If you're looking for what to add to your watch list; this one's for you.

From the pre festival screenings to the exciting premieres, this year’s line-up is full of films I haven’t been able to stop thinking about; from coming-of-age dramas, heartbreaking documentaries, to complex love stories – from the 18th-29th of March!

So, without further ado, here are my reviews from all the films I've seen so far:

Cast: Esihle Ndleleni, Muadi ILung, Mila Smith, Khensani Khoza, Nstimedi Gwangwa, Basetsana MotloungDirector: Sandulela AsandaSynopsis: Black Burns Fast is a teen drama, showing the highs and lows of what it's like to be a queer Black girl in a predominantly white boarding school, struggling to come to terms with her feelings and figuring out girlhood.My thoughts: For Asanda’s first full-length film, this film went way beyond my expectations, from the storyline, the acting, and the cinematography. I have been waiting for ages for a coming-of-age Black lesbian film which doesn't feel too cheesy. Luthando is an authentic, lovable character; the film follows her journey through friendships, relationships, and identity, all whilst dealing with racism and homophobia. 

The cinematography does an amazing job at capturing the isolation and struggles of being Black and queer while studying at a boarding school, by using close-ups of Luthando’s inner world and imagination. The editing allows for some of the harder topics to feel not so hard-hitting. This film made me reflect on my own school experience, realising how normalised certain behaviours were and how little I questioned them. Black Burns Fast would have been amazing when I was in secondary school and shows that we really do need queer representation in the media now more than ever.My rating: 4 out of 5

Cast: Emma Laird, Fionn Whitehead, Zar Amir, Adwoa Aboah, Magaajyia SilberfeldDirector: Alex BurunovaSynopsis: The film follows two British composers, Lola and Philip, whose relationship deteriorates whilst abroad in Greece. Lola deals with remembering past trauma she was trying to repress. Whilst she's actively in a toxic relationship with Philip, she finds Elena, who gives Lola a sense of escape and gives her voice back after losing it in her relationship with Philip.My thoughts: The first half of this film didn't really intrigue me; I honestly thought it was really slow and could have done without some of the scenes. However, within the second half of the film, where the cracks in not only the relationship but also within Lola emotionally begin to show, is where the film starts to come alive. There’s a line that Philip says when walking past a house where a man is screaming at his partner, and Philip says, “Why won't she scream for help?” This line is so potent due to Lola’s character, who has stayed quiet and not fought back or, let alone, said more than a sentence to Philip whilst in Greece, and only starts to fight back for herself after meeting Elena, who gives her the support she needed. The power imbalance does really highlight such a dangerous part of relationships and how some might be oblivious to one. After Lola confronts Philip for all of the horrible things he had done, she still ends up comforting him by cuddling him and letting him know that “you’ll be okay,” but once she leaves him, she gains her love for music back and becomes the version of herself that she should've been all along. 

Visually, the film is breathtaking; its composition and colouring add depth to the storytelling. The visual language is the backbone of this film due to Lola’s refusal to say more than a few words to Philip if they're not around other people. However, despite strong themes, some of the crying scenes felt underwhelming and didn't resonate as strongly as they could have done.My rating: 3 out of 5

Cast: Nina Meurisse, Laurence RoothooftDirector: Cato KustersSynopsis: After getting engaged, Fleur and Julian realise how many countries they aren't allowed to get married in, so instead of focusing on the negative, they get married in every country they're legally allowed to as a same-sex couple. When an unexpected injury happens, it causes an abrupt end to their 22 weddings and changes their lives forever.My thoughts: To say this film wasn't emotional would be a bold lie; the entire screening was in tears. From the story to the performance, every aspect of this film was beautifully crafted into such a moving piece. The actors bring such a raw and beautifully authentic feeling to this film; Fleur and Julian's chemistry is undeniable from the first scene. Handheld camcorder shots made this film feel so much more impactful. There was one clip Fleur kept watching of Julian when they were in New York, and Julian was playing about saying “New York, New York”; that playful energy really showed the kind of love that they had for each other, making the performance come to life. 

There are small moments of eye contact and dialogue which feel so pure and authentic, adding to the soul-crushing performance and storyline. Once it's found out that Julian is seriously ill, their relationship changes as they're both trying to be strong for each other, even though they know what's coming. Even when they have one moment of normality where they can laugh with each other, there are still small changes in their body language where you can see the impact this illness has on them both. 

The final presentation scene stands out as one of the most powerful scenes in the film. Fleur, in that moment, is so vulnerable, but she's allowing herself to be in order to honour her wife. Overall, this film is a must-see and will be on my radar to watch again once I'm mentally prepared to do so again, due to the deeply human and authentic performances from both Meurisse and Roothooft, and the handheld scenes where it's like we're watching pre-recorded clips of them that make it feel less like a film and more like you're there experiencing everything.My rating: 5 out of 5

Cast: Ella Rumpf, Monia Chokri, Noémie LvovskyDirector: Alice DouradSynopsis: Celine and Nadia are expecting their first baby; however, due to the laws in France, Celine has to go through many hurdles to show she will be a good parent to her child due to the fact that Nadia is carrying the baby and they’re in a lesbian relationship. This forces Celine to reconnect with past friends and her mother to speak on her character, leading Celine and Nadia to really understand the intricacies of parenthood.My thoughts: Love Letters balances comedy with heavy topics well. Dourad frames the film so that there are moments of comedy even during heavier topics like homophobia and inequality. The comedy allows for a break in some of the ridiculous things Celine has to prove to the court once the baby is born. Rumpf and Lvovsky's performances were incredible; they felt like a real couple, not just characters in a film. Their chemistry brings a deep understanding to the film and to the resilience they both have surrounding the inequality. 

