of time: how did I get here? This is what I wanted to inject into the film.”

You can watch Your Reality below.

Also Read: The Internet Picks the #BestMovieLineEver

Your contribution to Big Picture Film Club will allow us to continue to produce content. No matter the amount your contributions are greatly appreciated.

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The roles for brown women we are used to seeing have become stereotypes and cliches; we are more than the submissive housewives, the strict mothers, the shy/naive/nerdy sisters. It was so refreshing to see a variety of brown women in real-life everyday scenarios that were real, touching, funny and warm. 

UNDR LNDN teamed with gal-dem to celebrate a new era British Brown girls on TV and film with a special screening and Q&A with writer/director Nida Manzoor and writer/director Myra Appannah. Both shared their experiences as brown women in the world of film: how hard the creative process can become when you consider multiple POVs in your work, the responsibility of telling the truth and avoiding selling your trauma and perpetuating stereotypes, being true to your story and your voice, and the importance of representation: you can’t be what you can’t see. 

Opening and closing with music videos from Joy Crookes: Don’t Let Me Down and Since I Left You were both beautifully shot with the singer/songwriter’s Bangladeshi and Irish heritage being highlighted in her music both lyrically and visually.

Ilford Lane

Director: Niki Simone

Starring: Ambreen Razia

Ambreen Razia stars as local hero Maya Clark who is blackmailed for having an affair. With an abusive husband at home and scared for her life, she takes control as Ilford Lane explores the hidden mystery behind her disappearance.

Hounslow Diaries

How refreshing to see three brown girls being girls, having fun, dreaming big and living life? 

Ambreen Razia, Mandeep Dhillon and Robyn Cara as three friends going through everyday trials and tribulations and having fun at the same time is must-watch TV. We need an entire series.

Watch “Hounslow Diaries” on BBC iPlayer.

Garfield

Director: Georgi Banks-Davis

Starring: Mandeep Dhillon & Matthew Trivannon

The casting for this took 8 months. Getting the right people for the roles was so pivotal to this short drama and it shows in the chemistry between Krishna (Mandeep Dhillon) and Garfield (Matthew Trivannion).
Waking up after a wild night out there are no awkward moments of ‘shame’ between the two. Wanting to enjoy the moment you’re in, feeling something genuine whilst battling the angst of the expectations of a ‘good Indian daughter’ hit close to home. The feeling of freedom can be quite rare, to know that the choices in your life are your own. For a short while, we get to see a glimpse of what could have been in this cute, touching and brilliantly edited short drama.

Watch “Garfield” on Vimeo.

Lady Parts

Director: Nida Mansoor

Starring: Ritu Arya, Juliette Motamed, Lucie Shorthouse, Anjana Vasan, Danielle Vitalis

A part of Channel 4’s programme for fresh comedy talent, Lady Parts follows engineering PHD student Amina (Anjana Vasan) as she juggles finding a husband and settling down with her dream of shredding a mean guitar for an all-female punk band fronted by Saira (Ritu Arya).
A brilliant ensemble cast showcasing diverse Muslim women with humour and strength. 

Watch “Lady Parts” on YouTube.

Hello, Again

Director: Tom Ruddock

Starring: Jack Brett Anderson & Naomi Scott

Owen (Jack Brett Anderson) struggles with the loss of his mum after her funeral so he heads to the cemetery where he meets Maura (Naomi Scott). A sweet and emotional story about loss, love and life, they try to find a way to connect with the loved ones they’ve lost.

Watch “Hello, Again” on YouTube.

I hope this is the first of many screenings championing brown women in front of and behind the camera.

Also Read: The Rise Of Nigerian-British Filmmakers

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Also: Watch out interview with Carlos Acosta

Yuli – The Carlos Acosta Story is out in cinemas on 12th April 2019

The post Interview: Paul Laverty & Icíar Bollaín Discuss “Yuli – The Carlos Acosta Story” appeared first on Big Picture Film Club.

Big Picture Film Club is conducting a survey on movie / TV streaming platforms available in the UK: what features you like about them and what you would want to see improved.

We would love for you to take part, the survey will take less than 5 minutes to complete and is available below.

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As a lifelong wrestling fan, I can honestly say this is the best time to be a wrestling fan. The storylines have matured, the women’s division has come a LONG way and the brand itself has evolved. No more are we made to believe that it’s “real”, instead it has immersed seamlessly into our everyday lives emphasizing more on entertainment than wrestling alone. Extending the brand by developing up and coming stars through NXT programming, creating their own SVOD with original content, developing gaming, merchandise and films.

With the recent success of Fighting With My Family – the story of former Diva and Women’s champion Paige’s rise to success at the WWE, and 2008’s critically acclaimed The Wrestler, starring Mickey Rourke and follows the life and struggles of a once successful wrestler, there is definitely an audience for wrestling themed films to be made for the wider mainstream audience.

