Bond on Cinema

Actress Eva Birthistle & Director Colin McIiver Discuss the Northern Irish Feature Film NO ORDINARY HEIST

We sit down with director Colin MacGyver and actress Eva Berthissel to discuss their exciting new film, "No Ordinary Heist." This new film is based on the true story of the 2004 Northern Bank robbery, offering a fresh take on a notorious bank heist.
Get ready for a thrilling cinematic experience! Anchored by a quietly commanding turn from Eddie Marsan and guided with a steady, assured hand by Colin McIvor, NO ORDINARY HEIST proves to be far more than a retelling of a notorious crime—it’s a deeply human story wrapped in tension and restraint. Eddie Marsan brings a layered vulnerability to Richard Murray, capturing the silent unraveling of a man caught in unimaginable circumstances, while Colin McIvor resists spectacle in favor of authenticity and emotional truth.
What emerges is a gripping, character-driven drama that lingers long after the credits roll. It’s not just about the heist itself, but the unseen cost—the weight of fear, responsibility, and survival. For audiences seeking a crime film with substance, nuance, and a powerful central performance, NO ORDINARY HEIST is well worth the watch. Actress Eva Birthistle, recently starred in Series 2 of Bad Sisters for Apple TV, opposite Anne Marie Duff, Sharon Horgan, Sarah Greene and Eve Hewson.
The show won Best Drama Series and Best Supporting Actress at the 2023 BAFTA awards. She is best known for her role in Ken Loach’s A Fond Kiss which saw her win a London Critics Circle Film Award.
She also starred in the Oscar nominated Brooklyn for John Crowley. She can be seen in the hit Netflix show The Last Kingdom. #bankobbery #northernireland #filmdirector #interview #moviedirector #bondoncinema #movie #cinema #filmmaking #filmmaker

YARD SALEING: When a Garage Sale Item Becomes a Crime Caper: An Interview with Director Tom Logan

Tom Logan and Michael Tove’s short film YARD SALEING is a delight to watch and when it ends you will be wanting more, just like me.
YARD SALEING has an all-star cast which gives it a feature film feel to it. What could be better than a suburban house white caught up in a crime drama. 
After an exhibit of the Dubai Crown Gems are stolen and never recovered, suburbanites Jim and Sally Marsh stumble onto clues to their whereabouts. Despite Jim's initial resistance, they embark on a quest to recover the diamonds and collect the One Million Dollar reward. However, as soon as they do, things go from bad to worse, resulting in consequences that are completely unexpected.
#shortfilm #crimecomedy #crimedrama #comedy #drama #dramedy #filmmaking #filmmaker #film #cinema #bondoncinema 

The Chaplain & The Doctor: Two Unlikely Allies Expose Broken Healthcare

THE CHAPLAIN AND THE DOCTOR is filled with warmth and humor, this buddy film follows two unlikely allies working to bring curiosity, connection, and compassion to a broken healthcare system - one patient at a time. Betty Clark is an 80-year-old, African American chaplain on staff at The Wilma Chan Highland Hospital Campus, the level-one trauma center in Oakland, California.
Jessica Zitter is a white Jewish physician who has been Betty’s colleague on the Palliative Care service for over a decade. The two women are an unlikely team: chaplains and doctors do not usually pair up within the hierarchical and siloed halls of the hospital.
Dr. Zitter, trained to believe in medical interventions and science, was not seeking a relationship with a chaplain. And Chaplain Clark never expected the doctor to take interest in her work.  But with time, the two women’s shared values and history overcome the forces that keep them apart, and they go on to do their best work together. 
THE CHAPLAIN & THE DOCTOR models a new kind of care, one that honors both spirit and body, the diverse backgrounds of patients, and the most human needs we all share. 
This is a must see film documentary not just about the story of two women who take their purpose and professions to help others, but we see that it help each other to become even better versions of themselves. #healtcare #doctor #chaplain #documentary #film #filmmaker #filmmaking #filmdirector #bondoncinema #medicine #faith #spiritual #healing

