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  • Free Online Movie Streaming Sites

    Watching movies has never been easier. There are free online movie streaming sites that let you watch any of your favourite films for FREE! You can find all sorts of genres, from drama to comedy and horror. Best of all, these sites do not require any registration or downloads. Simply visit the site, such as UK Film Channel - the one you are on, pick a movie and start watching it right away! This article will show you some great ways to get started with this new way to enjoy movies! Watching free movies online can often feel scary - especially if you are worried about the quality of the website, whether the content has been pirated, and whether watching the films could result in your computer or device downloading some kind of virus. You can rest assured that our free online movie streaming site is legal, safe and virus-free! Our list of the best free online movies to watch includes some short films and indie features across all different genres. Watching movies online is a great way to enjoy your favourite films without having to leave the comfort of your home. In addition, there are a number of great websites that offer free movie streaming services. Here are a few of the best: 1. UK Film Channel: That's us! We have been providing free films for a number of years, with new titles being added all the time. 2. Crackle: Crackle is one of the most popular free movie streaming sites, and it offers a wide variety of movies and TV shows. 3. Snagfilms: Snagfilms is another great site for finding free movies online. It offers a wide variety of genres, including documentaries, independent films, and classic movies. 4. Popcornflix: Popcornflix is a website that specializes in streaming free movies. It has a large selection of TV shows and movies for you to watch, as well as a number of exclusive titles. If you're paying for movie subscriptions, downloading movies, or renting them through iTunes - and are happy with that setup, you may not need a streaming service providing free movies. If you're looking for free online streaming sites, there's a good chance that you already know about the 'big guys.' In fact, they may be your only options. However, if these movie services don't cut it anymore because of slow load times or annoying advertisements - then an alternative like UK Film Channel could be the perfect solution! The vast majority of online movie streaming sites ask for sign up. This is to get your details, which they can then use to allow you access to their site - as well as anything else they may want to do with them. At UK Film Channel, we will only ask for your details if you want to watch one of our Video On Demand movies - as we need to take payment, therefore your details. Not All Free Online Movie Streaming Sites Are The Same The dangers of watching films online include: Piracy – Watching a downloaded film is illegal and if caught, you could be fined or go to jail. Computer viruses – If not properly protected, your computer can become infected with malicious software that will corrupt files and damage the operating system. A badly damaged computer can cost hundreds of pounds to repair. Expensive subscriptions – Many online movie streaming sites require a paid subscription, which can be expensive if you don't watch a lot of movies. So, before you start watching your next film online, make sure you are aware of the risks and take the necessary precautions to protect yourself and your computer. And remember, it's always better to watch a movie in the comfort of your own home, on a big screen TV, than on a small computer monitor. That's why many of the films you can view on UK Film Channel can be cast to your Smart TV!

  • Where to Watch Free Films: UK Film Channel

    Where to Watch Free Films: UK Film Channel The UK Film Channel is a great place for people who love films but don't want the hassle of paying for them. This channel offers free movies with no commercials, so you can enjoy your film without any interruptions! Plus, we're always adding new content, so there's never a shortage of things to watch. It's easy to find what you're looking for by browsing through categories like "Drama" or "Documentaries." You can also search by keyword if that's easier. Other Streaming Services Don't Provide Free Films Netflix is a streaming service that offers its users a wide variety of films and TV shows to watch. It is one of the most popular streaming services in the world, and it is available in over 190 countries. Netflix offers a free month-long trial, and its monthly subscription prices start at £5.99. However, Netflix is not the only streaming service that offers a great selection films. The UK Film Channel also provides its users with a wide selection of free films to watch. The UK Film Channel is available in over 150 countries and offers a variety of different genres, including action, comedy, drama, and horror. Unlike Netflix, the UK Film Channel does not require a sign up to watch their free films or ask you for any credit card details. Sky Cinema is the UK's leading film channel, showing the latest and greatest movies from around the world. With over 1000 movies to choose from, there's something for everyone. Plus, there's a great selection of Sky Cinema Original productions, including the award-winning drama Riviera. They do, however, require payment. There are no free films to be found here and with the rise of many other new streaming services in the last few years, they have found themselves with dwindling content they used to rely on. Disney Plus is a direct-to-consumer streaming service from The Walt Disney Company. It offers ad-free programming with a library of movies, TV shows, and documentaries including content from the Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic brands. Disney Plus is available in the United States, Canada, the Netherlands, Australia, New Zealand, and the Caribbean. It is often priced slightly less than Netflix and Sky Cinema but does often receive criticism for lacking in the "new content" area. Again, no free films are to be found here. Shudder is a streaming service for horror fans. It offers a great selection of horror films, as well as documentaries and TV shows. The service is ad-free, and there are no subscription fees. You can watch Shudder on your computer, phone, or tablet. Mubi is a website that allows users to watch films for free. It has a library of over 35,000 films, and new films are added every day. Again, no free films are found on those popular streaming services and platforms. Downsides to UK Film Channel include no viable app (not yet) and the selection of films is great if independent cinema is your thing but for the latest films and blockbusters, you may still need to go to one of the aforementioned. All our films are either free, or video-on-demand - meaning it's just a one-off payment to watch it. So that's it, get going on the world's leading website for free films that are 100% legal to watch.

  • Monsoon Clips Trailer

    Watch the trailer for Monsoon Clips, available on the UK Film Channel.

