iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Chris Cassingham

kyle 中和 turner @tylekurner.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

thrilled to make my InReview Online debut working w the excellent @chriscassingham.bsky.social! went to Adam Baran's terrific @anthologyfilm.bsky.social series Narrow Rooms and caught Jacques Nolot's BEFORE I FORGET, an unsentimental portrait of gay aging: inreviewonline.substack.com/p/johns-cham...

inreviewonline.substack.com

Johns Champing at the Bit: Jacques Nolot's "Before I Forget"

After attending Anthology Film Archives' monthly "Narrow Rooms" program, Kyle Turner reflects on a film all about reflection.

031

Chris Cassingham @chriscassingham.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

The final entry in In Review Online's series of essays on Spectacle Theater's recent program of Chinese documentaries is now live on our Substack. Today, Zach Lewis on Shi Jian and Chen Jue's seven hour epic, "Tiananmen". open.substack.com/pub/inreview...

open.substack.com

A Place Made Out of Dates: Shi Jian & Chen Jue's "Tiananmen"

Zach Lewis reflects on a seven-hour epic about survivors of Imperialist-era China and the Beijing's artistic counter culture, in our final installment of essays on Spectacle Theater's SWYC program.

000

Reposted by Chris Cassingham

Chris Cassingham @chriscassingham.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

Worked long and hard on this piece, which exchanged a few editorial hands, for MUBI Notebook, about Gabriel Azorín's excellent "Last Night I Conquered the City of Thebes", its interrogation of history, and its place within a lineage of queer bathhouse-centered cinema. mubi.com/en/notebook/...

mubi.com

What Survives the Steam

Set in the past and present of a Roman bath, “Last Night I Conquered the City of Thebes” evokes the communion of bathhouse culture.

011

Chris Cassingham @chriscassingham.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

Incredible interview by Frank Falisi with Louise Weard on her epic film project "Castration Movie", the language of the internet, and whether or not this multi-part saga can even be called a "movie". Amazing stuff. Now on the In Review Online substack! inreviewonline.substack.com/p/unlimited-...

inreviewonline.substack.com

Unlimited But Periodic: A Conversation with Louise Weard on "Castration Movie"

Frank Falisi chats with Louise Weard about the language of the internet, her epic and ongoing "Castration Movie" project, and whether or not we can classify it as a real "movie".

093

Chris Cassingham @chriscassingham.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

mubi.com

What Survives the Steam

Set in the past and present of a Roman bath, “Last Night I Conquered the City of Thebes” evokes the communion of bathhouse culture.

011

Chris Cassingham @chriscassingham.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

On In Review Online's Substack, we're continuing our series of essays on the Structure. Wave. Youth. Cinema. program that screened at Spectacle Theater last month. Read the full essay below, snd subscribe to the Substack if you haven't already! inreviewonline.substack.com/p/the-unansw...

inreviewonline.substack.com

The Unanswerable Question of What Life Will Be: Matt McCracken on Wang Zijun & Sun Yongsheng’s 'Notes From Beijing'

Continuing our series of essays on the recent Structure. Wave. Youth. Cinema. program at Brooklyn's Spectacle Theater.

000

Reposted by Chris Cassingham

Chris Cassingham @chriscassingham.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

Now live on our Substack -- the great Michael Sicinski writing on the first in a series of independent Chinese films recently programmed @spectacletheater.com in Brooklyn. Subscribe now so you don't miss out on the rest of the essays in this series! inreviewonline.substack.com/p/a-past-we-...

inreviewonline.substack.com

A Past We Must Work to Retrieve: Michael Sicinski on Chen Jue & Jiu Ke’s 'Only One Earth'

Michael Sicinski kicks off a series of essays on independent Chinese cinema recently programmed at Brooklyn's Spectacle Theater by In Review Online's former EIC, Sam C. Mac

023

Chris Cassingham @chriscassingham.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

inreviewonline.substack.com

A Past We Must Work to Retrieve: Michael Sicinski on Chen Jue & Jiu Ke’s 'Only One Earth'

Michael Sicinski kicks off a series of essays on independent Chinese cinema recently programmed at Brooklyn's Spectacle Theater by In Review Online's former EIC, Sam C. Mac

023

Chris Cassingham @chriscassingham.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

We officially just hit 100 subscribers at the In Review Online Substack. Many thanks to everyone who's joined me on this little adventure/passion project. Lots more to come.

