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Julian A. Leu

Fresh perspectives on the films, people and ideas that move us.

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Interview with OCTOBER 2025 winner: Jan Fabris

12 December 2025

Nowadays, going through your Instagram feed sometimes makes you wonder - is this video real, or is it just very convincing AI? If there is uncertainty for something as innocent as a cat reel, then how do things look like

Interview with FEBRUARY 2025 Winner: Miguel Andrade

16 March 2025

Despite its mere 28 days, February was stacked in terms of high quality films here at TMFF. Mirroring the quality of releases in theatres, we had a hard time choosing a winner - in the end, Umbral was the one triumphing

8 Films that Continued TV Series

27 February 2025

Television series have long captured the hearts and imaginations of audiences, with many becoming cultural phenomena. It's no surprise that some of these beloved shows eventually made their way to the big screen, giving

The Main Characteristics of German Cinema

17 February 2025

It's been quite a long break from this series, but I am happy to keep exploring the unique characteristics of various film cultures from across the world. And I decided to continue with a European powerhouse. German cine

7 Films Set (Mostly) on Beaches

10 February 2025

It's freezing cold outside as we still find ourselves in winter - so, unless you've made an escape to a tropical land for a warming holiday, beaches are not exactly top of mind right now. Which is precisely why I wanted

Interview with JANUARY 2025 Winner: Kim Fabienne Hertinger

7 February 2025

As if to mirror the quality of the films hitting cinemas these months, January was really strong in terms of competition here at TMFF. We had some amazing contenders to pick from, but in the end, the biggest award went t

The Legacy of David Lynch

3 February 2025

It was a very sad moment when I read a news headline back in January about the death of one of my favourite directors of all time, David Lynch . Following the moment in 2020 when he was diagnosed with emphysema in 2020 a

True Detective Season 4 (Review)

11 July 2024

I am of the opinion that the first season of True Detective is one of the best season of any series ever made. It had iconic characters, a very strong underlying philosophy, a crime mystery that intertwined with supernat

The Main Characteristics of Mexican Cinema

21 June 2024

To continue the series of worldwide cinema characteristics, this time I have chosen Mexican cinema – a vibrant tapestry woven with the threads of culture, history, and passion. If you've ever found yourself captivated by

7 Football Series to Watch Before EURO 2024

14 June 2024

Very soon, there will be quite a bit of football to watch, with EURO 2024 about to start.. And while nothing quite beats the thrill of watching a live match, unless you're one of the lucky ones to travel to Germany this

Interview with APRIL 2024 Winner: Charlie Painter

29 May 2024

Springtime often brings a sense of renewal and excitement, making it an ideal season for compelling war dramas. For our April spotlight, we're thrilled to highlight ' Operation Dynamo ', our FILM OF THE MONTH winner, a f

Interview with MARCH 2024 Winner: Guy Nicholls

8 May 2024

When is it the best time of the year for a good murder mystery? I don’t know the answer to that question; for me personally - anytime! Having said that, March has been an excellent month for that, as our Film of the Mont

6 Films Centred Around Flowers

25 April 2024

It's springtime, flowers have already been around for a couple of weeks - or more, depending on where you live - and it's almost tulip season here in Europe. So I thought this might be a good starting point for a more un

7 Groundbreaking Sci-fi Films from the Last 7 Decades

18 April 2024

From the depths of outer space to the uncharted territories of the human mind, science fiction cinema has captivated audiences with its visionary storytelling and mind-bending concepts for many decades. In this article,

The Main Characteristics of Greek Cinema

11 April 2024

Greek cinema, like the warm Mediterranean breeze, carries with it a distinct flavour that tantalises the senses and evokes a rich tapestry of emotions. From the sun-drenched landscapes to the ancient myths that echo thro

7 Romantic Films for Non-Fans of the Genre

17 March 2024

Valentine's Day came and went, without any list of romances to watch from TMFF. While romantic films are certainly not my cup of tea, I've watched a few ones over the years, and a select few I even enjoyed. So, now that

8 Best and Worst Stephen King Adaptations

2 March 2024

Stephen King, the maestro of horror and prolific author, has seen many of his works brought to life on the big and small screens. While some adaptations have become iconic classics, others have left fans scratching their

The Main Characteristics of Russian Cinema

23 February 2024

In the last two years, Russia has been in news headlines for all the wrong reasons: a terrible war, coupled with increasing scrutiny over its citizens. These days, Russian filmmakers might lack the freedom of expression

8 of the Best Wild West Films

16 February 2024

The Western genre is as vast as the pairies of the American West, despite the fact that ultimately, they all tend to boil down to a few elements, among which we usually find horses, guns and poker. It's quite a difficult

Fargo Season 5 (Review)

9 February 2024

I wait for very, very few things in the film and series category with more excitement and enthusiasm than for a new season of Fargo . Why is that? Well, because over the years, Fargo has spoiled me with some of the fines

The Main Characteristics of French Cinema

2 February 2024

I've already made the habit of exploring a country's or wider region's cinematic characteristics once per month . And, it so happened that over the holiday period, I watched not just one, but two French films - and thus