  • 4 Steps To Get Your Independent Movie In Production

    4 Steps To Get Your Independent Movie In Production The times they certainly have a changed! We now wear masks almost wherever we go and the term ‘cleanliness is next to godliness’ has truly come home to roost! You’re frowned upon if you haven’t sanitized your hands. In fact, you don’t have a choice. Change is like a ripple in a pond and in the end, everything is affected. This very notion also applies to technology and in turn, film-making. The film-making industry has always relied upon advances in technology and it’s allowed for all kinds of innovations. There’s another old phrase that says ‘too much of a good thing ain’t good’, and when it comes to the marriage of film and technology, this seems to have become the case. Film-making’s two major camps - independent and the Hollywood blockbuster - have now become even more estranged. In other words, these two camps of film are at complete and utter opposite ends of the spectrum. Veterans and industry insiders will tell any aspiring film-maker that these days there are only two types of films – those that get made for over $100 million and those that get made for under $1 million. This should spell good news to any aspiring independent film maker. After all the bar is now lower than ever. Yes, thanks to the various innovations brought about by new technologies, the bar is lower, but this also means that a lot more people have entry into what was once deemed a rather exclusive club. The more members a club has, the harder it is to have one’s voice heard. This analogy perfectly sums up the current state of movie making and more specifically, independent movie making. So, with all this in mind, how do you as an aspiring film-maker navigate these uncertain waters? Well, that’s what we’re here to discuss. So, without further ado, let us examine 4 steps to get your independent movie in production. Know yourself & you’ll know your movie Film-making, while ultimately a collaborative effort, is also a very personal one. Before you even put pen to paper for that script, you need to know what you’re about. You need to have a clear and defined vision of what you’d like to articulate on those reels. A clear and defined path entails a number of things. For one, it means understanding yourself – knowing what you’re about and what ideological notions you subscribe to. What your care for will ultimately guide your decisions. And remember, just as your personality has various aspects, so too will it be that each film you make will be different. Film-making might not be an exact science, but it’s practical in almost every sense of the word. As an aspiring film maker, you need to have a good imagination, but you also need to be realistic. In other words, before you even think about boozing and schmoozing with would-be financial backers, you should have a pretty good idea of how much your vision will cost, and remember, it cannot exceed the million dollar mark. Raising capital Raising the right amount of capital to fund your pet project once again comes back to what you envision. Are you planning on turning a profit or churning out a work of art? These are important questions to consider as it will dictate how you go about acquiring your capital. Put another way, are you planning on making something with or without commercial value? Let us briefly step back to what was stated earlier about film-making not being an exact science – you may be planning on doing something non-commercial, but through various mediums of communication, you may end up with both a work of art and a commercial success. Think Copolla’s The Godfather or Nolan’s Interstellar. What kind of financing is available? To be successful at most things in life requires consistency. In other words, you need to chip away constantly, never losing sight of the end. Crowdfunding, as the word suggests, is funding gathered from various sources. IMDB has compiled a list of movies that are crowdfunded for your perusal. Today’s net-based world has made the act of crowdfunding incredibly executable and thanks to its potentially broad spectrum of investors, allows for you to chip away at the required budget until your needs are met. These days the most common crowdfunding methods entail setting up a web page on which you pitch your concept, explain the potential rewards and then proceed to plug into the various social media platforms. Essentially this is the marriage of digital and word of mouth. Whether it’s for art or for profit, these two concepts are not exclusive and cross pollination is always a possibility. For these very reasons, it’s important to know that there are a number of ways to go about raising the finances to fund your film-making endeavours. There are spread betting options available for the UK market which is a great trading platform that can allow for some really quick gains if you play your cards right. Alternatively you could pitch your great and fully formed idea to a donor or investor. Just know that these types, whether individuals or bankers, will want a piece of the pie or something in return. Remuneration might be an actual slice of the profits (investor) or something that’s tax deductible(donor). And there you have it aspiring film-maker. Now, go out there and make that tangible dream into a reality.

  • How Remakes Are Becoming the New Originals

    There's always a sense of comfort in familiar things, a fondness for looking back on the past. That's never been more accurate than when reminiscing about favourite shows or movies. This yearning for classics of yesteryear has been noticed by film studios which have led to a recent surge in movies and TV shows being remade. Viewers now have the chance to experience golden-oldies again, but with a fresh new finish. Daring to reimagine a hit show can be a risky move as fans will be quick to criticise if it doesn't live up to expectations. However, many remakes have been a roaring success, replacing the originals in the minds of many. Here’s a peek at just a few which have succeeded. Disney Live Remakes Feature-length Disney cartoon films may be years old, but they remain firm favourites to many adults. You'd need a heart made of stone not to feel moved by the sight of cartoon Belle shedding tears as she bends over the dying Beast. However, Disney has managed the impossible and improved on some of their classic cartoons by creating live-action movies. Beauty and the Beast and Jungle Book have had live versions made, while Lion King received a photorealistic computer-animated remake in 2019. Wheel of Fortune and Supermarket Sweep It's not just the films that are enjoying a resurgence; many classic game shows are being reinvented for a modern audience. The original Wheel of Fortune ran from 1988 to 1996, presented by Nicky Campbell. It was later brought back by John Leslie, Bradley Walsh and Paul Hendy, proving that its format continues to be popular, even decades later. This popularity has spilled over into other markets too, with the Wheel of Fortune Megaways slot a big hit with players. Branded slots are always in demand, and the fun of the Wheel of Fortune theme coupled with the lucrative Megaways mechanism has proven to be irresistible. Supermarket Sweep has enjoyed similar fortunes, another daytime favourite that has been reinvented. Presented by the late Dale Winton for many years, in 2020, Rylan took over the role in a much-praised reboot. In fact, Rylan has been such a hit in the hot seat, and it almost seems as if he's been the presenter forever (no disrespect intended to Dale!). The Justice League It's fair to say that The Justice League isn't a classic film from long ago, but the controversy surrounding the different versions makes it a worthy contender for this list. The film took a decade to complete. After initially being planned in 2007, it wasn't released in theatres until 2017. However, that only tells a fraction of the story. Zack Snyder was the original director, and after creative disagreements with Warner Bros, he stepped down post-production, primarily due to his daughter's death. Joss Whedon took over and made substantial changes to the film, requiring two months of reshoots. When Justice League was released, it was very different to the film that Snyder had originally promised fans. Four years later, Justice League has been re-released: the Wes Snyder cut. Over four hours in length, it’s very different to Joss Whedon’s version. Dark, brooding and with emphasis on continuity and character-building, it’s the film that fans were clamouring to see. While Whedon’s version is the original, many of the actors who appeared in both movies say that they consider Snyder’s version as the canonical one in the mythical universe.

