We explore the low-budget short films of Jan Svankmajer, and ask whether escapism needs to be an expensive venture…

With the help of an inside source, I aim to expose of truth behind these glamorous events and discover what goes on behind the scenes.

The remake of The Karate Kid is coming out soon and I’m scared. I have visions of myself coming out of the screen a broken woman, feebly humming Joe Esposito’s You’re the Best to myself. The horror of seeing a much loved film pillaged by grasping Hollywood producers is traumatic enough to merit the forming of some sort of support group.

Superhero films are big, big, BIG business, and the last decade’s worth of cinema has seen so many unitards and tooled leather boots I’m surprised it hasn’t run off to join the chorus line of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. The days of the latest capering crusader being consigned to the 80s bargain bin alongside Surf Nazis Must Die! and Over-sexed Rugsuckers from Mars (both real titles – check them out or die unfulfilled) are long over.

Picture a day on the set of a big-budget Hollywood film. The scene comprises pimped-out trailers peopled with an entourage of lovies. You have make-up artists and busybodies loading dressing tables with edible gold leaf (low cal, obv) and Peruvian mineral water chilled at exactly 1.5 degrees, not to mention L.A.’s most sought after spray-tanner contouring in washboard abs on some screen starlet’s 14” waist. Okay, now exit the trailer and look to your right…

Here at BFF, independent cinemas are what we’re all about. Who wants to pay £15 to visit a bland and mass-produced multiplex when you can search out an exciting and unique one-off venue? Not us, that’s who! So with that in mind, here’s the first in a series of features on our favourite independent cinemas. This week, it’s the jewel of the Notting Hill film scene: the lordly Coronet.

Studio Ghibli, the company responsible for wonderful animations such as Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle and Ponyo have revealed a teaser trailer for their newest creation; Borrower Arrietty. And, once again, it looks rather freakin beautiful.

Every time we’re almost sure we’re stuffed full of Scott Pilgrim awesome, another sumptuous dish turns up and we can’t possibly turn it away. This time around, it’s the trailer for the playstation game accompanying the film, and by the staff of Moses it looks glorious.

Before we all burst into tears (of joy or despair, depending on your love of sparkles), we have to tell you that a Glee film is not definitely in the making, only that certain facts about the Glee cast’s contracts have come to light. It turns out that those sneaky critters at Fox (cunning as a?) thought very carefully about this franchise before they got their cast to sign on the dotted line, as they are all locked in for three feature films if the company so wishes.

It’s time we had a re-think about the cinemas we visit. There’s never been a better time to support our local independent cinemas, and start hitting the corporate big dogs with bats made of pure not-going-to-see-them. We want you to tell us about your local independent screens – let the revolution commence!