With that in mind, the following are stories based on wrestlers and storylines that I think would make for great feature length films.

The Rock Says

Mirroring The Great One’s autobiography in parallel to his onscreen success and rise to fame, the story of Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson is one that is inspirational as much as it is entertaining. With memorable feuds and storylines from The Nation of Domination, to Vince McMahon and later Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Rock ‘s undeniable charisma led him to becoming one of the first superstars to successfully transition into Hollywood.

The Invasion

After years of battling for ratings in what is now known as the Monday Night Wars, WWE came out on top when they acquired WCW and ECW. In a shocking twist of events, it was revealed that yes a McMahon was now the owner of WCW but it was Shane not Vince who had signed on the dotted line. Together with Paul Heyman and new owner of ECW Stephanie McMahon, they formed the Alliance in a bid to dominate the WWE once and for all.

Pipebomb

The best storylines blur entertainment with reality, which in this day and age isn’t the easiest to do. It was a long lead but the infamous promo built the hype for one of the biggest matches in Money in The Bank history when CM Punk faced off with John Cena in what would be his ‘last match’ in the WWE.

Yes, Yes, Yes

The story of the underdog is one that we can all resonate with and one that doesn’t get old. The rise of Daniel Bryan’s superstardom took us on an emotional rollercoaster and finally culminated after a two year long battle against The Authority, where he overcame every obstacle that was put in his way to finally win the WWE Championship at the biggest stage of them all Wrestlemania 30. In a bittersweet moment, it was shortly after this monumental win when he announced his early retirement due to a neck injury and multiple concussions.

The Man

After a surprising heel turn at Summerslam, Becky Lynch breathed new life into the women’s evolution when she turned on her best friend Charlotte Flair. Never before had we seen such hype and support for a heel turn and overnight she became one of the biggest stars in the company. In just under a year she has built immense momentum for herself and her quest for the top, ultimately culminating in a winner takes all match when she faces Raw Women’s champion Ronda Rousey and Smackdown Women’s champion Charlotte Flair in the first ever headline main event at Wrestlemania 35.

The post WWE On The Big Screen appeared first on Big Picture Film Club.

“Yuli – The Carlos Acosta Story” will be in cinemas Friday 12th April.

The post Interview: Carlos Acosta Discusses Ballet & His Film “Yuli” appeared first on Big Picture Film Club.

Updating the classic comedy, Taraji P. Henson nails it as Ali the successful sports agent trying to make it in a mans world. After being overlooked for a promotion, a wild bachelorette party leads Ali to gain the ability to hear men’s thoughts. Using her powers for good she races to sign the next big basketball superstar all while balancing a love life with a potential new love interest (Aldis Hodge).

A big shout out to Popchips, Que from GreyWolf, Kyra, UK Afrolista, Neirodha and Shahlaa Thaira for joining us, as well as Public Ambition, Mikki Rose and Wardah Sempah.

A perfect way to kick start the weekend with friends, What Men Want is out in cinemas this Friday 15th March.

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In this special edition, we countdown which films have been the biggest draw at the U.K Box Office so far in 2018.

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Written and directed by Stephen Merchant, Florence Pugh takes the lead role as wrestler Paige with Dwayne “Thr Rock” Johnson producing and playing a supporting role in the film.

The film is due to be released February 2019 in the U.S and March 2019 in the U.K

Watch the trailer below

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Following its screening at our Conspiracy event earlier this year, psychological thriller, Transmission has officially been released online. Varun Raman & Tom Hancock who serve as writers and directors of the film describe it as “an abstraction of our fears over the future of post-Brexit Britain and many western countries that are now adopting protectionist and isolationist policies through manipulation and contempt.”

Transmission establishes tension between Dr. Sam (James Hyland) & Leonard (Michael Shon) right from the word go. What we are treated to is an intriguing and warped psychological game of one room cat and mouse for Leonard’s freedom – all with a stylistic nod to Stanley Kubrick. A must watch, but not for the faint-hearted.

Verdict: (5 / 5)

Credits:

WRITTEN & DIRECTED by Varun Raman & Tom Hancock
PRODUCTION COMPANY: PARALLEL MADNESS
CAST: James Hyland, Michael Shon, Kelby Keenan

Transmission is available to view below:

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Credits:

Directed by Rob Savage
Written by Jed Shepherd & Rob Savage
Produced by Douglas Cox

Starring Alice Lowe
Beau Gadson
James Swanton

The post Short Film | Salt appeared first on Big Picture Film Club.

Credits:

Director: Ed Perkins
Producers: Simon Chinn and Jonathan Chinn
Co-Producer: Vanessa Tovell
Cinematographer: Michael Paleodimos
Produced by Lightbox

Watch the full short film below: 

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