  • Free Films to Watch in January 2021

    It’s a new year and a new opportunity to watch free films online here at UK Film Channel. Not only do we offer a terrific selection of free movies, but we also require no sign up whatsoever! That’s right, you don’t need money or even a password to watch our terrific free films - just an appetite for independent cinema. We have had some incredible new additions to the Free Movies section recently, so let’s share a few to get you watching asap. Betrayed - directed by Matthew Sawyer Starring Wayne Edge, Jack McGarry, Ian Ray-White, Robin Lyons, and Emily Rose Holt, this short film garnered a 3-star film review from UK Film Review and was added to the UK Film Channel in December. Wayne Edge plays Shane, a man accused of rape who gets kidnapped. Want to know how you can find out if Shane is guilty? Watch the film - in full, for free - on the UK Film Channel. Boris in the Forest - directed by Robert Hackett This four-star short film is available courtesy of the director and Alter - who host it via YouTube. By watching it on the UK Film Channel, the filmmakers keep the views, so you are supporting the indie filmmaking community. Why not go one better and share it so others can enjoy? The film itself is a black comedy about a super fan searching for his hero - Boris Karloff. Check it out now as one of our free films to watch online. Lifeline - directed by L. Marcus Williams Written and directed by L. Marcus Williams, Lifeline is a sublime five-star film which you can enjoy in full, for free via the UK Film Channel. A hard-hitting short about a suicide helpline, starring Katie Leslie and Dan Parilis, this is a must-see for indie film fans. Visit the film’s page on the UK Film Channel, where you will also see a link to critic Jack Bottomley’s film review of the movie. We will be back soon with more free films to announce as we get closer to our target of 100 free films to watch online! Check back soon and be sure to follow UK Film Channel in all the usual places.

  • Gambling Movies Based On True Stories: How Accurate Are They?

    There are dozens of gambling movies available to watch. Most of the films are completely fictional, but there are some which are based on true stories. Like all other true-story films, it’s important to question just how accurate these gambling films are. Let’s take a look. 21 (2008) 2008’s 21 tells the story of the famous MIT Blackjack Team, a group of current and former MIT students who used card counting and other strategies to win blackjack games at brick-and-mortar casinos – this strategy doesn’t work with Internet sites – throughout the 1980s and 90s. While the movie was largely successful, when compared to the real-life MIT Blackjack Team, it’s actually incredibly inaccurate. First of all, the team was not founded by a maths professor like in the film; it was actually founded by three individuals, one of which was a Harvard Business School graduate and the others former MIT students. In addition, many of the characters in the film were fictionalised or based on various MIT team players from the teams years in operation. Finally, most of the events in the movie, like when Ben loses $200,000 at Red Rock casino, were made purely for the film and never happened. Molly’s Game (2017) Molly’s Game is a biographical drama film based on the memoir of the same name by Molly Bloom; a former Olympic Skater turned illegal gambling operator. The film tells the story of how Bloom began operating illegal high-stake poker games which attracted the attention of various Hollywood celebrities before running into legal trouble. Compared to 21, Molly’s Game is actually a lot more accurate, even if it does exaggerate some events. For example, Bloom was actually threatened by a mobster and did become addicted to drugs as she struggled with controlling her poker games. However, some aspects of the film such as Idris Elba’s Charlie Jaffey character and the name of the venue in which the poker games were played were all fictionalised or at least changed for the film. High Roller: The Stu Ungar Story (2003) 2003’s High Roller: The Stu Ungar Story is another film based on real events. This movie tells the story of Stu Ungar, a professional poker player who is one of the only people in poker history to win the World Series of Poker Main Event three times. Despite his legendary status and early success, Ungar struggled with gambling, drugs, and his personal relationships too. The movie covers Ungar’s life through flashbacks, and while it does a great job of highlighting his successes as well as the trouble he experienced later in life, the film is often criticised for failing to show the full extent of his gambling addiction. Why Are They Not Accurate? Like most other films based on true stories, the film industry likes to exaggerate, sensationalise, and even create fictional events for more drama and entertainment. So while there are plenty of films which do a great job of accurately portraying real-life stories and events, there will always be something that is fictionalised or exaggerated for viewers, so don’t take these real-life movies too seriously!

  • Free Online Films With No Sign Up

    Watching Free Films With No Sign Up Here at UK Film Channel, we pride ourselves on providing a large catalogue of free films to watch online - movies from filmmakers all around the world. We have a terrific catalogue of short films and indie features, many of which are award-winning at esteemed film festivals globally. Another unique selling point for UK Film Channel is that we offer free online movies with no sign up! That's right, we don't even request that you become a member in order to enjoy the variety of free films on offer. That's because our goal isn't to take all your details and sell them to the highest bidder (like some other free movie websites). No, we just want the films on our channel to be viewed as many times as possible - because the filmmakers donate them in order to get more eyes on their work. How to watch Free Movies With No Sign Up This bit is simple, simply go to the Free Movies section - which you can locate in the main navigation of our website - find a film you want to watch and click the movie poster. You will be taken to the film's page, where you can see a little more information about the title, such as who directed it, wrote it, starred in it etc. You can also watch a trailer for that film if one has been made available. Lower down the page, you will see the free film embedded against an audience backdrop - this is because we wanted to recreate the cinematic experience and make these free movies with no sign up even better! How much better can they get? We recommend watching our catalogue of films on the biggest screen possible, which is why the vast majority of them are on platforms which are compatible with Google Chromecast (such as YouTube, Dailymotion, and Vimeo). If you are able to cast the films to a bigger screen, do it! You will literally be living the dream by then and there's not much more we can do than offer to pay for your electricity - which we aren't going to do anytime soon. Whilst we don't ask anyone to sign up to watch free films on our website, you can subscribe to our newsletter at the bottom of any page. This is for us only and we may email you about some of the newest free films or rentals being added to the UK Film Channel - but that's about it. Remember to follow us online @UKFilmChannel (or click the links at the bottom of the page) as that's where we announce the newest additions too. Recent additions include films such as the UK Film Review Festival Official Selection - A Poet's Seat - which is a new free short film to watch online from the comfort of your own home. You can watch on your computer, your phone, or (as mentioned) cast it to a bigger smart TV! We also added a spectacular free documentary called All Its Name Implies - a film about a terrible forest fire which took place in a town called Paradise in the U.S. Another official selection of the 2020 UKFRF, you can check out the full feature-length free film in our free movies section right now.