011

Chris Cassingham @chriscassingham.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

I'm so bad about keeping up here, but i'm the new Newsletter Editor at In Review Online, and last Friday we officially launched our brand new Substack! Subscribers will get bi-weekly newsletters of curated writing from our website as well as Substack-exclusive essays throughout the week!

123

Chris Cassingham @chriscassingham.bsky.social · 13/11/2025

If you're at IDFA over the next 2 weeks, go see Armand Tufenkian's In The Manner of Smoke. Starting tomorrow night, it has five screenings over the next week. Prime yourself by reading my interview with Armand about his film and career for Public Parking. thisispublicparking.com/posts/speaking…

thisispublicparking.com

000

Chris Cassingham @chriscassingham.bsky.social · 12/11/2025

Today on my newsletter, Dark Optimism, I'm republishing an interview I did with Courtney Stephens 2+ years ago about her feature length essay/lecture film, Terra Femme. This Sunday (11/16), Metrograph is hosting Stephens for another live performance of the film. I'll be there! t.co/Wmvrnw0PnH

open.substack.com

Courtney Stephens on Secondary Perspectives, Emancipation, and Performance in Terra Femme

This Sunday, November 16, Metrograph will host filmmaker Courtney Stephens for a performance/screening of her live film essay/lecture, Terra Femme.

010

Chris Cassingham @chriscassingham.bsky.social · 05/11/2025

In July I met Armand Tufenkian and gushed to him about his debut feature, In The Manner of Smoke. At the end of August we had a very long lunch to talk about the film and his artistic practice that has spawned a very meaningful friendship. Enjoy. thisispublicparking.com/posts/speaki...

thisispublicparking.com

Public Parking Publication | Manitoba | Public Parking

000

Reposted by Chris Cassingham

Chris Cassingham @chriscassingham.bsky.social · 05/11/2025

In July I met Armand Tufenkian, whose debut feature I saw at this year’s Cinema du Reel. It rarely left my mind in the intervening months, and I knew I had to talk to him. Our conversation spawned a meaningful friendship and this piece, published today. thisispublicparking.com/posts/poetics-…

033

Chris Cassingham @chriscassingham.bsky.social · 05/11/2025

033

Chris Cassingham @chriscassingham.bsky.social · 16/10/2025

For my neglected newsletter: a conversation with Lee Anne Schmitt, director of Evidence -- one of the best docs of the year, and a brilliant mediation on parenthood, inheritance, and the Conservative movement's ongoing coup of the legal system. Subscribe !!! open.substack.com/pub/chriscas...

open.substack.com

Lee Anne Schmitt on Family, Conspiracy, and the Olin Foundation

Schmitt's latest feature tackles corporate influence on the American social fabric and reckons with inheritence.

020

Chris Cassingham @chriscassingham.bsky.social · 16/10/2025

Keep forgetting this place exists oops

030

Chris Cassingham @chriscassingham.bsky.social · 15/06/2025

hey, actually, fuck this sentiment and you!

020

Chris Cassingham @chriscassingham.bsky.social · 04/06/2025

I wasn't very pleased with John Maclean's TORNADO, a thin and unimaginative homage to Kurosawa's samurai films, too reliant on simple psychology, heavy atmosphere and a needlessly non-linear plot, and desperately lacking in true feeling. t.co/ieBqEPNAPH

t.co

https://inreviewonline.com/2025/05/30/tornado-review/

000

Chris Cassingham @chriscassingham.bsky.social · 04/06/2025

A couple weeks ago, I reviewed Graham Swon's stunning AN EVENING SONG (FOR THREE VOICES) for InReview Online. There's magic going on in this thing that I can't fully explain, but is much better to watch, anyways. I hope it gets more opportunities to screen publicly outside of NYC. t.co/2aAEqr63hB

t.co

https://inreviewonline.com/2025/05/23/an-evening-song-for-three-voices-review/

000

Chris Cassingham @chriscassingham.bsky.social · 30/05/2025

Putting it out there that I would like to write about the Pierre Creton retrospective running at BAM at the end of June. Editors...I am so available it's embarrassing.