The film, however, isn't perfect, as this is based on a real story. It's hard to fit all the real-life themes and expressions into a film of this length without making it feel a bit much, but the performances alone are enough to carry the film. The film is less about proving Celine's right to be the legal parent of the daughter and more about reimagining what it means to be a mother, making this film a timeless piece, which is also evident in the relationship between Celine and her mother, which starts off very distant but in the end comes together beautifully. I'll definitely be rewatching this film once released publicly.My rating: 4.5 out of 5Release date: TBC

Cast: Anna Ivankovic, Carys Glynne, Anna LiddellDirector: Isabel DalySynopsis: Morwenna is struggling to deal with a recent break-up, the loss of her grandad, and artistic inspiration when Igna, the Nordic selkie, ends up in town, bringing some life back into Morwenna but struggling with the fact Igna doesn't stay in one place too long.My thoughts: Ivankovic’s performance was undoubtedly one of the best things from this film. She delivered a nuanced character who was navigating a lot of difficult situations, mostly on her own. Ivankovic is able to capture both the resilience and the vulnerability of Morwenna, which helped lead the film to feel more authentic. Washed Up has an interesting plotline following Cornish folklore. 

Daly captured Cornwall authentically and highlighted the issues it's currently facing without overpowering the film too much, making it an enjoyable and fun watch. Crystal is one big part of it: in Cornwall you will always meet at least one person like Crystal a week; they're such an interesting character and will always know the most about the local folklore. However, despite these strengths, the film struggled to maintain an engaging tone, especially for a comedy. Much of the humour falls flat, not in a charming Cornish way but lacking impact. 

Another issue I had with this film was the pacing; I wish some plotlines were able to live out a bit longer and we were able to see more of characters like Crystal. As she often felt more like a filler character and less of a needed character, which in the end Igna needed, expanding her role a little earlier on in the film would have brought it all together a little bit more for me personally.My rating: 3 out of 5Release date: After premiere

Cast: Liza Weil, Noah Parker, Douglas SmithDirector: Nick ButlerSynopsis: Cliff’s life gets turned upside down when his con-artist mother Marg suddenly appears and drags him into her world of chaos. What starts as a way to reconnect quickly spirals into a mess that Cliff no longer wants to be a part of.My thoughts: Lunar Sway is an enjoyable watch for the most part, with amazing performances and incredible cinematography. I was a big fan of the blurriness in some of the earlier scenes; it added a dreamlike quality to them. However, the film struggled with pacing and clear direction for the most part. It feels as if Butler is trying to cram way too much into just 98 minutes, which ironically makes it feel much longer. 

The dream sequences were a highlight, showing Cliff coming to terms with his troubled relationships, but of course, when things started to get interesting, he’d wake up and fall back into his old ways. The motel scenes between Marg and Cliff made it a hard watch; while technically there's nothing wrong with their relationship, it still felt unsettling to watch. Overall, the film has some really good performances and funny moments but ultimately falls beyond flat due to its pacing and direction. I just wish Butler hadn't tried to squeeze so much into such a short time.My rating: 2.5 out of 5Release date: TBC

Cast: Lexie Bean, Blake Brockington, Kyler PrescottDirector: Lexie Bean, Logan RozosSynopsis: Lexie and Logan create a powerful, moving piece to remember the lives lost of the 50.8% of transgender boys who attempted suicide, focusing on Blake and Kyler, who both had such promising lives ahead of them. Blake was the first openly transgender person to win homecoming king, and Kyler was an extremely talented pianist who was mistreated by the system around him. The film highlights the importance of community, prevention, and fighting prejudice.|My thoughts: What Will I Become had me in tears from the very beginning to the very end. It's so beautifully put together by Lexie Bean and Logan Rozos, who have created such a moving piece to remember not just Blake and Kyler but the rest of the 50.8% of trans males who attempted suicide and didn’t make it. It highlights the many different systems that failed both Blake and Kyler, like the school therapists who were clearly not trained in handling things like gender dysphoria and transgender identities. 

The use of animation was done in such a graceful way to represent the lives of the people who are no longer here. The achievement of Blake becoming the first openly transgender homecoming king is such an important and meaningful message to show, allowing other transgender people to see themselves in positions they might not have thought were possible, especially not in high school, where it can feel really daunting. What Will I Become also highlights not only the youth groups available to transgender people but also groups for older people so that they can know there are spaces out there for them, and they also aren't all the same type of groups, so you can find one that fits your hobbies and likes.My rating: 5 out of 5Release date: TBC