  • 2 Free Films To Watch Online December 2020

    Following the excellent UK Film Review Festival in November 2020, several of the official selections from their online film festival have now been added to the Free Films section and the Rentals section of the UK Film Channel - one of which won the award for Best Short Film. Free Films Crazy - directed by Holt Boggs One of the funniest short films in recent years, writer and director Holt Boggs (who also stars) brings us a high-quality comedy set in a diner where a mob boss and hitman discuss a number of topics, from penis eyes to Conan O'Brien. Crazy has been lauded by critics and audiences across the globe for its exceptional dark comedy and aesthetic prowess, not to mention the fact that the script is sensational. So much so that it won Best Short Film at the UKFRF 2020 Awards. This is one of the newest free films available on our website and is a must-see for any fans of great comedy, great filmmaking, or Heat. Seriously, this is like a love note to Heat in the best way possible. Sphere of Fear - directed by John Mitchell Sphere of Fear 2 was an official selection of the UK Film Review Festival, as is currently available in the Rentals section. The filmmaker, writer and director John Mitchell, graciously donated the first film - Sphere of Fear - to the Free Movies section! So, if you wish, you can watch the first outing complete free and then choose to rent number 2. Sphere of Fear stars Warren Baker, Chris Ball Hero and Gina Bee and is a rough-around-edges indie film with plenty to chew on as a feature. FOURFOURTWO Magazine called it "Film of the Year". So why not check out this free film to watch online? Other Free Films We still have 70 other free films to watch on our website - many of which have won awards at numerous global film festivals. We have also revamped the viewing pages so they look more like cinemas! Check it out and let us know what you think. We will be adding more free movies to our platform, now that the submission for free films has opened again and we hope to open the option for rentals too. Thank you for supporting indie film through our platform and sharing the good word. We want to create a loving community of supportive film fans and filmmakers.

  • The Gambler Movie Review: Is it actually worth watching?

    “The Gambler” is a 2014 crime drama directed by Rupert Wyatt, based on a classic 70’s eponymous movie written by James Toback. The film is starring Mark Wahlberg as a literature professor who is a compulsive gambler in an illegal casino by night. In his attempt to make some serious bank by playing cards, his condition goes from bad to worse to even more broke than he was before taking up gambling. The plot of “The Gambler” Despite having potential, the movie is quite bad. The director didn’t manage to correctly emulate the casino vibe he was looking for. Even if the film is called “The Gambler,” the creators failed to focus on the gambling aspect, but rather on the stupid choices that the main character makes because of his destructive behavior. The movie is carried by the extraordinary cast surrounding the main character, like Jessica Lange or Brie Larson. We think that Mark Wahlberg was a terrible choice of main actor. He fails to enter the character and isn’t able to explain to the audience why he’s making the gambling decision. While the whole idea is that Mark Wahlberg’s character is an addict, he actually shows a different side of the casino world – compulsively gambling all of his balance until he eventually loses it all. The two choices that Jim Bennet, the main character, has are essentially gambling it away or setting it on fire, which does not precisely represent the mindset of a real addict. Critics Opinion About the Movie Even though “The Gambler is labeled as a drama, the tension is missing entirely. The only common ground between Wahlberg’s character and a compulsive gambler is the self-destructive nature. Jim Bennet owed $80.000 to the mob, won $90.000, but instead of paying off his debt, he keeps betting until he loses everything. This movie is full of unnecessary speeches, and the final one lets us think that maybe he never was a gambler. Still, it isn't evident for the audience. According to Matt Atchity, chief editor at Rotten Tomatoes, the representation of compulsive gambling behavior in “The Gambler” is dull. The character experiments with destroying his life by betting entirely at random. Jim Bennet lacks the skills of a real gambler that knows what to expect, like the characters in “Rounders” that realize they can’t beat the game, but they are still addicted to the thrill of winning big. Critics argue that the original movie is way better executed. The main character is trying to double up his money until he can pay up the debt, instead of just gambling recklessly until he eventually loses, risking to get murdered Wahlberg character does in the 2014 movie. Another weird aspect of this movie is that the third act's atmosphere turns into sort of a heist movie, where he is adding up together small pieces of a puzzle until they all fall into place. Still, nothing in the first half of the film justifies that. In a nutshell, the movie has no essence, and most of the plot makes no sense from a scriptwriter’s point of view. What are the positive aspects of “The Gambler” We can all agree that Mark Wahlberg is a talented actor, but he was miscast in this movie. He doesn’t fit the role because he’s not suitable for a gambling movie where he has to play a literature professor. The original “The Gambler” movie was dark and had some essence to it. At the same time, the remake was a complete failure, despite having potential. The film was a disappointment for all the gambling fans out there. Many critics consider it a parody of the original. However, some of the dialogues, like the sequence dedicated to “The Stranger” by Albert Camus, are great but still weren’t quite fitting. The movie's whole idea was apparently to be metaphorical, which, in our opinion, failed miserably. Luckily, the fantastic cast saved the day and made the film more enjoyable. Still, we’re sure that many Mark Wahlberg fans were utterly disappointed after watching his performance in “The Gambler.” Since the plot circles around the main character trying to pay off his debt by making some great plays at the casino table, it will surely get your heart racing for a little while. Unfortunately, Rupert Wyatt tried too hard to be daring with the soundtrack and visual juxtaposition and too long monologues, making the final result was disastrous. The Bottom Line Even though the movie's name is “The Gambler,” most critics consider that it’s not related to gambling. Rupert Wyatt’s attempt to be artsy by inserting metaphors into the plot ruined it. From our perspective, this movie is not worth watching if you’re looking to watch a film about casino games. If you want to enjoy some real gambling-related content should watch classic casino movies like “Rounders,” “21”, or “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas,” which are true masterpieces that successfully emulate the casino vibe.

