Covering this year’s Cannes Film Festival for @indiewire and elsewhere, with a particular focus on the Un Certain Regard section, which, alongside Quinzaine des cinéastes, has always been the most curious and exciting side of the fest to me. This review on Valentina Maurel’s stirring second feature “Forever Your Maternal Animal” is my first Critic’s Pick for Indiewire. Full review on the site.
Fresh interviews for @inreviewonline : a dream conversation with Hungarian filmmaker Ildikó Enyedi on SILENT FRIEND, her Venice knockout starring the sensual Tony Leung; then another with debuting director Elliot Tuttle and star Kieron Moore on BLUE FILM.
Out last weekend via @oscopelabs , "Blue Film" is a provocative chamber drama about the night a camboy spends with a man from his past.
Le Baltar spoke with director @elliottuttle and actor @kieronmoore about their conversations-sparking collaboration. Available for free, only to In Review Online's Substack subscribers at the Link in Bio.
Went a bit personal on @muchadoaboutryan ’s RAGING for Young STAR. Drawn to how the film disabuses itself of the images that have come to define sexual violence in cinema. Also best @elijahcanlas I’ve seen since KALEL, 15.
Very honored to have delivered a lecture on the work and commitment that go into the practice of criticism, this time to the cohort of the 2026 Pelikolektibo Film Criticism Workshop, happening alongside UP Cinema’s Piling Obrang Vidyo film fest where I’ll also oversee the in-competition lineup as part of the jury. Thank you @reyjiereyjie for the photos. 💖
Profiled the lovely @isabelvsandoval for Esquire Philippines after our conversation in Manila last month. Her fourth feature MOONGLOW, after its premiere at Rotterdam, is touring the film fest circuit, including the latest edition of First Look Festival at the Museum of the Moving Image in New York. Read the rest of the profile on the site. Photos courtesy of @eyezit_banks and @wence.trajano .
Briefly wrote about Kristoffer Borgli’s “The Drama,” starring Zendaya and Robert Pattinson as a messed-up couple. The piece is now up on my Substack newsletter and elsewhere. Spoilers on the third slide.
My latest for @indiewire : a review of Vicky Jewson’s ballet thriller “Pretty Lethal,” which just world premiered at @sxsw . Full review on the site and via link in bio.
Profiled the always brilliant Jorrybell Agoto for Rappler following the world premiere of Rafael Manuel’s first feature FILIPIÑANA at Sundance. We spoke about her start in theater, her breakthrough three years ago, her acting awakening, and reprising Isabel for the film, etc. Undeniably the funniest interview I've ever had.
For @esquireph , a critical take on Jun Lana’s SISA. While I’m drawn to its bold stylistic assertion and the performances, I think it ultimately sweats under ideological dissonance. Full review on the website.
V Day review of Irene Villamor’s THE LOVED ONE, which I basically can’t stop thinking about. Published this elsewhere, but here’s the better, unabridged version. Link in bio and story.
