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Since losing his sight in Afghanistan, Army veteran Mal (Alec Newman) has become disillusioned with and withdrawn from society. With his compensation due, however, he plans on escaping the city once and for all by moving to a cottage in the South Downs. Unfortunately, days before his planned departure, Mal’s guide dog goes missing on an otherwise routine walk. Suspecting foul play, he returns the following day in order to search the notorious Greyhawk Estate one occupant at a time. At first frustrated by their pity and reluctant to accept their assistance, Mal eventually employs the help of unemployed mother Paula (Zoe Telford), her rebellious son Jem (Michael Fox), and an enthusiastic Sikh man (Mal Soor) who delights in playing detective.

It’s a struggle to think of a movie about blindness that doesn’t use the subject for comedic or horrific effect. Blindness, maybe. Ray, of course. Or there’s Daredevil.

★★☆☆☆Greyhawk (2014), the debut feature from Guy Pitt, takes a simple premise and unravels it slowly under the ominous shadow of a dilapidated London council estate. The modest tale of a blind man who loses his guide dog, Pitt's drama attempts to confront our preconceptions towards disability but in doing so completely misrepresents an entire layer of society. Mal Walker (Alec Newman) is a disillusioned, cantankerous army veteran who, after losing his sight in Afghanistan, has chosen a life of solitude - except, of course, for Quincy, his loyal guide dog. "Quincy is a shit guide dog," Mal remarks during one scene, though the support and friendship he provides makes him the closest thing to family he has.

Gerard Johnson’s follow-up to Tony to receive world premiere as opening film; contenders for Michael Powell Award also revealed, including six world premieres.

The Edinburgh International Film Festival (Eiff) has revealed that corrupt cop drama Hyena will open the 68th edition of the festival on June 18.

The film reunites director Gerard Johnson with Peter Ferdinando, who played the lead in his debut feature Tony which received its world premiere at Eiff in 2009.

Producers include Stephen Woolley (Made in Dagenham, The Crying Game, Mona Lisa), Elizabeth Karlsen (Great Expectations, Ladies in Lavender) and Joanna Laurie. Hyena was developed by Film4. Sam Lavender and Katherine Butler exec produced the film for Film4 which was co-financed by Film4, BFI, Ingenious and Lipsync and will be released by Metrodome in the UK and distributed internationally by Independent.

Set in London, Hyena revolves around corrupt police officer Michael Logan (Ferdinando) who has to deal with an influx of ruthless Albanian gangsters...

World premiere of Dermaphoria, starring The Vampire Diaries’ Joseph Morgan and Ron Perlman, to open 13th edition of the London festival.

The line-up for the East End Film Festival (June 13-25) has been revealed.

The 13th edition of the festival - which runs for 13 days - will open on Friday 13th June with the world premiere of Dermaphoria. The Us film is the second feature from Ross Clarke, the east London-based filmmaker and DJ who directed homeless documentary Skid Row in 2007 and co-founded music festival Lovebox.

Based on a novel by Craid Clevenger, Dermaphoria follows an experimental chemist who wakes up in a New Orleans jail with amnesia, accused of arson and links to a drug-manufacturing ring. The cast includes Joseph Morgan (The Vampire Diaries), Ron Perlman (Hellboy), Walton Goggins (The Shield), Anwan Glover (The Wire) and Kate Walsh (Grey’s Anatomy).

Football focus

The festival, which coincides with the World Cup in Brazil, will welcome...

The East End Film Festival returns to the city of London this summer celebrating its thirteenth year, and running in the height of the World Cup, Director Alison Poltock says she’s determined to make it the festival’s best year ever.

Opening on Friday, 13th June, the festival will run in East London for thirteen days, playing host to over 100 feature narrative and documentary films, and close to 100 shorts, the majority of which will be either World, UK, or London premieres.

Ross Clarke’s sophomore feature, Dermaphormia, will kick events off as the Opening Night Gala selection. Clarke has lined up an impressive cast for his first narrative film, following his award-winning documentary Skid Row, led by Joseph Morgan (The Vampire Diaries), Nicole Badaan, Walton Goggins (Django Unchained), Lucius Falick, Ron Perlman (Hellboy), Anwan Glover (The Wire), and Kate Walsh (Grey’s Anatomy). The crime-thriller centres on an experimental...