  • Free Movies in May 2020

    It’s been a while since we spoke. How have you been? All good? No global pandemics to speak of? Okay great… Well, we have been busy! Not only have we massively increased our selection of indie film rentals - there are some absolute corkers in our Rent section - we have also expanded our free movies pages. In this feature, we will highlight some of the newest arrivals to our Free Films page. Baxu and the Giants on the UK Film Channel Directed by Florian Schott and one of the official selections of the Beeston Film Festival, Baxu and the Giants’ storyline is about Rhino Poaching but seen through the eyes of a 9-year-old girl. The film and it’s movie trailer are available to watch now, in stunning HD, completely free. The Critic by filmmaker Stella Velon This film was the very first movie we added to the UK Film Channel last year! The UK Film Review Award-Winning short film was originally just £1.99 per rental...and now...is a free movie! Starring Stella Velon (who also wrote and directed the piece), it tells the tale of an actress facing her harshest critic in a deeply engaging dramatic atmosphere. Head over to our Free Movies page and find this incredible short film to watch now. Eden and S.P.L.I.T from filmmaker Robbie Walsh One of our favourite filmmakers, Robbie Walsh donated two of his movies to our Free Movies section in order to help the world get through isolation a little easier. Eden, which explores homelessness, and S.P.L.I.T, a hilarious mockumentary, are wonderful 4-star indie films that are both feature length! That’s right, if you have hours in your calendar to fill, and we know you do, these two free films will keep you more than entertained! Asra on the UK Film Channel Another official selection from the Beeston Film Festival, this wonderful short film (written and directed by Caio Cortonesi) is a true hidden gem. Full of mystery, intrigue, and a foreboding atmosphere, it is a truly special piece of filmmaking and one of our favourite newest free movies. Asra stars Humberto Pedrancini, Débora Aquino, and Caio Cortonesi. The Game of the Clock And last but not least, The Game of the Clock - a tense short thriller from director Michele Olivieri (who co-writes here with Ian Reid). Film critic Chris Olson from UK Film Review gave The Game of the Clock a very respectable 3 stars back in October 2019, and we are thrilled to bits that we can present this to our wonderful uses within the Free Films section.

  • UK Film Review debuts with a 2020 Virtual Film Festival

    London, May 2nd 2020 In their monthly film magazine, UK Film Review announced in their May edition that they will be launching their very first international film festival in November 2020. The news was broken by their Editor-in-Chief Chris Olson, who stated the decision was made to make their inaugural event a Virtual Film Festival in order to bypass the current issues being caused within the industry by Coronavirus. As one of the largest publications of movie reviews in the UK, UK Film Review have long been a pioneer of indie filmmaking, often promoting short films and independent cinema right alongside the big theatrical releases. The UK Film Review Film Festival 2020 has already opened for submissions via the popular festival platform, FilmFreeway, and will be open until nearer the even in the autumn of this year. Their jury will likely be made up of their house film critics, many of whom have a long running passion for short films, indie movies, LGTBQ+ cinema, documentaries and animation - all of which will have a home at the Virtual Film Festival. Our VOD platform will also play a role, hosting the actual Virtual Film Festival! UK Film Channel will be hosting the films which get officially selected, allowing viewers from around the world to attend the festival from the comfort of their own homes (or anywhere they can get a wifi connection if the COVID lockdowns have ceased by then). More details for the various screenings and events which will be included in the UK Film Review Festival will be released soon. What is a Virtual Film Festival? Virtual Film Festivals are film events hosted completely online, whereby audiences watch films from their own homes. They have the benefit of reaching a much wider audience without the restrictions of a venue (as well as the expense), and can also offer viewers a more bespoke experience, such as the option to have subtitles on the films you watch, or integrating social media directly with the screening. Many 2020 film festivals are looking to go virtual and this could be the start of a much wider appeal for online movie events. The use of Live Streaming for events such as Q&A’s and interviews with cast and crew is becoming commonplace, and for many filmmakers who submit their movies to film festivals, a virtual one allows them to attend without the financial and time burden that comes with traditional festivals.

  • Free Movies December 2019

    Free Movies in December 2019 December marked a huge moment for UK Film Channel. It marked the start of our official partnership with the wonderful Beeston Film Festival, and also gave our free movies section a huge boost! The Beeston Film Festival has been going for many years and is a popular destination for short films in particular. Our partnership with them means that any movie that has been, or is in the future, an official selection can get automatic placement on our VOD platform. So what new free movies have been added? New titles include: Oceanic Aliens Go With God Pete The Casting of an Innocent Women The 38 to Hackney Each of these films have also been reviewed by UK Film Review (or reviews are pending) so our users will be able to see what star rating they achieve from their film critics. We will also include a snippet of the official review on each movie's subpage with a link to where you can read more if you wish. Within the Beeston Film Festival section, you will also find a few movies which have been added as part of our rentals area. Whilst these are not free movies, they are brilliant films some of which are award-winning. They include: Those Who Can Die Nobody Dies Here Jenna Amour du Reel The Fire, A Fowl, and an (un)Forgotten Past We will most likely be adding more titles when the next Beeston event takes place, so check back nearer the time and be sure to follow us and the festival on social media. Another Addition to the Free Movies Section Not only did we add a selection of Beeston movies to our channel this month, but we also added the 4-star animated comedy LeSeurdmin! A glorious feature-length free movie that is more tongue in cheek than most - because it's a lizard tongue, right?! To access all of these free movies you can visit the dedicated section using the menu. Once there you can also find directions to subcategories for different genres, such as free horror films, free documentaries, and free comedy films (which is where you will be able to find LeSeurdmin by the way). As always, we encourage fans and users of UK Film Channel to help support indie films by sharing the heck out of anything you watch. The filmmakers really appreciate shout outs and it encourages others to consider adding their movies. If you tag @ukfilmchannel we will like your post (if we don't you have our permission to call us out).

