Blog

  • Screen Culture NXT: Portsmouth on screen See Portsmouth differently. Play a part and shape its screen future. Join Making Waves Film Festival at Playland on Thursday 26 November for an evening of short films and intrigue exploring the future of film and screen culture in Portsmouth. We’ll share some of the emerging ideas from Screen…

  • Young people, students, educators and youth organisations across Portsmouth are being encouraged to take part in a new digital survey exploring the future of film, screen culture and media literacy. The survey is part of Screen Culture NXT, a partnership between Making Waves Film Festival, Playland and the University of Portsmouth. The project supports UNESCO…

  • Film, streaming, gaming, TikTok, YouTube, AI… the way we watch and share stories is changing fast. We are partnering with Playland and Artswork on Screen Culture NXT, a series of creative workshops exploring the future of film, TV and digital culture in Portsmouth. The ideas that come from these sessions will help shape future Making…

    What does screen culture mean to you?
  • Created by Lucy Jarvis A CLOSER LOOK: VIDEOGRAPHIC CRITICISM 2025 – Young video essayists comment on popular audio-visual culture. Produced as part of the BA (Hons) Film and Television degree at Southampton Solent University and brought to you by Making Waves Film Festival. Pixar’s SparkShorts project has offered something a little different from the studio’s…

    A Closer Look: Pixar’s SparkShorts – Stories of Difference and Belonging
  • Created by Dylan Waller Spray A CLOSER LOOK: VIDEOGRAPHIC CRITICISM 2025 – Young video essayists comment on popular audio-visual culture. Produced as part of the BA (Hons) Film and Television degree at Southampton Solent University and brought to you by Making Waves Film Festival. What is it about Pixar’s short films that so often leave…

    A Closer Look: Pixar and the Emotional Impact of the Short Film Form
  • Created by Joseph Horstead A CLOSER LOOK: VIDEOGRAPHIC CRITICISM 2025 – Young video essayists comment on popular audio-visual culture. Produced as part of the BA (Hons) Film and Television degree at Southampton Solent University and brought to you by Making Waves Film Festival. Short films are often talked about as stepping stones—early sketches for something…

    A Closer Look: You Know Where to Find Me – Intimacy, Independence, and Emotion in Short Film
  • Created by Callum Gates A CLOSER LOOK: VIDEOGRAPHIC CRITICISM 2025 – Young video essayists comment on popular audio-visual culture. Produced as part of the BA (Hons) Film and Television degree at Southampton Solent University and brought to you by Making Waves Film Festival. Marvel’s vast cinematic universe is known for its epic scope and iconic…

    A Closer Look: Marvel Shorts – How side stories shape side characters
  • Created by Brad Whittam A CLOSER LOOK: VIDEOGRAPHIC CRITICISM 2025 – Young video essayists comment on popular audio-visual culture. Produced as part of the BA (Hons) Film and Television degree at Southampton Solent University and brought to you by Making Waves Film Festival. What makes a good video game adaptation? It’s a question Hollywood has…

    A Closer Look: Uncharted – How fan filmmakers beat Hollywood at their own game
  • The Making Waves Film Festival has long been celebrated for its innovative approach to cinema, seamlessly blending film with immersive experiences that captivate audiences. This year, the festival outdid itself with “My Favourite Cake: An Iranian Dining Experience,” held on March 29 at St. Simon’s Church in Southsea. This event was a harmonious fusion of…

    Film, Food, and Culture: How Making Waves Film Festival Brought Iran to Portsmouth
  • Step into the world of immersive cinema with Pompey Dogs at Staggeringly Good Brewery—a live event experience like no other. On March 22nd, audiences in Portsmouth were treated to a bold and brilliant reimagining of Reservoir Dogs, blending film screening, live performance, and audience participation into one unforgettable night. Hosted by the Making Waves Film…

    A Night of Heists and Revelations: Pompey Dogs at Staggeringly Good Brewery