The film industry is a tricky, cutthroat business, and nobody understands that more than the creatives who work in it. For the vast majority of people working in film, the smallest modicum of success can take years. But imagine finally making it to the top of that mountain, being told by one of tinseltown's top studios that your movie is officially in development. Now imagine spending thousands of hours with your team writing, filming, being on set all in the pursuit of your

Sometimes you can go from the top of your game to the plateau of mediocrity. For those who grew up "gifted kids," navigating success as an adult can be a challenge when you go from "good for your age" to just "average." Few films understand this better than Isabel Hagen's On A String, which won Best Screenplay at last year's Tribeca Film Festival. Over the course of 80 minutes, it presents a raw look at modern womanhood as well as the frustration of being undervalued and over

Out of all the competitive professions in the United States, none compare to the film industry. Out of millions of wide-eyed hopefuls, very few actually get to see their work showcased to the masses and even fewer get to make a name for themselves. When starting out, one measly mistake can mean the difference between success and a total industry blacklisting. One film showcases this is new feature Above the Line by Jeffrey Scott Collins which not only explores the plight of y

This week, the new queer dystopian short, Peppermint Pixie Dream Girl premieres at the Marilyn Monroe Theater in West Hollywood! To prepare for the film's premiere, we had the pleasure of sitting down with writer, director, producer, and editor Kylie Mungenast to discuss not only the short but the world at large and what it means to be a transgender artist in this current political climate. Rua: "Welcome Kylie, I want to first of all say congratulations on your film, it is so

There will never be another Anthony Bourdain. A chef, author, and true global citizen, who understood that a trip to the local hot dog stand could be just as meaningful as a meal at the French Laundry. Through his TV shows, Parts Unknown and No Reservations, Bourdain showcased cuisine from the hidden, underrepresented corners of the world, appreciating not only taste and history, but the true power of food: how it brings people together. In 2018, Anthony Bourdain died by suic

We are currently in the last few days of the Locarno Film Festival, one of the most prestigious entertainment events in Europe. Not only does Locarno screen favorites from past festivals like Cannes and Tribeca, it also sees the premieres of new feature films we will be talking about this upcoming award season! One notable feature film this year was Bruton, a biopic about how one man's life was turned upside down by a tragic accident and how love and determination still perse

If you've been to a movie in the past month there's a good chance you've seen the trailer for One Night Only, and if you live in a major city there's an even better chance that you've seen a billboard or two. For the past few weeks this film's advertising has been downright inescapable and as of this weekend it is finally in theaters. While having the style of a stereotypical rom-com, One Night Only comes with a twist that movie-goers are labeling "stupid" at best and "offens

Eighteen years since the end of the original series and twelve since the end of its sequel series The Legend of Korra, the Avatar: The Last Airbender series finally makes a triumphant return with its first feature length film! This time around the stakes have never been higher, not just for the characters but for Nickelodeon and Paramount. Despite having a veracious fanbase, it's been a long time since the prime of the series. Have the viewers from a decade ago outgrown this

Parenthood and adolescence are hard, but no time is more difficult for both parties than the summer between high school and college. Parents are caught between protecting and letting go and the kids are caught in the limbo of being not a child anymore, but not quite an adult either. Nine times out of ten this causes undeniable tension between both sides, it's easy to see why very few people look back on this time fondly. This pivotal moment in time is captured in the new indi

[The following review is spoiler-free] I can still fondly recall the night of December 16th, 2021, the opening night of Spider-Man: No Way Home. As a seventeen year old AMC employee, I marveled at the crowds of people rushing into the theater in everything from T-shirts to head-to-toe costumes. People of all ages flooded our tiny suburban theater, from long-time fans to young children, all eager to see their favorite character's latest adventure. To this day it is the single

Cinema has been a part of queer culture since pictures first began to move. Over the past few decades audiences have witnessed queer stories evolve from being the butt of the joke to taking up the spotlight. Now more than ever, stories of gay and transgender people matter in the American cinema landscape, and there are no shortage of brilliant projects to choose from. One new independent short attempts to showcase a seldom-seen point of view: a trans lesbian story told by a t

[the following review contains spoilers for a 3,000 year old story] 2026 has been a banner year for high-profile releases. Toy Story 5, Disclosure Day, and Supergirl all have come and gone and it's only July! But no matter who you are, there's no denying that the most-anticipated film this year was none other than Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey. So much so that tickets started going on sale a full calendar year ago, and sold out soon after! This weekend, after over a year o

This year it'll be a decade since the release of Moana, Walt Disney Animation Studio's biggest hit since Frozen. I still vividly remember being in middle school, going to see Moana in theaters and being blown away by the beautiful animation, iconic soundtrack, and elevated retelling of the classic Hero's Journey. It's hard to argue against the movie's obvious merits. This week, less than ten years after the original film came out, the live-action Moana sailed into internation

[the following review is spoiler-free] As someone who has recently entered adulthood, I knew there were going to be some new difficulties that weren't present as a teenager. Mainly paying rent, grocery shopping, scheduling my own doctor's appointments, etc. But nobody ever talks about the real hardest part of being a grown-up: making friends. If you weren't blessed with lifelong childhood connections, making new friends as an adult is a daunting task. This plight is thorough

[the following review is spoiler-free] When promotion began for Jackass: Best and Last, it led with an angle of sentimentality. Johnny Knoxville and co. were misty-eyed in their interviews, reflecting on the fun times of yore and preparing for one final goodbye. Best and Last was positioned not as the crazy one, the big one, or the funny one, but the sweet one. However – and any real Jackass fan can tell you this – sentimentality was never a weak point of any one of their fi

[the following review contains light spoilers] It's a bird! It's a plane! It's one of the most anticipated movies of the year! On June 26th, the DCU's Supergirl finally flew into theaters after months of serious hype. Everyone from superfans to casual movie-goers eagerly awaited the newest iteration of Kara Zor-El. But despite a mammoth budget and no shortage of star power, the results have been far more mixed than anticipated. But is this due to legitimate criticism or do w

It’s Toys VS Tech in Pixar’s latest entry in the Toy Story franchise! Jessie, Buzz, Woody, and the rest of Bonnie’s toys (as well as some new friends) come face to face with the monster that is “killing childhood” in the eyes of many parents: The Internet. But can the series that debuted the CG animated feature to the world take on the “IPad babies” of Gen Alpha without coming off as curmudgeonly? Or is this Toy Story truly out of touch? While the original 3 films of the Toy

[the following review contains light spoilers] In December of 2025, mysterious billboards began popping up all over Los Angeles sporting only a name and a date: "Spielberg, 6.12.26." Film fans and the general public waited with baited breath over this enigmatic new project and it quickly became one of 2026's most anticipated releases. With a star-studded cast, a huge budget, and the direction of the most legendary filmmaker of all time, expectations were high and seats were

American History X is an infamous film centering around hatred and how it can grow like a cancer even in countries (once) as progressive as the United States. What may be even more infamous however is what went on behind-the-scenes during the making of the film. Director, Tony Kaye has never been shy about expressing his disdain for the studio executives, distributors, and one particular cast member who in his opinion, robbed him of his intended creative vision. In retaliatio

This year's Tribeca Film Festival is in full swing in Manhattan, New York. Being one of the most prominent film festivals in the United States, for years Tribeca has seen premieres from the industry's best and brightest and this year is no different. Despite being nestled in the corner of Manhattan, Tribeca prides itself on showcasing work from around the globe from voices that otherwise would not get recognition. One of this year's international films is One Woman One Bra fr