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Matthew Losasso’s Row is a chilly, occasionally compelling, and often frustrating psychological thriller set adrift in the cold, unforgiving waters of the North Atlantic. It opens with a bloodied Megan (Bella Dayne) washing ashore in a rowing vessel that seems more like a crime scene than a record-breaking achievement. With no trace of her crewmates and her memories muddled by trauma, she becomes the focus of an inquiry that demands answers she isn’t ready, or able, to give.

Portrayed across interwoven timelines, Row shifts between Megan’s convalescence in a remote Scottish guesthouse and flashbacks to the doomed transatlantic expedition she undertook with three others. It’s a doomed voyage that shows the slow unravelling of camaraderie, purpose, and sanity, as the sea proves as hostile as the people trapped together on the fragile boat.

The scenes set in the past are the strongest. Claustrophobia clings to every sequence aboard the vessel,...

London’s Raindance Film Festival will present its most expansive program since the pandemic, screening 70 narrative and documentary features June 18–27 at Vue Piccadilly. That marks a 90 percent increase over last year’s roster. The event opens with Christopher M. Anthony’s boxing drama Heavyweight and concludes with Camilla Guttner’s student-focused drama The Academy.

Festival founder Elliot Grove celebrated the broad selection: “Raindance has built a reputation for championing films that might be overlooked elsewhere. Launching with a British debut about a wildcard boxer feels entirely fitting.”

Opening Night: Heavyweight

Heavyweight follows a rising fighter (Nicholas Pinnock) whose chance in the ring coincides with personal struggles outside it. Co-starring Jason Isaacs and Jordon Bolger, the film had its world premiere at Raindance. Anthony penned the screenplay to explore ambition and sacrifice, shooting on location in UK gyms and community centres.

Closing Night: The Academy

Camilla Guttner’s The Academy tracks...

London’s Raindance Film Festival will kick off its 33rd edition with the world premiere of Christopher M. Anthony’s boxing drama “Heavyweight,” starring Nicholas Pinnock, Jason Isaacs, and Jordan Bolger.

The festival will close with the international premiere of Camilla Guttner’s art school drama “The Academy,” featuring Maja Bons as a student navigating the ruthless terrain of the art world.

“Raindance is always one to punch above its weight, so it’s appropriate that the festival’s 33rd edition should open with the world premiere of a British debut feature about a wildcard boxer,” said Raindance founder Elliot Grove.

The festival, running June 18-27 at Vue Piccadilly, marks a significant comeback with 70 narrative and documentary features — a 90% increase from last year and the first time since 2019 the festival will present so many films.

International competition highlights include “Dream!”, a Christmas-set musical following a young girl’s magical journey...

Kaleidoscope Film Distribution (Kfd) has acquired worldwide sales rights to psychological survivalist thriller Row, which it will launch at next week’s American Film Market.

Kfd retains UK-Ireland distribution rights on the film, and is scheduling a 2025 release.

Inspired by real-life expeditions, the film follows a failed transatlantic world record attempt that sees a woman washed ashore on a rowing boat, who must piece together her memories to prove her innocence regarding her missing crew.

Filmed in Caithness, Scotland, Row is the feature debut of UK-based director Matthew Losasso, who wrote the film alongside Nick Skaugen. Outlander star Sophie Skelton,...

The Hollywood Reporter has broken the news that Sophie Skelton of Outlander will be leading the cast of the UK murder mystery thriller Row, which is currently in pre-production and will begin filming in Scotland next month. Joining Skelton in the cast are Bella Dayne (Troy: Fall of a City), Akshay Khanna, and Mark Strepan (Before We Die).

Row will mark the feature debut of director Matthew Losasso and writer Nick Skaugen – and Skaugen has an acting role in the film as well. The story centers on a woman who washes ashore on a blood-stained rowing boat. With all of her crew mates missing, presumed dead, she must try and piece together fractured memories of the ordeal to prove her innocence.

Skaugen is producing the film with line producer Matt Schichter. Losasso provided the following statement: “An immense ocean appears to stretch infinitely in all directions and yet on board the Valiant,...

Sophie Skelton (Outlander, Blackbird), Bella Dayne (Troy: Fall of a City, Humans) and Akshay Khanna (Red, White & Royal Blue, Chloe) are set to lead the cast of U.K. thriller Row, now in preproduction and set to start shooting in Scotland in the coming weeks.

The film — the feature debut of director Matthew Losasso and writer Nick Skaugen, who also stars — revolves around a woman who washes ashore on a blood-stained rowing boat. With all of her crew mates missing, presumed dead, she must try and piece together fractured memories of the ordeal to prove her innocence. Mark Strepan (Before We Die) has also joined the cast.

“An immense ocean appears to stretch infinitely in all directions and yet on board the Valiant, the lack of space fuels paranoia and intense drama. It’s a compelling and fabulously ambitious script,” said Losasso. “If filming on water wasn’t enough of a challenge,...

From unseen forces to dangerous desires, from the remorseful living to the remorseless dead, from under the earth to creepy closed doors, Arrow Video FrightFest 2019 continues the festival’s fine tradition of showcasing the best in global genre short filmmaking. This year’s five continent selection unleashes the newest creations from both upcoming and established filmmakers and embraces a record fifteen UK films, seven spotlighted selections from Canada and a breakthrough entry from The United Arab Emirates.

Homegrown talent continues to energise the UK film industry, as reflected in this year’s entries. There’s Folk Horror and Body Horror, whilst lethal women lurk around every corner in Sleep Tight, Under The Parasol and Dog Skin. Katie Bonham returns with ticking terror thriller Midnight and Josefa Celestin is back with the darkly apocalyptic Tomorrow Might Be The Day. Another fearsome futuristic tale is Old Beginnings, while unseen danger lurks in...