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Role playing games possess a certain escapist thrill, but what happens when fantasy creeps into reality? Today’s popular user-driven experience gets a nostalgic 1980s makeover in “Choose or Die,” the terrifying refrain in a game with extremely high stakes. The pushes the idea of a cursed survival game to sinister ends, creating a world where every choice has cruel — and very real — consequences. Anchored by a scrappy coder heroine named Kayla (Iola Evans), whose tough exterior is armor for a difficult home life, the film offers a fresh take on a smart concept through the eyes of a compelling teenager. More leads like this, please.

“Choose or Die” is a perfect entry point into genre for younger viewers, one that will also satisfy old school diehards even as it takes some pointed (perhaps deserved?) jabs at them.

The film opens with a scene of domestic strife: A mother and...

Featuristic Films has unveiled an exclusive first look at the feature documentary “Afghanistan.” It follows filmmaker James Glancy, a former British Royal Marine Commando who was decorated in 2012 for his actions in combat, as he returns to Afghanistan with a small, handpicked team to help him answer the question that has haunted him over the past decade: Was it worth it?

Dramatically, mid-way through the shoot, President Joe Biden announced that the U.S. would be pulling troops out by 9/11, starting a Taliban offensive that has led to the dramatic fall this week of the Afghan government, amidst chaotic evacuation scenes in Kabul as American forces withdraw.

The documentary offers unprecedented access to the story of the Afghan war and what has happened to the Afghan people, Featuristic Films said, told firstly through the personal journey of Glancy, his memories from fighting in Afghanistan, stories from his father, who lived...

Here’s the latest episode of the The Filmmakers Podcast, part of the ever-growing podcast roster here on Nerdly. If you haven’t heard the show yet, you can check out previous episodes on the official podcast site, whilst we’ll be featuring each and every new episode as it premieres.

For those unfamiliar with the series, The Filmmakers Podcast is a podcast about how to make films from micro budget indie films to bigger budget studio films and everything in-between. Our hosts Giles Alderson, Dan Richardson, Andrew Rodger and Cristian James talk how to get films made, how to actually make them and how to try not to f… it up in their very humble opinion. Guests will come on and chat about their film making experiences from directors, writers, producers, screenwriters, actors, cinematographers and distributors.

The Filmmakers Podcast #220: How to Fund, Package, Finance and Produce indie Films...

Joy Gharoro-Akpojotor, Helen Simmons and Rienkje Attoh were taking part in the Restart conference.

Film and TV productions should have lines in the budget for mental health services and childcare provision, according to a panel of emerging producers.

“On Boxing Day [Aml Ameen’s debut feature which shot in December 2020] we had a wellbeing practitioner,” said producer Joy Gharoro-Akpojotor, who produced Rapman’s debut feature Blue Story in 2019. “This is somebody available who is independent from us – if you were struggling, you could book a session.

“We covered it – it was a little line in the budget, we could get 10-15 sessions out of it,...

It takes expert stylistic precision to successfully craft a dark comedy about religious fanatics endeavoring to assassinate a celebrated atheist. Filmmaker Harry Michell doesn’t quite stick the landing in his sophomore feature, aiming for a complex mixture of comic irreverence and sensitive character study. But he does earn points for creative ambition, and Say Your Prayers, benefiting from a terrific ensemble, has enough entertainingly startling moments to mark its filmmaker as capable of bigger and better things.

The story is set in the town of Ilkley in the Yorkshire region of England, where Vic (Tom Brooks) and his younger brother ...

It takes expert stylistic precision to successfully craft a dark comedy about religious fanatics endeavoring to assassinate a celebrated atheist. Filmmaker Harry Michell doesn’t quite stick the landing in his sophomore feature, aiming for a complex mixture of comic irreverence and sensitive character study. But he does earn points for creative ambition, and Say Your Prayers, benefiting from a terrific ensemble, has enough entertainingly startling moments to mark its filmmaker as capable of bigger and better things.

The story is set in the town of Ilkley in the Yorkshire region of England, where Vic (Tom Brooks) and his younger brother ...

"It's just words! It doesn't mean anything!" Gravitas has released a new official US trailer for an indie dark comedy from the UK called Say Your Prayers, the second feature directed by Harry Michell (also of Chubby Funny previously). This opened in the UK last fall, and arrives in the US this spring to watch. Two orphaned brothers turned radical Christian hitmen venture to rural Ilkley (north of Manchester - see Google Maps) under the instruction of Father Enoch. Their mission: assassinate the Professor John Huxley, famed atheist writer. The cast features Harry Melling and Tom Brooke, with Derek Jacobi, Roger Allam, Anna Maxwell Martin, and Vinette Robinson. This looks like it gets super wacky weird and crazy, but I like that they're making fun of religion in a blatant way. More of this kind of dark humor to laugh at, please. Here's the new US trailer (+ poster) for Harry Michell's Say Your Prayers,...

Gravitas Ventures has snapped up the North American rights to Say Your Prayers, directed by Harry Michell and starring Harry Melling, Tom Brooke, Derek Jacobi, Roger Allam, Anna Maxwell Martin and Vinette Robinson.

