Interview: Ben Wheatley on Bulk, the pitfalls of storytelling, and Minecraft
An interview with the filmmaker ahead of his latest film, Bulk – a strange film that shirks traditional storytelling in many ways
Manchester Film Festival announces stellar 2026 lineup
Manchester Film Festival has announced its 2026 line-up, which promises to be the festival’s biggest and best yet since its beginnings in 2015.
Junko Takekawa on Japanese film in the UK and the Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme’s biggest Manchester line-up to date in 2026
In its 23rd year, the Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme is launching its biggest Manchester line-up to date. The festival’s programmer, Junko Takekawa, talked me through the festival’s history and the decisions behind this year’s programme.
Twinless Review: Dylan O’Brien gets a chance to show his skills in an inventive but frequently flawed comedy
Twinless is undoubtedly original but doesn’t quite stick the landing, despite Dylan O’Brien firing on all cylinders
The Mancunion’s best films of 2025
As with every year, no matter what you might think overall, there have been some spectacular films released in 2025. We look back over the year with our writers to let you know what The Mancunion’s best films of 2025 are.
Warner Bros. Is For Sale – Your Attention Doesn’t Have To Be
One of the remaining pillars of the pre-streaming film world, Warner Bros., has just been hit with two large bricks by name of Netflix and Paramount-Skydance in a bidding war.
The Worst Films of 2025
In a year of great films, 2025 also had some truly awful releases. Here are the worst of the worst.
Interview: Director Tom Hardiman on comedy, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs and the edge of the mainstream
Director of Medusa Deluxe, one of the best British films of the decade, Tom Hardiman joins me to talk all things films and filmmaking
Love, regret and humanity: The Last Blossom explores the lot at Manchester Animation Festival 2025
The Last Blossom is an intensely human film which reflects on the meaningful moments of a man’s life.
Little Amélie or the Character of Rain review: a beautiful animation with strong heart at Manchester Animation Festival 2025
Little Amélie or the Character of Rain is a highly sentimental animated triumph with plenty of feeling.
I Am Frankelda review: what it misses in writing, it gains in aesthetics at Manchester Animation Festival 2025
I Am Frankelda offers a bold concept but does not manage to achieve enough substance.
Pure storytelling perfection takes the form of Arco at Manchester Animation Festival 2025
A favourite for an Oscar, Arco – a unique, heart-wrenching, powerful story – is completely justified in its critical acclaim.
New Animated Voices: Student Animation at Manchester Animation Festival 2025
A staple of Manchester Animation Festival’s line-up is their New Animated Voices showcase, a screening where they play a curated selection of the best animated shorts.
Predator: Badlands review: frontline Yautja, frontline feelings
The Predator franchise brings its titular antagonist to the driver’s seat, marking a strange but exciting change of pace.
Resurrection review: a wildly ambitious success at Leeds International Film Festival 2025
Screening at Leeds Film Festival, Bi Gan’s Resurrection is a monumental love letter to film and creativity
Sentimental Value review: the best film of 2025 is here at Leeds International Film Festival 2025
Sentimental Value is pretty easily my favourite film of the year, even amongst very stacked competition, and I have been desperate to see it again since its release.
Bugonia and the Rise of Conspiracy Theory
Yorgos Lanthimos’ latest installation explores how isolation breeds belief in the imaginary, and how this resonates with our current political climate.
Chloé Zhao’s Hamnet at HOME cinema: Jessie Buckley delivers the performance of a lifetime
Hamnet is a tender tragedy based on Maggie O’Farrell’s award-winning novel. It studies, with unbelievable soreness, how the death of William Shakespeare’s only son tore apart his family and motivated what would become widely recognised as the greatest play of all time.
Ratings or romance? Why Married at First Sight is no better than a dating app
What began as a social experiment over a decade ago has become one of today’s most streamed reality shows. But does this popularity reveal something deeper about dating in society?
Review: Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere delivers a quiet search for self
A profound portrayal of the person behind the icon, exploring isolation, struggle, and the search for direction.