  • Free Movies: Two Free War Films to Watch Online

    Free Movies War Films on the UK Film Channel Cinematically robust and thematically harrowing, war movies often provide audiences with some of the most compelling stories ever seen on screen. Tales of heroism, escape, and the triumph of good over evil are rooted in the endless clashes between nations and/or peoples which have existed since humans thought to turn rocks and sticks into weapons. Filmmakers can often immortalise the incredible bravery of the soldiers and combatants of these wars through their movies, with spectacular results. From vintage classics such as Apocalypse Now, Full Metal Jacket and Platoon, to newer offerings such as Zero Dark Thirty, Hacksaw Ridge, and Dunkirk, it seems viewers are craving these stories. Short films and their filmmakers are also producing incredible pieces and on the UK Film Channel we are luck enough to have two new free movies to offer our audience. THEIR WAR When reviewed by UK Film Review's film critic Chris Olson, he gave this a glowing five stars and said the war movie was: "...a breathtakingly heartbreaking and intimate piece on the human sacrifice needed and how this can never be justified." Written and directed by Max Mason, Their War is fairly unique in its approach, telling the same story but from both sides. We see a soldier from each army as they prepare for battle, leaving loved ones and entering the battlefield equally terrified about what's to come. It is as brilliantly filmed as it is tragic and audiences are likely to be moved by the swelling atmosphere. FALLEN This short film, written and directed by Spencer Anderson, garnered a four star rating from UK Film Review and is an incredible cinematic achievement. Again, it is fairly unique in terms of war movies, as it tells a double-edged story. The title is a reference to not just to soldiers who have tragically died in combat but also those who have fallen in love and how this is tested beyond measure by war. The short film is based on the writings of Gilbert Bradley who was himself a soldier. By lending the short a sense of history and authenticity, viewers can allow themselves to be swept up by the non-linear structure of the narrative. It is a compelling watch and one of our favourite free movies to watch on the UK Film Channel. More Free Movies Coming Soon In December we have a very special release for fans of our site. More details coming very soon but let's say we have more free movies to watch online coming faster than a speeding bullet. Well, maybe not that fast. It takes a while to upload them all.

  • Filmmaker's Journey: Robert Eugen Popa

    The story behind indie film Veni, Vidi, Fugi: I Came, I Saw, I Fled In 2010, Tim and I wrote an epic script entitled “Anabasis,” which told the story of Magellan's circumnavigation of the globe. We shopped it around, with it ultimately bouncing in and out of the hands of Fox, Scott Free Production and Kanzaman Productions in Spain. The script was a semifinalist at "Page International" in Hollywood in the Historical film category: https://pageawards.com/past-winners/2010-winners/2010-semi-finalists/ We were not at all synchronized though with the world-wide recession and Hollywood’s cycle of downsizing, scepticism and ultra-conservative studio bets on financing horror films and romantic genre. Behind the script were arduous documentation (including trips to the Argentinean and Chilean Patagonia, in the steps of Magellan's crew) and wild dramatic debates on how to capture this magnitude of epic in a 120 pages script while at the Coffee Bean in Los Angeles. During coffee breaks, I entertained Tim with really wild stories from the Black Sea Coast of Romania during the harshest years of Ceausescu's dictatorship. Not only were we film peers at UCLA, but we both studied Literature before; while Tim was also a published author. Somehow these nostalgic, real Behind the Iron Curtain stories of dreamers, small-time Balkan gangsters, operating in the increasing absurdity of Ceausescu's reign appealed to Tim's versatility and subversive vocation. However, what made us both hear some intoxicating tune in the inner ear was ultimately the famous exile of the best Roman poet Ovid, by Caesar Augustus, in 8 AD on a remote Roman military outpost on the Black Sea, the very harbour where I was born. We produced a script that turned out to be among a handful of finalists at Sundance Screenwriters Lab 2015 - June session, but even then we could not get any financing in Romania. So, after presenting the facts to friends, including a couple of guys with considerable businesses, we received some financial help. Even so, the funds were barely enough to support a 30-minute short, but that did not include any post-production. I approached Maia Morgenstern, who is better known for playing Mary, in Mel Gibson's "Passion of Christ." Besides being an extraordinarily intuitive actress, she is also a very charming and generous person. It so happened that Maia responded extremely well to the script. It was the same case with a number of extremely talented actors, including Paul Diaconescu who signed on to play the protagonist K with an incredible mix of naivete and streetwise versatility; Elias Ferkin a hood Alpha gangster with a judiciously good measure of flair, as it's very easy to fall into cheap caricatures when you play sardonic villains; and Geo Dobre playing a ruthless Ceausescu secret police officer eaten up by alcoholism. Not to mention, Tache Florescu as an intense, anguished and sarcastic Ovid. Also, Malina Tomaiaga played with aplomb and flawless credibility Iulia, the temperamental 12-grade girlfriend of the protagonist. I did spend well over 2 years in Argentina and Chile and for some reason, actresses in their mid-twenties tend to fall into blatant overacting and histrionics when portraying female teenagers. They look right for the part but they raise the volume and accentuate every gesture, in an effort to compensate for lacking the natural intensity to deliver a teenager in emotional crisis or indignation scene. Nothing of that sort with Malina who spent time at the gym and in libraries studying teenagers. She also did really save the whole shoot on the second day, as we were late in the day and had another 4-5 camera setups at the disco scene and her performance involved dense and long dialogue, while also going through a complicated progression of moods. (from amusement to teasing her boyfriend and then moving to jealousy and finally, fierce indignation). Usually, this kind of dialogue requires a fair number of takes as myriad things could happen - a slight hesitation, forgetting a line, an unnatural pause, not ''finding" enough intensity or pathos for the delivery. Malina just did it flawlessly from the very first take, We did a second "just in case take" - had a sigh of relief for having covered a pretty intense and complicated scene in such a short time and moved forward to the still demoralizingly high number of remaining scenes. The shoot took 4 days and nights of very intense production. It was ultra-guerilla. Three days we filmed in Bucharest and one in the Ancient Quarter of Constanta, Romania. The Black Sea provided a powerful backdrop to the mixture of ancient and 1980’s dictatorships. The dialogues couldn't be more idiosyncratic and possess a certain Balkan streetwise insolence. Somehow, the film resonated with international audiences. The film gathered almost 5000 people in a theatre in Kerala, Southern India. Maia won the "Best supporting role" at the Sydney Indie Festival, Australia and at the Arte Non Stop Film Festival, Buenos Aires, Argentina. The Script won "Best script" in Jaipur, India, Buenos Aires, Argentina and got an honorable mention in the oldest film festival with a short film section – Montecatini, Italy (2 years older than Cannes, but not as iconic, as Montecatini doesn't have a feature film section.) Audience awards were won in Buenos Aires for "Best Director" and "Best cinematography" in ''Short film". The response to the film catapulted a phrase by Tolstoi that I had read in high school: "The more shamelessly regional, the more universal a work of art becomes. " Veni, Vidi, Fugi: I Came, I Saw, I Fled is available to watch on the UK Film Channel. Click the banner below.

