Blake Simons
@blakethinks.bsky.social
🎥 interview evangelist, programming @ LIFFF
✍ romance, japan, animation, queer, latam, at BFI, IndieWire, The Film Stage, ScreenAnarchy and more
Contact: blakesimons97(at)gmail(dot)com
https://muckrack.com/blakesimons
✍ romance, japan, animation, queer, latam, at BFI, IndieWire, The Film Stage, ScreenAnarchy and more
Contact: blakesimons97(at)gmail(dot)com
https://muckrack.com/blakesimons
"We cannot film inside the heart"
Daisuke Shigaya poured seven years into BIFF Competition title LEAVE THE CAT ALONE, a small film that speaks volumes
We discussed capturing the uncapturable, and what time can reveal about our creative and romantic impulses
[link below]
Daisuke Shigaya poured seven years into BIFF Competition title LEAVE THE CAT ALONE, a small film that speaks volumes
We discussed capturing the uncapturable, and what time can reveal about our creative and romantic impulses
[link below]
October 2, 2025 at 3:03 PM
"We cannot film inside the heart"
Daisuke Shigaya poured seven years into BIFF Competition title LEAVE THE CAT ALONE, a small film that speaks volumes
We discussed capturing the uncapturable, and what time can reveal about our creative and romantic impulses
[link below]
Daisuke Shigaya poured seven years into BIFF Competition title LEAVE THE CAT ALONE, a small film that speaks volumes
We discussed capturing the uncapturable, and what time can reveal about our creative and romantic impulses
[link below]
In his first-ever long-form English-language interview, I spoke with Japan's titan of time travel Makoto Ueda about script engineering, game logic, adaptation and homage. It's a special conversation.
desperatelyseekingsubtitles.substack.com/p/makoto-ued...
desperatelyseekingsubtitles.substack.com/p/makoto-ued...
September 7, 2025 at 7:15 PM
In his first-ever long-form English-language interview, I spoke with Japan's titan of time travel Makoto Ueda about script engineering, game logic, adaptation and homage. It's a special conversation.
desperatelyseekingsubtitles.substack.com/p/makoto-ued...
desperatelyseekingsubtitles.substack.com/p/makoto-ued...
An interview that I've wanted to conduct for a long Time.
Next week. :)
Next week. :)
August 1, 2025 at 10:32 AM
An interview that I've wanted to conduct for a long Time.
Next week. :)
Next week. :)
And introducing the LIFFF 2025 team, which adds the welcome wisdom of @notjudygarland.bsky.social and @simonramshaw.bsky.social!
July 19, 2025 at 7:02 PM
And introducing the LIFFF 2025 team, which adds the welcome wisdom of @notjudygarland.bsky.social and @simonramshaw.bsky.social!
We're back!
Hot off the success of our first edition, the London International Fantastic Film Festival returns this December. Submissions for Features and Shorts are now open: filmfreeway.com/lifff
Show us things we've never seen before -- we can't wait to see what you'll bring us.
Hot off the success of our first edition, the London International Fantastic Film Festival returns this December. Submissions for Features and Shorts are now open: filmfreeway.com/lifff
Show us things we've never seen before -- we can't wait to see what you'll bring us.
July 19, 2025 at 7:00 PM
We're back!
Hot off the success of our first edition, the London International Fantastic Film Festival returns this December. Submissions for Features and Shorts are now open: filmfreeway.com/lifff
Show us things we've never seen before -- we can't wait to see what you'll bring us.
Hot off the success of our first edition, the London International Fantastic Film Festival returns this December. Submissions for Features and Shorts are now open: filmfreeway.com/lifff
Show us things we've never seen before -- we can't wait to see what you'll bring us.
I spoke with innovative Japanese playwright Hideki Noda about LOVE IN ACTION, working with figures such as Kathryn Hunter and Sabu, and reckoning with the past to forewarn the future. The London production streams internationally till May 12th.
Link below ⬇️
Link below ⬇️
May 10, 2025 at 11:44 PM
I spoke with innovative Japanese playwright Hideki Noda about LOVE IN ACTION, working with figures such as Kathryn Hunter and Sabu, and reckoning with the past to forewarn the future. The London production streams internationally till May 12th.
Link below ⬇️
Link below ⬇️
In a sociopolitical climate increasingly intent on sidelining and disavowing empathy at every turn, it’s comforting to know that we are not immune to movies.
My reflections on 2024 in cinema for @thefilmstage.bsky.social
thefilmstage.com/blake-simons...
:
My reflections on 2024 in cinema for @thefilmstage.bsky.social
thefilmstage.com/blake-simons...
:
January 9, 2025 at 2:29 PM
In a sociopolitical climate increasingly intent on sidelining and disavowing empathy at every turn, it’s comforting to know that we are not immune to movies.
