FRED Film Radio - English Channel

The 23rd edition of Alice nella Città gave a very warm welcome to Noah Beck, a social-media phenomenon now established as one of Gen Z’s most influential personalities, on October 25 together with director Justin Wu and actress Siena Agudong to present The Bad Boy and Me, the irresistible romantic comedy coming soon to Italy’s streaming platforms thanks to Maestro Distribution.

From Wattpad to the big screen

Based on the most-read novel of all time on Wattpad (Sidelined: The QB and Me), The Bad Boy and Me is direc...

In competition at the 23rd Alice nell Città, Ronan Day-Lewis presented his directorial debut, Anemone, co-written and starred by his father, actor Daniel Day-Lewis.

The film, coming out in Italian cinemas from November 6th with Universal Pictures Italy, marks Daniel Day-Lewis’s return to the big screen, 8 years after the release of Paul Thomas Anderson’s Phantom Thread.

The powerful themes of identity, family, and reconciliation in Anemone

Anemone is a compelling film that delves into the tumultuous journey of a man confronting his past and seeking redem...

Bluey, the animated series created and written by Joe Brumm, made its big-screen debut thanks to Alice nella città, at the Auditorium Parco della Musica, ahead of its arrival on October 30 at The Space Cinema locations and other cinema chains throughout Italy, distributed by BBC Studios Kids & Family.

For those who don’t yet know who Bluey is, a quick refresher: she’s a Blue Heeler puppy who lives in Australia with her little sister Bingo and their parents, hockey enthusiast Chilli and dad Bandit, an archaeologist who loves digging for bones.

An In-De...

During the 20th edition of the Rome Film Fest we spoke with Mary Bronstein and Rose Byrne, director and main actress of  the film “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You”. This compelling film masterfully blends dark humor with raw emotional depth, capturing life’s contradictions, the challenges of motherhood and the layered and complex human experiences.

The film indeed reflects life’s unpredictable nature, using humor as a survival mechanism amid stress and adversity, preventing the story from becoming overwhelming and cleverly employing also visual and behavioral humor in order to find comedy in absurdity and tensions.<...

A Personal Reflection on Cultural Shifts in Serbia

The film “Eighty Plus” offers a poignant look at Serbia’s complex post-war identity through the story of a jazz pianist returning home after six decades in Germany. Directed by Želimir Žilnik, the documentary intertwines personal stories with broader reflections on exile, social change, and national memory.

Revisiting the Past and Present

“Eighty Plus” delves into the pianist’s journey to reclaim his childhood home amid Serbia’s ongoing social and political transformations. Žilnik was inspired by recent debates around the restitution of property and a broader sense o...

At the 20th edition of the Rome Film Fest, the director Chloé Zhao presented her latest work, “Hamnet”, in a heartfelt conversation about art, grief, and the metamorphosis of the human spirit. Adapted from Maggie O’Farrell’s acclaimed novel, “Hamnet” revisits the emotional landscape behind Shakespeare’s Hamlet, exploring the timeless cycle of love and death, and how creation can rise from loss.

From Loss to Oneness

When asked about the recurring themes in her work, Zhao reflected on her cinematic journey: “The first three films I made were very much about loss and people losing thei...

Towards the Light: A Personal Diary of Exile and Hope

“Towards the Light” is a deeply personal documentary that delves into themes of exile, loss, and hope. Directed by Vadim Kostrov, the film reflects his own experience of settling into a new land after fleeing Russia during the Ukraine conflict. Shot largely in Paris, the film captures intimate moments of disorientation and the search for belonging.

Symbolism and Light as Emotional Guides

Kostrov uses light as a potent symbol throughout “Towards the Light”. Filming during sunny days, he associates sunlight with moments of clarity...

At the 23rd edition of Alice nella Città, director Max Walker-Silverman presented his deeply personal new film, “Rebuilding”, a poetic and humanist tale of loss, memory, and regeneration.
Inspired by his own family’s experience, the filmmaker recalls, “The film is based on seeing my grandmother’s house burn in a wildfire, which was at first one of the great tragedies that has happened in the family, but in the weeks and months afterwards, it became a more complicated and interesting thing.”

For Walker-Silverman, the film’s genesis was not the fire itself, but what followed. “It became about g...

Exploring social cohesion in cairo

“Cactus Flower”, directed by Hala Elkoussy, offers a poignant look at familial and cross-generational relationships amidst Cairo’s vibrant urban landscape. The film follows Aida, a young woman in her late 20s, and her friendship with Samiha, an elderly woman over 70, who both face displacement in a city constantly evolving.

Inspired by the Arab Spring

Elkoussy explains that her inspiration stemmed from her experiences during the Arab Spring, which she describes as a period when societal boundaries blurred and different generations interacted more openly. The film investigates how such d...

A Personal Journey Through Family, Place, and Memory

“Vacances” is an evocative documentary that spans a decade, capturing summers in a Provencal villa in France, and offering a fresh perspective on family dynamics and inherited traditions. Directed by Victoria Hely-Hutchinson, the film explores the intimate relationships between an Austrian-Hungarian countess and her family, using the villa’s timeless atmosphere as a backdrop for emotional storytelling.

The Significance of Location and Atmosphere

The villa in Provence is more than just a setting in “Vacances“; it becomes a character shaping the narrative. Hely-Hutchinson emphasizes how the villa’...