  • Free Movies for November

    Thank goodness, the dastardly awkwardness of Halloween is behind us and we can start focusing on what really matters - Christmas movies! But before we get our jingle bells jangling we have November to contend with, sometimes a rather forgettable month in the cinematic calendar. Never fear though, UK Film Channel with all our might, have conjured a bunch of free films for you to watch whilst you ponder whether you will end up on the Naughty or Nice list this year. 5 Free Movies A Day in the Life of A Pint Filmmaker Robbie Walsh gives a short but sweet picture of a pint with life happening all around it. One of those movie premises which really shouldn’t work but totally does, we witness a pub’s patron sip at a pint watching the world go by - and by god does it go by! Abyss Rated 5-stars by UK Film Review’s chief movie critic Chris Olson, Abyss is a condensed superhero movie with a lot more drama than quips compared to a Marvel outing. If non-linear storytelling and some cool special effects are your thing then put on your cape and add this to the list of free movies to watch in November 2019 on the UK Film Channel. 6:16 There are several free movies from filmmaker Fred Cavender on the UK Film Channel and 6:16 is up there with the best of them. Set during a job interview, the plot is full of mystery when a clock is left for the interviewees with the titular amount of time on. Will they figure out what they are supposed to do before the time runs out? Have a watch for free and find out! The Visit Directed by Shane Andries, this comedy drama plays with racial tensions with spectacular results. The short film is one of the free movies available to watch in November (and beyond) on the UK Film Channel and stars Vishwas, Amr El-Bayoumi, David Harris, Ed Cooney, Ari Barkan, & Anthony O'Connell. Round Trip Ren Thackham may very well be the funniest Australian director right now and this funny short film will show you why. Set in the outback, bizarre happenings befall a cop and prisoner on their way to jail. It must be seen to be believed but Round Trip is a wonderfully humorous free movie to watch! So there you have it. 5 Free Movies to watch in November on the UK Film Channel all courtesy of the generous indie filmmakers who give us their movies. Please do them a solid and share the hell out of their films. It means the world to them and just may see you get on the Nice list - for once in your life! Click the link to start watching any of these movies right away! https://www.ukfilmchannel.co.uk/free-movies

  • Free Documentaries on the UK Film Channel

    Where to watch Free Documentaries On the UK Film Channel, we have a great selection of Free Movies from UK and international filmmakers. Amongst these are a collection of free documentaries to watch online - with absolutely no catch. There is no sign-up required, no payment, and no annoying fear that what you are doing is illegal. These free documentaries are already readily available on streaming platforms such as YouTube and Vimeo. We have simply worked with the filmmakers directly, and got their permission to embed them on the site. The filmmakers get the views, you get free movies to watch and we get to serve everyone - because we are nice like that. We have also incorporated movie reviews from our sister site - UK Film Review - so you can see what their film critics have to say about these free documentaries. How to watch Free Documentaries Take a look at the movie posters on the Free Documentaries page and click the one that takes your fancy. Once you are on the individual page for the film itself, there will be a video embed which you can click and play, whether on a desktop, mobile or tablet. Alternatively, go to the Free Movies section of Find a Movie page, where you can peruse a bigger selection of free movies to watch online on the UK Film Channel. Sharing Free Documentaries Often people are scared to share free movies online, for fear of the digital forces swooping in and destroying your laptop with their laser guns. No need to fear here, these documentary films are totally legit. We have permission to use them and in fact the filmmakers would absolutely love more eyes on their movies - so go ahead, share yourself bloody silly. In order to share the films, we would ask that you copy the UK Film Channel’s page link and post that to popular social media channels such as Facebook and Twitter. This will help direct more people to our unique VOD platform for indie films. Don’t keep it a secret - we understand why you might want to - because the more people who find out about us and all the free movies we have on offer, the more other filmmakers will want to add their films too! Imagine that, we could have like, a million free movies. What a glorious utopia that would be...Anyway, we are probably drifting and you want to get watching the best free documentaries online. Off you go.

  • 5 Free Movies to Watch on the UK Film Channel

    Finding places to watch free movies in the UK can be difficult. Unless you are willing to pay a subscription service or trawl through advert-loaded YouTube channels, fans of paying nothing are left without much choice...unless of course, they visit UK Film Channel. Free Movies UK Our Free Movies section has a ton of fantastic short films and independent movies that you can stream completely free of charge. They are from filmmakers all around the world and the majority of them are in English. You will be able to pick using the rating given to each film from the respected film critics at UK Film Review. 5 Free Movies on UK Film Channel This month, UK Film Review Editor-in-Chief and film critic Chris Olson gives his list of movies to watch without spending a penny. 1. The Golden Shore https://www.ukfilmchannel.co.uk/the-golden-shore Directed by Fred Cavender and one of the most impressive dystopian short films currently on the channel, this is a gloriously made short movie. Fans of science-fiction and drama will be in their element, as will a cinephile who enjoys a high standard of filmmaking in their independent cinema. 2. Hold Me Down https://www.ukfilmchannel.co.uk/hold-me-down Another drama, this time written and directed by Niclas Gillis. I gave this film 5 stars when I reviewed it for UK Film Review for its knockout story, compelling themes, and arresting visuals. Telling the story of a woman struggling to survive in urban America, it is a must-see for fans of gripping cinema. 3. Yemen: The Silent War https://www.ukfilmchannel.co.uk/yemen-the-silent-war If those dramas don't bring a tear to your eye, this moving documentary from filmmaker Sufian Abulohom will. An emotionally charged and poignant piece on the state of life in Yemen, the movie is a tremendous achievement that plays with cinematic techniques. As my dad always said, it won't cheer you up but you will be glad you watched it. 4. Hell's Bells https://www.ukfilmchannel.co.uk/hells-bells If you have never experienced the sheer craziness that is Morris Dancing, this is the short film for you. With horror themes and dark comedy aplenty, it is the kind of free movie on the UK Film Channel we love to promote. Writer and director Luke Jeffrey has done these delightful dancers proud. 5. California Hotdog Champions https://www.ukfilmchannel.co.uk/california-hotdog-champions Absolutely nothing like the title sounds, this mixture of comedy, horror, and zombie tied up in a mockumentary format is another phenomenal outing from Fred Cavender. Come for the music and stay for the mauling. There you have it. 5 Free Movies to watch on the UK Film Channel. Stay tuned for more lists, more free films, and more support for indie film. #ChrisOlson