000

Reposted by Chris Cassingham

Chris Cassingham @chriscassingham.bsky.social · 28/05/2025

I've returned to my newsletter, Dark Optimism, with an interview with filmmaker Ted Kennedy. We met to talk about his new documentary, BF SKINNER PLAYS HIMSELF, the pitfalls of public intellectualism, and the risks of a society not in possession of its own mind. Link in replies!

open.substack.com

Ted Kennedy on BF Skinner, public intellectualism, and freedom.

Ted Kennedy's new film, BF Skinner Plays Himself, had its World Premiere at MoMA's Doc Fortnight in February.

111

Chris Cassingham @chriscassingham.bsky.social · 28/05/2025

open.substack.com

Ted Kennedy on BF Skinner, public intellectualism, and freedom.

Ted Kennedy's new film, BF Skinner Plays Himself, had its World Premiere at MoMA's Doc Fortnight in February.

111

Reposted by Chris Cassingham

Chris Cassingham @chriscassingham.bsky.social · 27/05/2025

I interviewed Ted Kennedy about his new documentary, BF Skinner Plays Himself. The film has been on my mind since I first saw it in February, so it was a thrill to sit down with him in April when I was in New York to get some answers for all my dumb questions. I hope you enjoy. LINK IN REPLIES!

121

Chris Cassingham @chriscassingham.bsky.social · 27/05/2025

121

Chris Cassingham @chriscassingham.bsky.social · 27/05/2025

I'm publishing a new interview on my Substack in a few minutes. You can subscribe now so it's sent to your inbox: chriscassingham.substack.com. This is the most fun I've ever had interviewing a filmmaker, and I'm excited to share it with you all.

chriscassingham.substack.com

Dark Optimism | Chris Cassingham | Substack

Writing about contemporary independent film and the cinema that keeps me going. Click to read Dark Optimism, by Chris Cassingham, a Substack publication. Launched 4 months ago.

000

Reposted by Chris Cassingham

Chris Cassingham @chriscassingham.bsky.social · 26/05/2025

Only one Cannes review from me this year. Had a chance to catch Harris Dickinson's debut feature, Urchin, a gritty, competently made drama about a London rough sleeper, but one lacking a point of view and artistic daring. inreviewonline.com/2025/05/26/u...

inreviewonline.com

Urchin — Harris Dickinson [Cannes '25 Review] | In Review Online

A new film review of Urchin, directed by Harris Dickinson, for film review site In Review Online's Cannes 2025 festival coverage.

001

Chris Cassingham @chriscassingham.bsky.social · 26/05/2025

inreviewonline.com

Urchin — Harris Dickinson [Cannes '25 Review] | In Review Online

A new film review of Urchin, directed by Harris Dickinson, for film review site In Review Online's Cannes 2025 festival coverage.

001

Chris Cassingham @chriscassingham.bsky.social · 24/05/2025

Notorious Vertigo Shadow of a Doubt Rear Window North By Northwest

010

Reposted by Chris Cassingham

Chris Cassingham @chriscassingham.bsky.social · 23/05/2025

I'm going to publish a new interview over at chriscassingham.substack.com when Cannes is over. Just finished editing it for readability and am so pleased with it. Things are slow at Dark Optimism but they are happening.

chriscassingham.substack.com

Dark Optimism | Chris Cassingham | Substack

Writing about contemporary independent film and the cinema that keeps me going. Click to read Dark Optimism, by Chris Cassingham, a Substack publication. Launched 4 months ago.

001

Chris Cassingham @chriscassingham.bsky.social · 23/05/2025

In the meantime, feel free to subscribe :)

000

Chris Cassingham @chriscassingham.bsky.social · 23/05/2025

chriscassingham.substack.com

Dark Optimism | Chris Cassingham | Substack

Writing about contemporary independent film and the cinema that keeps me going. Click to read Dark Optimism, by Chris Cassingham, a Substack publication. Launched 4 months ago.

001

Chris Cassingham @chriscassingham.bsky.social · 22/05/2025

oh my god I just realized this was playing Cannes. desperate to see it.