50 Days Alone on the Most Dangerous Island in Scotland - The Edge of Existence

Aaron Wheeler’s latest feature documentary, THE EDGE OF EXISTENCE, tells the story of electronics lecturer Cam Cameron, as he attempts to survive on the UK’s most remote and dangerous island, Rockall, for a record 50 days to prove his strength to himself and inspire his family.
This story attempts to understand the nature of adventure itself in an attempt to explore the true costs and benefits of such a journey into the unknown. This film is about man versus nature, but also man versus himself.
There are those brave souls that attempt things that many of feel don’t make any sense, but if there is a mountain, it is meant to be climbed. THE EDGE OF EXISTENCE shows us one man’s dream, determination and maybe a bit of crazy, but crazy can help us achieve the impossible.
This film is an inspiring to millions and I hope you check it out when it comes to a film festival near you. #rockall #scotland #filmdirector #filmmaking #documentaries #documentary #survival #ambition #goals #filmmaker #film #bondoncinema #ocean #northsea

Matthew Simpson Made a Psychological Thriller With NOTHING: No Crew, No Cast, No Budget

Matthew Simpson's DISREMEMBER is a feature film about an ex-military alcoholic begins experiencing unexplained blackouts, and the more he tries to stop them, the worse they get, until he realizes they are being triggered by a trauma his mind is fighting to forget.
What makes this film so amazing is, it is top quality in every way and to remind you, this film has no crew, no cast and was done with no budget.
Matthew Simpson did what many may say is impossible, but what Matthew Simpson has done is change the filmmaking game.
Yes, you can make an incredible with no budget. All it takes is hard work and creativity and never giving up. But what about the overall movie and storyline?
This film is a psychological thriller that keeps your attention. Having a split personality disorder creates a double storyline and then there’s the third, which I will say what it is as I don’t want to spoil the ending of the film. T
he cinematography is top notch, the colorization, the music score, and incredible editing. Every filmmaker can learn something from DISREMEMBER. And what can you learn? Well, that is only takes creativity to make a great film. #featurefilm #independentfilm #film #cinema #filmmaking #filmmaker #filmdirector #actor #screenwriter #filmindustry #bondoncinema #cinematography

Katy Lea Cannon: The Story Behind WorldFest's 50+ Year Legacy, Film Strategy and more!

Katy Lea Cannon is the Executive Director of WorldFest - Houston International Film Festival, one of the longest-running independent film festivals in the world.
She is leading the festival into its next chapter, honoring the legacy of its late founder and her father, Hunter Todd, while expanding its impact through filmmaker support, industry programming, and community engagement.
In addition to her film festival work, Katy Lea is a well-being facilitator and yoga teacher, integrating somatic practices into creative spaces to support sustainable, inspired storytelling.
For all you filmmakers out there, I encourage you to submit your films to WorldFest, the Houston International Film Festival later this year. This year’s festival runs from April 24th to May 3rd, 2026 at Memorial City Mall Cinemark. So many films, even a retrospective Oscar block, a great night to show indie filmmakers that you can reach the Oscars with your very first film.
There will be seminars, panels, plenty of networking as Houston and Texas is becoming one of the most sought after locations for filmmaking with incredible tax incentives for both independents and studios. #filmfestival #filmfestivals #filmfestivalstrategy #film #cinema #filmmaking #filmmaker #filmdirector #screenwriter #documentaries #shortfilm #shortfilms #featurefilms #oscars #BAFTA

Sam Hayes' POOLS Feature Film Interview | Is he the Modern Day John Hughes?