My reflections on 2024 in cinema for @thefilmstage.bsky.social
thefilmstage.com/blake-simons...
:
My reflections on 2024 in cinema for @thefilmstage.bsky.social
thefilmstage.com/blake-simons...
:
As part of my GoCritic! coverage of Animateka, I wrote about the best of the best in the European Young Talents strand: a curious crop of films exploring connection with ourselves and with each other, to profound and reflective ends. For Zippy Frames: www.zippyframes.com/festivals/eu...
:
:
January 7, 2025 at 6:39 PM
As part of my GoCritic! coverage of Animateka, I wrote about the best of the best in the European Young Talents strand: a curious crop of films exploring connection with ourselves and with each other, to profound and reflective ends. For Zippy Frames: www.zippyframes.com/festivals/eu...
:
:
I published 67 articles in 2024 across 12 outlets
Conducted over 60 interviews with film creatives
Covered 14 festivals internationally
Programmed 32 film screenings
I look forward to meeting even more of you this year! 😊
Conducted over 60 interviews with film creatives
Covered 14 festivals internationally
Programmed 32 film screenings
I look forward to meeting even more of you this year! 😊
January 2, 2025 at 6:37 PM
I published 67 articles in 2024 across 12 outlets
Conducted over 60 interviews with film creatives
Covered 14 festivals internationally
Programmed 32 film screenings
I look forward to meeting even more of you this year! 😊
Conducted over 60 interviews with film creatives
Covered 14 festivals internationally
Programmed 32 film screenings
I look forward to meeting even more of you this year! 😊
LIFFF was more of a success in its first edition than we could have dreamed— bolstered by a truly fantastic feature film lineup, a Q&A for every film, and the generous support of the London film scene, the filmmakers showcased, our wonderful juries, and press outlets
January 2, 2025 at 6:36 PM
LIFFF was more of a success in its first edition than we could have dreamed— bolstered by a truly fantastic feature film lineup, a Q&A for every film, and the generous support of the London film scene, the filmmakers showcased, our wonderful juries, and press outlets
I met Kanako Fujita in Udine, and we began discussing the London International Fantastic Film Festival.
LIFFF launched in November with our Opening Night Gala for THE KILLER GOLDFISH, with director Yukihiko Tsutsumi, producer Takeshi Moriya, and lead actress Erika Oka in attendance for a Q&A!
LIFFF launched in November with our Opening Night Gala for THE KILLER GOLDFISH, with director Yukihiko Tsutsumi, producer Takeshi Moriya, and lead actress Erika Oka in attendance for a Q&A!
January 2, 2025 at 6:35 PM
I met Kanako Fujita in Udine, and we began discussing the London International Fantastic Film Festival.
LIFFF launched in November with our Opening Night Gala for THE KILLER GOLDFISH, with director Yukihiko Tsutsumi, producer Takeshi Moriya, and lead actress Erika Oka in attendance for a Q&A!
LIFFF launched in November with our Opening Night Gala for THE KILLER GOLDFISH, with director Yukihiko Tsutsumi, producer Takeshi Moriya, and lead actress Erika Oka in attendance for a Q&A!
Film festivals! I attended them, participated in workshops at them, and even organised one.
Here's a nice photo of the Campus cohort at Far East Film Festival in Udine:
Here's a nice photo of the Campus cohort at Far East Film Festival in Udine:
January 2, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Film festivals! I attended them, participated in workshops at them, and even organised one.
Here's a nice photo of the Campus cohort at Far East Film Festival in Udine:
Here's a nice photo of the Campus cohort at Far East Film Festival in Udine:
Funniest interview snippet of my year
December 11, 2024 at 11:34 PM
Funniest interview snippet of my year
I flew off to another fest straight after we wrapped, so I'm late posting about it, but It Was A Good LIFFF, Charlie Brown
Thank you so much to everyone who came along, helped usher, covered our lineup, sat on the juries. We'll be back next year bigger and better still. Fantastic things afoot ❤️
Thank you so much to everyone who came along, helped usher, covered our lineup, sat on the juries. We'll be back next year bigger and better still. Fantastic things afoot ❤️
December 11, 2024 at 4:37 PM
I flew off to another fest straight after we wrapped, so I'm late posting about it, but It Was A Good LIFFF, Charlie Brown
Thank you so much to everyone who came along, helped usher, covered our lineup, sat on the juries. We'll be back next year bigger and better still. Fantastic things afoot ❤️
Thank you so much to everyone who came along, helped usher, covered our lineup, sat on the juries. We'll be back next year bigger and better still. Fantastic things afoot ❤️
Ahead of its International Premiere at LIFFF this Sunday, I sat down with Gakuryu Ishii to discuss his SELF-REVOLUTIONARY CINEMATIC STRUGGLE, a cinema-exclusive experience unlike anything you've ever seen
desperatelyseekingsubtitles.substack.com/p/gakuryu-is...
desperatelyseekingsubtitles.substack.com/p/gakuryu-is...
