FRED’s Simone Moraldi interviews Stephen Dunn, director of the film Closet Monster, which screened at the parallel and independent section of the 10th Rome Film Festival, Alice nella Città.
The young director of Closet Monster talks about how his film, which is also his feature directorial debut, tells a story with autobiographical traits and how it tries to make considerations about the complicated issue of homophobia.
CLOSET MONSTER tells the story of Oscar Madly (Jessup), a creative and driven teenager who hovers on the brink of adulthood. Destabilized by his dysfunctional parents, unsure of his sexuality, and haunted by horrific images of a tragic gay bashing he witnessed as a child, Oscar dreams of escaping the town he feels is suffocating him. A talking hamster, imagination and the prospect of love help him confront his surreal demons and discover himself.
"How to have sex" , the opening film of Alice nella Città 2023, is DOP Molly Manning Walker's directorial debut and is about the sexual pressure the teenage world is built around
Dust to Dreams Producer Mo Abudu discusses bringing a Lagos-based story to the BFI London Film Festival and the importance of diverse representation in cinema.
Festival programmer Grace Barber-Plentie talks through the highlights of London Film Festival 2025 from Shakespearean-inspired films to star-studded premieres
Breaking Walls – a heartfelt comedy and road movie about generational change, masculinity, fatherhood and Europe's evolving identity. Discover its powerful social insights in this provoking mix of humour and social drama.