AFI Fest: “The Fire Inside” Packs a Surprising Punch

by Eurocheese

I have to admit that on the last day of AFI Fest, I was not particularly excited to see a boxing film. Oscar seems to have an affinity for the topic, but sports films in general don't resonate with me. Shame on me for underestimating Barry Jenkins as a screenwriter and for not having higher hopes for cinematographer Rachel Morrison’s directorial debut. The Fire Inside, much like its protagonist, proves itself again and again: It’s a compelling, smart drama with a scope that stretches far beyond the game.

The film is based on the true story of Claressa Shields who overcame obstacles all her life in Flint, Michigan on her way to becoming an Olympian...

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The Hunt for the Tenth: Women in Best Director of 2024

By Juan Carlos Ojano

After last Oscars’ historic record of three female-directed films in Best Picture, we are again headed towards another round of awards season, albeit with no clear frontrunners yet as of the time of writing. Since 2017’s #MeToo, mainstream media outlets have been more cognizant of the routine exclusion of women in the Best Director conversation. Many cinephiles have also been vocal in addressing this issue, more than ever.

The issues female directors face is deeper and more systemic than just the awards season. However, this process of instant canonization is symptomatic of which kinds of art and artists are given more value by the critics and the industry. The fact we only had our ninth female nominee for Best Director at the last Oscars - in the Academy’s 96 years of existence - speaks loudly to this problem...

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