Paul Risker

While technically an English-based film critic and interviewer, Paul shows his political disgruntlement towards his homeland by identifying instead as a European writer. You’ll often find him agreeing with the late great French filmmaker, François Truffaut, preferring the reflection of life to life itself – he’ll even tell you that the cinema is more important than life. Often mistaken for a cynic, he prefers to think of himself as a disappointed idealist. Unsurprisingly he likes skulking in the sanctuary of the dark confines of the cinema.

Described as 'philosophically inclined', Paul has a broad taste in cinema. His film writing has been published by academic and non-academic publications, including, amongst others: PopMatters, Little White Lies, Cineaste, DMovies, VideoScope, Eye For Film, Film International, The Quarterly Review of Film and Video, and Filmmaker Magazine. He’s also on the advisory board of Mise-en-scène: The Journal of Film & Visual Narration (MSJ), the official film studies journal of Kwantlen Polytechnic University, where he serves as interview editor. He regularly contributes to the Arrow Films blog, the FrightFest festival programmes and online blog.

Latest Film Reviews

Bad Attitude: The Art Of Spain Rodriguez
Legendary underground cartoonist Spain Rodriguez is profiled in this intimate portrait by his wife, Emmy-nominated filmmaker Susan Stern.
I Am Not A Serial Killer
A teenage sociopath tries to hunt down a killer.
Magnus
Documenting the 'Mozart of Chess'.
Dog Eat Dog
Two former convicts are torn between going straight and returning to their old lives.
Free Fire
A meeting between two gangs in a deserted warehouse turns into a shootout.

Features

Interview with Payal Kapadia about All We Imagine As Light
01 Dec 2024
Payal Kapadia on cinematic inspirations and All We Imagine As Light
Interview with Kelsey Taylor and Adam Lee about To Kill A Wolf
04 Oct 2024
Kelsey Taylor and Adam Lee on shame, Red Riding Hood and To Kill A Wolf
Interview with Ellen Kuras about Lee
03 Oct 2024
Ellen Kuras on telling women's stories and working with Kate Winslet on Lee
Interview with Howard J Ford about Escape and DarkGame
29 Sep 2024
Howard J Ford on the future of cinema, Escape and DarkGame
Interview with Robert Kolodny and Ruby Wolf about The Featherweight
20 Sep 2024
Robert Kolodny and Ruby Wolf on capturing Willie Pep in The Featherweight

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