From bleak social realism to a grotesque fairy tale: “The Gateway” at the 2025 goEast Festival of Central and Eastern European Film
Julius van der Poel reviews "The Gateway", a fantastical Ukrainian film balancing folklore with survival in Chernobyl's Exclusion Zone.
A road to understanding: “Granny Project” at the 2025 goEast Festival of Central and Eastern European Film
Kasia Kostraba reviews "Granny Project", an introspective and unique documentary of three grandmothers' WWII histories.
Welcome to Brave New Romania!: “Eight Postcards from Utopia” at the 2025 goEast Festival of Central and Eastern European Film
Marianna Jaśniak reviews "Eight Postcards from Utopia", a collage of ads assembled from the remnants of Romania's post-socialist transition.
An agricultural journey through memory and conflict: “Blueberry Dreams” at the 2025 goEast Festival of Central and Eastern European Film
Heidi Koelle reviews "Blueberry Dreams", an understated yet powerful documentary creating a beautiful portrait of Georgian resilience.
An ode to the unconventional: Anarcho Shorts at the 2025 goEast Festival of Central and Eastern European Film
Caterina Cambria reviews the Anarcho Shorts compilation of short films, a collection that grants the viewer a thousand different emotions.
Exploring tradition and change through song: “Seven Songs from the Tundra” at the 2025 goEast Festival of Central and Eastern European Film
Russia regional editor Jack Strosser reviews "Seven Songs from the Tundra", poetic narrative recounting the colonisation of the Nenets people.
Art, politics, and everything in between: “Nijolė” at the 2025 goEast Festival of Central and Eastern European Film
Marianna Jaśniak reviews "Nijolė", a minimalist, impressionist narrative on the Lithuanian-Colombian artist Nijolė and her politician son.
Red nostalgia — when the past comes knocking at the door: “I’m an Old Communist Hag” at the 2025 goEast Festival of Central and Eastern European Film
Marta De Lauri reviews "I'm an Old Communist Hag", a bittersweet reflection on memory, ideology, and the quiet dignity of ordinary lives.
A promising premise that fails in its execution: “The Assistant” at the 2025 goEast Festival of Central and Eastern European Film
Daniel Jarosak reviews "The Assistant", an unconvincing and self-important arthouse film attempting to critique captialism.