In competition at the 23rd Alice nell Città, Ronan Day-Lewis presented his directorial debut, Anemone, co-written and starred by his father, actor Daniel Day-Lewis.

The film, coming out in Italian cinemas from November 6th with Universal Pictures Italy, marks Daniel Day-Lewis’s return to the big screen, 8 years after the release of Paul Thomas Anderson’s “Phantom Thread”.

Daniel Day-Lewis plays Ray, a man living in a isolated house on the northern English coast, far from everything and everyone, who receives a visit from his brother, Jim (Sean Bean) whom he hasn’t seen in a very long...

During the 20th edition of the Rome Film Fest we spoke with Michel Franco, director of “Dreams”, starring Jessica Chastain and Isaac Hernández.

The movie delves into the complex themes of physical and psychological borders, presenting raw insights on the blurred lines between love and destruction, privilege and oppression. At its core, “Dreams” explores a tumultuous relationship between a Mexican immigrant and a privileged art patron, and while their personal connection and sexual relationship is central, the story subtly exposes the broader political landscape—highlighting how nowadays borders are both geographical and psychological. Also portraying how the American Dr...

At the 23rd edition of Alice nella Città, the director Laurent Slama, presented his film  “A Second Life” Out of Competition. After traveling from Tribeca to Karlovy Vary, Slama’s film arrives in Rome with its delicate mix of realism, intimacy, and social reflection — a story about isolation, perception, and the search for connection in a modern world mediated by screens and noise.

Meeting a Young Audience

For Slama, bringing “A Second Life” to Alice nella Città means engaging with the very audience the film was made for. “Yeah, it’s something very special because I think that the fi...

At the 23rd edition of Alice nella Città, Carla Simón, the acclaimed Catalan filmmaker behind “Summer 1993” and “Alcarràs“, talks about her new film “Romería”.

A delicate and deeply personal work, “Romería” closes a trilogy in which Carla Simón has explored family, loss, and identity through the lens of memory and imagination.

A Trilogy Comes Full Circle

“When I started with my first film, Summer 1993, I didn’t know I would make two more films about my family,” Carla Simón explains. “But it just happened. I have a very big family full of stories...

During the 20th edition of the Rome Film Fest we spoke with Stephen Graham and Anson Boon, main actors of “Good Boy,” directed by Jan Komasa. The film offers a compelling reflection on the restrictive nature of modern society, seen through the eyes of a british rascal who gets trapped in a re-educational plan of a family who kidnap him and chain him down to obtain their purpose.  The film, showcased here at the Rome Film Fest, delves into how societal expectations, on the educational system of today and on how digital culture can also act as an invisible priso...

During the 69th BFI London Film Festival, director Oscar Hudson and actors Luke and Elliott Tittensor explored the profound themes of identity and nationalism in their film, “Straight Circle”. Hudson discusses the origins of the project, driven by his interest in non-places and the impact of the war in Ukraine, which inspired him to examine these universal themes. The film doesn’t focus on a specific conflict but on the essence of every conflict — emphasizing the absurdity and isolation created by borders.

The Desert as a Character in “Straight Circle”

Hudson explains the significance of the desert l...

During the 69th BFI London Film Festival, Deming Chen, director, and Hansen Lin, producer, discussed their deeply personal project, “Always”. The film was showcased as part of the festival’s diverse selection, highlighting its poetic approach to storytelling. “Always” delicately portrays the life of a young boy in rural China and his extraordinary talent for poetry. The conversation explored the origins of the story, the unique visual style, and the challenges of presenting such a nuanced narrative to an international audience.

Discovering Gong: The Genesis of “Always“

Chen shared the serendipitous story of how he discovered Gong...

Hsu Ya-Ting, director of “Island of the Winds”, first encountered the Lesheng Movement as a college student. Captivated by the story of Lesheng Sanatorium residents facing eviction, she initially documented their struggles for her graduation project. Deeply touched by their spirit and resilience, Ya-ting was moved by how openly they shared their stories and actively fought to protect their land. Despite the complexities of political and medical issues surrounding the eviction, she felt compelled to tell their story. After years of reflection and growth, she returned to Lesheng to craft “Island of the Winds”. During the 69th BFI London Film Fes...

Vincent Munier, the director behind the captivating documentary “Whispers in the Woods”, sat down at the 69th BFI London Film Festival 2025 to discuss his deeply personal film. “Whispers in the Woods” explores Munier’s relationship with his father and son, Simon, set against the breathtaking Vosges mountains. This film is not just a nature documentary; it’s an intimate portrayal of family, legacy, and the vital connection to the natural world.

A Generational Journey

One of the most touching scenes in “Whispers in the Woods” involves Vincent, his father, and Simon navigating through deep snow. Munier recalls his...

Ben Rivers’ new film, “Mare’s Nest”, is a captivating exploration of childhood, freedom, and the search for meaning in a post-societal world. Premiering at the 69th BFI London Film Festival 2025, the film follows a young protagonist, Moon, as she navigates a world without adults, encounters other children, and grapples with questions of existence and the future. Known for his visually striking and thought-provoking work, Rivers offers a unique vision of hope amid a world facing climate change and societal collapse.

Connecting Visions: ‘Mare’s Nest’ and ‘Bogancloch’

Rivers sees a strong connection between “Mare’s Nest” and his earlie...