Sam Hayes’ feature film POOLS is about a young woman Kennedy who has one day to get herself together or get kicked out of school for good. Instead of buckling down, she rallies a ragtag crew for a midnight pool-hopping adventure through the lavish estates of her college town.
But under the surface, Kennedy is searching for answers to the questions tearing her up inside in the wake of her father's death. As the secrets spill, this wild escape becomes a cathartic journey of self-discovery. I love coming-of-age stories and this one is full of realism and many young people today will fully relate to the wonderful storyline
Sam Hayes has brought to the silver screen. Hollywood needs to make more films like this one. Remember the days of The Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles, St. Elmo’s Fire and now we have POOLS. A must see film. #film #featurefilm #independentfilm #filmmaker #filmmaking #filmdirector #johnhughes #entertainment #filmcritic #rogerebert #chicago #comingofagestory #comingofage #youth #cinema #cinematography

Director Ali Marsh discusses her short PITTSBURGH | A Coming of Age Story of a 9 Year Old Girl

Ali Marsh’s PITTSBURGH is both a period piece and a coming of age story all rolled into one.
It’s 1979 and scrappy 9-year-old Mints is eager to wrap up a visit with her needy divorced dad. Mints' solo flight home is re-routed to Pittsburgh, where for one chaotic night she is left in the care of a boozy stewardess and a hard-nosed Granny. As she witnesses the unreliability of the adults around her, she becomes her own protector, leading her to make a pivotal decision.
PITTSBURGH is a wonderful, it captures the essence of the late 1970s in every detail. The decor, the wardrobe, the storyline, cinematography and the color grading is spot on. I’m keeping my eye on this film during its festival run.
#shortfilm #film #comingofage #comingofagestory #Pittsburgh #cinema #cinematography #filmmaker #filmmaking #filmdirector #filmproducer #entertainment #filmcritic #filmreview

Javier Cano Larumbe on Creating VOID

The haunting psychological horror short VOID, written and directed by Javier Cano Larumbe, has been officially selected for the Cleveland International Film Festival. Drawing directly from the director’s childhood experience of navigating his parents’ divorce, the film transforms personal memory into a chilling exploration of fear, emotional isolation, and the inner world of a child struggling to be heard.
VOID follows eight-year-old Félix, a boy who becomes convinced that a sinister presence has taken hold in his home. While the adults around him remain distracted and unaware, Félix is left to confront a darkness that feels both external and deeply internal. What begins as a familiar childhood fear of the dark evolves into something more complex and unsettling, a manifestation of confusion, anxiety, and the unspoken emotional turmoil of a family in crisis.
At its core, the film examines the disconnect between children and adults in moments of upheaval. Through the lens of horror, Javier Cano Larumbe explores how children often lack the language to articulate their emotions, while adults fail to recognize the depth of what is being expressed. The result is a powerful metaphorical narrative in which fear becomes the only available form of communication.
I found this film refreshing with it’s focused storytelling and using the horror element to convey an important message to parents who are going through divorce. Learn to listen to your children and realize they are dealing with your current situation as well as its aftermath.
The film is haunting, but a very powerful short film and this is another film I will be keeping my eyes on through the film festival season.
#shortfilm #film #cinema #pyschologicalhorror #psychologicalthriller #suspensethriller #filmmaking #filmmaker #filmdirector #filmproducer #bondoncinema #filmfestival 

Filmmaker Benny Chen's short HAND: Navigating the Realities of life in the USA in a time of Anti-Asian Hate

HAND follows Lin, a middle-aged undocumented cook working in a small Chinese restaurant in California, as he struggles to navigate the realities of life in the United States.
Caught between the demands of economic survival and a deepening sense of isolation, he begins to confront the personal cost of remaining invisible in a society where anti-Asian hostility continues to rise beyond his workplace.
Through this intimate portrait, the film explores the tensions of immigrant life and reveals how dignity, fear, and resilience coexist under constant pressure.
It’s hard to fathom that we are still living in a society where racism is strong as ever. America has always been the land of opportunity, but today’s social climate is causing us to forget who we really are as people and as Americans.
Benny Chen’s short film HAND is a powerful reminder that we have not grown as a people, possibly regressed as one. We need more films like this one to remind us that empathy, kindness and compassion can go a long way in making those who are coming to the land of opportunity feel welcome.
#antiasianhate #asian #shortfilm #shortfilms #film #cinema #filmmaker #filmmaking #filmdirector #society #america #empathy #kindness