  • Indie Filmmaker Interview with Robbie Walsh

    Here on our Indie Film VOD Platform we are lucky enough to get enormous support from superb filmmakers. We caught up with just such a filmmaker, Robbie Walsh, to ask him all things movie related. You have two movies on the UK Film Channel, Eden and S.P.L.I.T. why did you decide to add them? As an independent filmmaker, getting distribution is very very difficult and without sales agents or a distribution company it's made even more so. Even after cinemas screened my 2 films within 6 months of each other, I couldn't get companies or agents to talk or discuss, so when the channel became available and it meant getting my films shown to a UK audience I was on board. There was no way I could self distribute in the UK. It would be far too expensive for me, but the films can't just sit on a hard-drive, laptop or DVD, you have to get your work out to the public and let them see it. What's the journey been like for you as a filmmaker? In terms of getting movies made and then getting them out there. Tough, very tough, I'm an actor and film fan 1st and foremost but I wasn't getting called in for auditions or getting the parts I'd like to play, so I started to write short stories and scripts and would show them to friends or acting colleagues. My 1st short film I made (ACES) I fought in a cage to get the money to make it (it ended up screening in Cannes Film Festival) so from the beginning I knew I had to work hard and develop a tough resolve to keep going in the face of constant rejection. As I grew as a filmmaker, I would always take inspiration from my favorite actors, directors, writers, producers, so you must be a fan or the art first. As far as getting them made, I would save as much as I could, shoot as quick as I could, ask for help from friends/family when I could and go from there. Getting the films out there is an interview and a film/documentary unto itself, the final week leading up to S.P.L.I.T's cinema release is an insane story (I had a real life DANCING CAVALIER at my press screening), a lot of emails, phone calls, knocking on doors and gritting teeth. BUT..... when you sit in a film theater and see the film start on the big screen.....it's worth it. How did you get into making movies? I was in the army and got an shoulder injury so I couldn't really do anything, at the time I was taking the odd acting class before it happened, so I used the opportunity to get more and more into acting and do as many classes as I could afford at the time. I was getting very small and bit parts, the odd commercial and a bit of extra work. That's when I started writing and making my films and it grew and grew from there. How much control would you say you have had over your career as a filmmaker? Making/shooting my films, a lot. Getting them out there? I only have control in reaching out to people, but virtually none in the TV stations, online VOD, or theaters/cinemas decisions in actually showing, broadcasting or booking the films. It is a very large complex machine...but with each email you send and phone call you make, you learn to navigate it a little better. A lot of the time you won't even get an answer...BUT... when you do get that simple "yes, we will show your film" or a "sure, send it over"... it's worth it. How much time do you spend looking for distribution deals for your films? Too much. The topics are your movies are quite heavy. Why is that? Well you write about what you know, about what inspires you or about what might need attention or changing. Films and artists are always at the forefront of change and a film can really alter or change how a person views a subject or could change certain aspects of a their life. If you have a story you feel only you could tell and tell correctly, it's your duty as a filmmaker to tell it. Otherwise it could be done badly and then you'll have to live with that. Why should UK Film Channel users watch your two films? Watch S.P.L.I.T to be entertained or offended, but definitely for a discussion (even to try spot all the film references). Watch EDEN to get a real insight in what it is like to be and how easy it is to become homeless in Ireland. Both are very relevant to what is happening more often than not in society both here and in the UK and I'm not sure how I feel about that as the films have become far more prophetic. What's your favorite film quote? "sometimes nothing can be a real cool hand" - Cool Hand Luke.

  • A New VOD Platform for Indie Filmmakers

    A New VOD Platform for Indie Filmmakers The world’s gone crazy. A fairly inane comment but the craziness we’re actually referring to is the “crazy” appetite there is for indie films right now. Never before has the world of cinema been so in demand. Video On Demand, or VOD, has become a genuine rival to cinemas, with film distribution companies now choosing to release their latest titles both on the big screens and streaming services. Video on Demand for Indie Filmmakers Whilst household names like Netflix, Amazon Prime, NOW TV and iTunes have crossed the divide from big-budget movies to indie movies, the chances of indie filmmakers getting an online distribution deal is still fairly rare. Getting more eyes on their films among the big hitters such as Marvel superhero films (looking to move to the new Disney VOD platform soon), star-studded thrillers, and family animation is still really difficult. And because these VOD platforms operate a subscription-based service, the pay for plays can be pretty pitifall. Enter the UK Film Channel An off-shoot of UK Film Review, we have been a VOD Platform for Indie Filmmakers since 2018 and now offer indie filmmakers a simpler way to get eyes on their movies and set their own price. The way it works is filmmakers provide us with their movie’s assets (film, trailer, poster etc) and then set the price they would like to rent their indie movie. That could be anything from £1.99 - £9.99 (very few people will pay more than that to rent a movie). UK Film Channel take £1 from each transaction + a transaction fee to send the filmmaker their money, and the rest goes directly to them. That’s it. No monthly subscription to us (for the filmmaker or the view), just a simple pay as you play system that basically gives an online distribution deal to ANYONE. Online Distribution Deals Much like our sister site’s movie reviews, we accept movies from every type of filmmaker. Whether it's your first short film or your fifteenth feature. All we care about is that the film is appropriate (sorry, no “adult” movies), well-made, and that you are passionate about promoting it on our site - after all, that’s how you’ll get more renters. Find out more about our VOD Platform for Indie Filmmakers.

  • Welcome to the UK Film Channel a VOD platform to support indie movies

    Lighting a fire under the independent cinematic community, we hope the UK Film Channel's new home will give birth to a new platform and outlet for filmmakers, movie fans, and film critics. Enjoy the selection of indie movies to watch we have here and stay tuned as we will be adding lots in the coming weeks and months. There are a lot of short films to watch for free if you head over to the All Movies section and some of the films are available to rent for a small cost - most of which goes directly to the filmmaker! So please watch, share, love, enjoy, and stay hydrated.

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