010

Chris Cassingham @chriscassingham.bsky.social · 19/05/2025

It was the 30th anniversary of Wild Reed's US release last week, so I took the opportunity to share my thoughts, parse out what it's doing that other coming-of-age films don't seem to attempt. It's a remarkable film, and very important to me. inreviewonline.com/2025/05/16/w...

inreviewonline.com

The Instinctual Lurches of Desire: André Téchiné's Wild Reeds | In Review Online

A new Kicking the Canon piece on Wild Reeds, directed by André Téchiné, for film review site In Review Online.

000

Reposted by Chris Cassingham

Chris Cassingham @chriscassingham.bsky.social · 11/04/2025

I'm thrilled to say that TO USE A MOUNTAIN, the second feature doc produced by my sister this year, has just won the Special Jury Prize of the International Competition at Visions du Reel. So very proud of her and everyone who worked on this film.

111

Chris Cassingham @chriscassingham.bsky.social · 11/04/2025

111

Chris Cassingham @chriscassingham.bsky.social · 02/04/2025

I'm thrilled to share my @reverseshot.bsky.social debut, a review of Songs of Slow Burning Earth. A huge thanks to Michael for his wonderful edits and for the Reverse Shot Writers Workshop. It gave me a much needed injection of inspiration and motivation. t.co/4wB2fpZMsh

t.co

https://reverseshot.org/reviews/entry/3320/songs_slow_burning

073

Chris Cassingham @chriscassingham.bsky.social · 02/04/2025

Val Kilmer was a life-long, devout Christian Scientist. So was Henry Fonda. I grew up the same. It’s usually given a bad rap in popular culture. The screenplay I wrote last year deals with it. 20 years ago Kilmer could have played a key character in that story. Strange, stray thoughts. RIP.

100

Reposted by Chris Cassingham

Jesse Hawken @jessehawken.bsky.social · 22/03/2025

New @junkfilterpod.bsky.social! The writer and programmer @chriscassingham.bsky.social returns to the pod from Milwaukee for a show about John Ford's THE LONG GRAY LINE and his innovations in the use of the CinemaScope format. Here's a preview. Patrons can unlock! open.spotify.com/episode/7wp5...

Poster for John Ford's THE LONG GRAY LINE (1955) starring Tyrone Power and Maureen O'Hara with the tagline "A Great Place! A Great Guy! A Great Picture!"

3103

Reposted by Chris Cassingham

Junk Filter Podcast @junkfilterpod.bsky.social · 22/03/2025

On the new Premium episode, the writer and film programmer @chriscassingham.bsky.social returns for a look at John Ford's 1955 comedy/tragedy THE LONG GRAY LINE and Ford's innovative use of the Z-Axis (the depth of the image) for a CinemaScope frame. Preview: podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/j...

A shot in John Ford's THE LONG GRAY LINE (1955) showing rows and rows of West Point cadets in a cathedral. Ford innovated the then-new CinemaScope format to favor the Z-Axis (the depth of the image) as opposed to the height and width of a shot.

022

Chris Cassingham @chriscassingham.bsky.social · 22/03/2025

A total pleasure to spend 90 minutes talking about one of my favorite movies. I'm not sure I actually laid out the few caveats surrounding its "only Ford film shot in CinemaScope" status, but hope I'll be forgiven. If you're not a Junk Filter patron, there's no better reason to become one than this!

141

Chris Cassingham @chriscassingham.bsky.social · 21/03/2025

How do I get followers on here without making an effort?

000

Chris Cassingham @chriscassingham.bsky.social · 06/02/2025

My review of Courtney Stephens and Michael Almereyda's JOHN LILLY AND THE EARTH COINCIDENCE CONTROL OFFICE. Like Courtney's last film w/ Callie Hernandez, the subtextually conspiratorial nature of its subject and its inquiry into his life felt tailor-made for me. inreviewonline.com/2025/02/06/j...

inreviewonline.com

John Lilly and the Earth Coincidence Control Department — Michael Almereyda, Courtney Stephens [IFFR '25 Review] | In Review Online

A new film review of John Lilly and the Earth Coincidence Control Department for film review site In Review Online.

030

Reposted by Chris Cassingham

Josh Slater-Williams @jslaterwilliams.bsky.social · 15/01/2025

Terrific film

031