November 30, 2024 at 12:13 AM
Ahead of its International Premiere at LIFFF this Sunday, I sat down with Gakuryu Ishii to discuss his SELF-REVOLUTIONARY CINEMATIC STRUGGLE, a cinema-exclusive experience unlike anything you've ever seen
desperatelyseekingsubtitles.substack.com/p/gakuryu-is...
desperatelyseekingsubtitles.substack.com/p/gakuryu-is...
Saturday is the day for the core genre fans at LIFFF
We've got theatrical fantasy in KING BABY, we've got gonzo transnational comedy in THE GESUIDOUZ, we've got gender struggle horror in SUCCUBUS.
All back-to-back! All with Q&As!
www.eventbrite.com/cc/2024-lond...
We've got theatrical fantasy in KING BABY, we've got gonzo transnational comedy in THE GESUIDOUZ, we've got gender struggle horror in SUCCUBUS.
All back-to-back! All with Q&As!
www.eventbrite.com/cc/2024-lond...
November 29, 2024 at 11:36 AM
Saturday is the day for the core genre fans at LIFFF
We've got theatrical fantasy in KING BABY, we've got gonzo transnational comedy in THE GESUIDOUZ, we've got gender struggle horror in SUCCUBUS.
All back-to-back! All with Q&As!
www.eventbrite.com/cc/2024-lond...
We've got theatrical fantasy in KING BABY, we've got gonzo transnational comedy in THE GESUIDOUZ, we've got gender struggle horror in SUCCUBUS.
All back-to-back! All with Q&As!
www.eventbrite.com/cc/2024-lond...
UPDATE: Tomorrow night's London Premiere of THE GESUIDOUZ will be followed by a Zoom Q&A with writer-director Kenichi Ugana!!
5:30pm, BLOC Cinema, Mile ENd
Still some tickets available:
www.eventbrite.com/e/the-gesuid...
5:30pm, BLOC Cinema, Mile ENd
Still some tickets available:
www.eventbrite.com/e/the-gesuid...
November 29, 2024 at 11:21 AM
UPDATE: Tomorrow night's London Premiere of THE GESUIDOUZ will be followed by a Zoom Q&A with writer-director Kenichi Ugana!!
5:30pm, BLOC Cinema, Mile ENd
Still some tickets available:
www.eventbrite.com/e/the-gesuid...
5:30pm, BLOC Cinema, Mile ENd
Still some tickets available:
www.eventbrite.com/e/the-gesuid...
Take the plunge this Sunday and find out who you really are #LIFFF
www.genesiscinema.co.uk/event/93152
www.genesiscinema.co.uk/event/93152
November 27, 2024 at 2:05 PM
Take the plunge this Sunday and find out who you really are #LIFFF
www.genesiscinema.co.uk/event/93152
www.genesiscinema.co.uk/event/93152
Last night:
Welcome to LIFFF, your new home for fantastic cinema beyond the boundaries of genre ☺️
Welcome to LIFFF, your new home for fantastic cinema beyond the boundaries of genre ☺️
November 27, 2024 at 12:08 PM
Last night:
Welcome to LIFFF, your new home for fantastic cinema beyond the boundaries of genre ☺️
Welcome to LIFFF, your new home for fantastic cinema beyond the boundaries of genre ☺️
Nice photo of Yukihiko Tsutsumi and Erika Oka at the airport today!
THE KILLER GOLDFISH screens Tuesday in London with these three talents in attendance!
Tickets here: www.eventbrite.com/e/the-killer...
THE KILLER GOLDFISH screens Tuesday in London with these three talents in attendance!
Tickets here: www.eventbrite.com/e/the-killer...
November 24, 2024 at 5:26 PM
Nice photo of Yukihiko Tsutsumi and Erika Oka at the airport today!
THE KILLER GOLDFISH screens Tuesday in London with these three talents in attendance!
Tickets here: www.eventbrite.com/e/the-killer...
THE KILLER GOLDFISH screens Tuesday in London with these three talents in attendance!
Tickets here: www.eventbrite.com/e/the-killer...
I blurbed my favourite film of all time ahead of its long-overdue UK Premiere as Closing Film of the inaugural London International Fantastic Film Festival (Genesis Cinema, 1st December, 6pm)
November 23, 2024 at 6:29 PM
I blurbed my favourite film of all time ahead of its long-overdue UK Premiere as Closing Film of the inaugural London International Fantastic Film Festival (Genesis Cinema, 1st December, 6pm)