A theatrical and on-demand release on April 2, 2021 is planned. Written by Jamie Fraser and Michell, Say Your Prayers portrays Tim and Vic, orphaned brothers and Christian radicals who assassinate the wrong target and find themselves waiting for the arrival of a foreboding mentor to complete their mission before a foul-mouthed detective inspector gets in their way.

“We’re very pleased to be working with Gravitas and excited to ...

Gravitas Ventures has snapped up the North American rights to Say Your Prayers, directed by Harry Michell and starring Harry Melling, Tom Brooke, Derek Jacobi, Roger Allam, Anna Maxwell Martin and Vinette Robinson.

A theatrical and on-demand release on April 2, 2021 is planned. Written by Jamie Fraser and Michell, Say Your Prayers portrays Tim and Vic, orphaned brothers and Christian radicals who assassinate the wrong target and find themselves waiting for the arrival of a foreboding mentor to complete their mission before a foul-mouthed detective inspector gets in their way.

“We’re very pleased to be working with Gravitas and excited to ...

Ever wondered how many pints of Guinness are drank each year? Me neither, so let’s get on with singing the praises of this wonderful crime comedy-thriller.

Pixie Hardy (Olivia Cooke) is a seemingly nice, normal girl living in a nice, normal part of Ireland. However, she’s got a drugs heist on her mind and this job’s personal. When things inevitably start to unravel, she’s forced to team-up on a road trip with Frank (Ben Hardy) and Harland (Daryl McCormack) a pair of loveable losers who are way out of their depth. And when you throw a bunch of decidedly dodgy priests into the mix, “nice, normal” goes straight out the stained-glass window.

Pixie’s strong suit is its sheer likeability. It’s poignant and somewhat gritty in places, but maintains an innocent charm throughout. As a black comedy, it would’ve also been easy to fall...

“Saint Maud,” “White Riot” and “Calm With Horses” are among the leading titles on the British Independent Film Awards (BIFA) longlists announced Tuesday.

Riz Ahmed, star and co-writer of Berlin-winner “Mogul Mowgli” is on the longlist in the debut screenwriter long list, alongside Billie Piper for “Rare Beasts.”

Rose Glass, director of “Saint Maud,” which won an honorable mention at the BFI London Film Festival in 2019, makes it to the BIFA debut director and screenwriter longlist, as does producer Oliver Kassma, in the breakthrough producer category.

“White Riot” won awards at Berlin, London, Krakow and IndieLisboa, and director Rubika Shah duly makes it to the debut director list and Ed Gibbs in the breakthrough producer category.

“Calm With Horses” won at the Irish Film and Television Awards, and director Nick Rowland finds a place in the director longlist, Joseph Murtagh in the debut screenwriting category and Daniel Emmerson as breakthrough producer.

Twenty-seven films have been longlisted across three new talent categories.

The British Independent Film Awards (BIFAs) has moved its ceremony from its traditional early December slot to February 2021 as it announces the longlists for six categories this week.

The nominations will be announced on December 9 and winners revealed “in early February”, according to BIFA. An exact date and format of the ceremony has yet to be announced.

Scroll down for the New Talent longlists

Rose Glass’ horror Saint Maud and Nick Rowland’s drama Calm With Horses are two of six films included in all three longlists for the BIFA 2020 New Talent categories.

In his latest intervi4ew/podcast, host and screenwriter Stuart Wright speaks with Harry Michell about writing and directing his new feature film Say Your Prayers.

Two orphaned brothers turned radical Christian hitmen venture to rural Ilkley under the instruction of Father Enoch). Their mission: assassinate Professor John Huxley, famed atheist writer.

Starring Harry Melling, Tom Brooke, Vinette Robinson, Derek Jacobi, Anna Maxwell Martin and Roger Allam, Say Your Prayers is out now on all good digital platforms.

Ah, Ilkley. Famous for the Tour de Yorkshire, a toy museum and being a gateway to ‘God’s own country’ – the Dales – it’s now the location for this alternative crime caper. But that’s enough PR for the tourist board, let’s sing the praises of the movie.

Say Your Prayers centres around chalk-and-cheese brothers Tim and Vic, who’ve been sent on a mission from God with a difference, by Father Enoch (a solid cameo role for Derek Jacobi). As things take an unexpected turn, a reluctant detective chief inspector is thrown into the unholy mix, courtesy of a brilliant performance from Anna Maxwell Martin.

This all takes place during the weekend of the annual Ilkley Literature Festival, and it’s this coupled with the small-scale setting that lends the film its charm and also means the characters’ trials and tribulations are intertwined that little bit more.

Speaking of settings,...

Christian extremist brothers Tim and Vic (Harry Melling and Tom Brooke) are on a mission. Sent to Ilkley in the Yorkshire dales, they have been charged with assassinating atheist writer John Huxley (Roger Allam), but a botched initial attempt which left another man dead has put a hard-nosed cop (Anna Maxwell Martin) on their trail.

There are promising ideas and a few good jokes at the beginning of this satirical black comedy. The cold open with Tim sharing a jam sandwich with the man he and his brother are about to kill is gently funny because we know that something is coming and the incongruous appearance of a male voice choir among the rolling hills, singing the score over the opening title is a funny fourth wall break. The first act continues to work fairly well after this, with Anna Maxwell Martin clearly having fun slightly overplaying the tough cop...