Victoria Luxford
London writer with an affinity for queer cinema and American indies
London-born Victoria Luxford has been a film critic and broadcaster since 2007, writing about cinema all over the world. Beginning with regional magazines and entertainment websites, she soon built up a wealth of experience reviewing the latest releases and interviewing every major name in the industry.
Victoria has reviewed films for Little White Lies, City AM, Radio Times, Metro UK, UAE newspaper The National, and BBC Radio. She has also written about film for the Guardian, Empire, The Hollywood Reporter, and the BFI. In addition to radio, she has appeared on BBC World News, BBC South Today, and BBC One show Rip-Off Britain about trends in cinema. Victoria is an experienced Q&A host, having moderated panels for Picturehouse Cinemas, the BFI, and Peccadillo Pictures.
A film fan since she knew how to sit upright, Victoria’s formative film years were during the independent explosion of the 1990s, worshipping at the altar of Quentin Tarantino, the Coen Brothers and Martin Scorsese. Over time their scope began to widen, finding beauty in all areas of cinema, particularly when their interest turned into a profession.
A passionate advocate of cinema, Victoria is interested in unique storytelling, wherever it may come from. In the many years looking up at a big screen, she has been wowed by micro-budget masterpieces as well as expensive blockbusters. While she has an affinity for queer cinema and American indies, there’s something to be adored in every genre. Victoria believes in the value of film criticism, and has always prioritised absolute honesty over performative hot takes.
You can find Victoria talking about film on Twitter @JLFilm , and trying on colourful outfits on Instagram @JL_Film.
Other posts by Victoria Luxford
Our dirty questions to Christopher Greenslate
The director of Bananahead, a horror-drama about an actor with a troubling legacy, gets
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Bananahead
An actor with a troubling legacy finds dreams come at a cost in this impressive horror-drama - from the HollyShorts Film Festival
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Our dirty questions to the Chinese-American daydreamer
Victoria Luxford interviews Ziyu Lou, the director of American Daydream; they talk about undocumented immigrants, language barriers, Confucian values, shifting from comedy to drama, and... cooking Chinese food for your cast and crew!
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Our dirty questions to Warren Fischer
The director of The Serena Variations - about an autistic violinist coaxed into taking drugs - talks about the pressures musicians face, taking psychedelics, the Niccolò Paganini connection, seeking the approval of mentors, and much more
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American Daydream
Chinese-American doctor has to grapple with her passion for acting and her undocumented mother, in this non-judgmental take on the American Dream - from the HollyShorts Film Festival
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The Serena Variations
The mind of an autistic violinist unravels as she is coaxed into taking drugs and pitted against her contemporaries - from Raindance
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Israel’s equine weapon: Alina Orlov discusses treating horses and mistreating people
Victoria Luxford interviews Alina Orlov just as she premieres The Cavalry in Locarno; they talk about filming with the Israeli police, animal abuse as a metaphor for human authoritarianism, and raising awareness of what Israel "has been doing for the last more than half a century"
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The Cavalry
Alina Orlov uses horses as a proxy for abuse of authority in Israel, in this courageous
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Our dirty questions to Ziad and Christine
Victoria Luzford interviews Ziad H. Hamzeh and Christine Handy, the director and original writer/ exec producer of Hello Beautiful, an emotionally compelling drama about successful model, her mother, and a life-changing diagnosis
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Our dirty questions to the two-hearted filmmakers
Victoria Luxford interviews Rory McHarg and Bret Miller, the two directors of A Two Hearted Tale, a colourful documentary about a peculiar beer label and a heartwarming local story
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Tiny Lights (Svetylka)
We are invited to view the trials of a family through the eyes of their youngest member - Beata Parkanová’s inventive, thoughtful drama is in the Crystal Globe Competition of the 58th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival
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Trans Memoria
Thailand is the setting for a journey of reflection, identity, and pain in a deeply emotional documentary - from 58th Karlovy Vary International Film, Festival
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Spheres
Swiss filmmaker Daniel Zimmermann spins us in circles in this self-describedyy "essay with images" - from the 58th edition of the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival
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A Two Hearted Tale
The story behind a beer label becomes an enticing stroll through personal history in this colourful local film
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My Killer Buddy (Io e il Secco)
Revenge, imagination, and fatherhood are all explored in this emotionally charged drama from Italy, playing at the 32nd edition of the Raindance Film Festival
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Searching for Amani
Murder, climate change and hope all play a big part in a bereaved young Kenyan’s search for the truth - touching documentary premieres at the 32nd Raindance Film Festival
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Smiling Georgia
No laughing matter: The lengths some politicians are willing to go in order to retain power can leave voters toothless - painful Georgian doc premieres at the 32nd edition of Raindance
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The Contestant
Japanese male is confined to a room naked and without food for more than a year, in a sadistic experiment that helped to spawn reality television - doc premieres in the 32nd edition of Raindance/ also showing in the 23rd edition of Tiff Romania
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National Anthem
Luke Gilford’s debut feature shows us what queer expression without restraint truly looks like, against the masculine backdrop of the Old West - from the 32nd edition of Raindance
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The Dead Don’t Hurt
Part-love story, part-revenge thriller, part-feminist Western revision, Viggo Mortensen's sophomore feature (on the director's seat) shows scrappy ambition, and gets flanked by two stellar performances - in cinemas on Friday, June 7th
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We are Guardians
The Amazon Rainforest becomes a battleground for the planet, in this thoughtful American-Brazilian doc about the true cost of deforestation - from the 31st Raindance Film Festival
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Sex with Sue
Canadian
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Does Christopher Nolan look down on his women?
Victoria Luxford writes in response to allegations that Christopher Nolan gives the female characters of Oppenheimer the "blow up doll" treatment, and that every single one of his films may have failed the Bechdel Test
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Oppenheimer
Christopher Nolan and Cillian Murphy are both at their explosive best, in this artistically-led drama about the
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It’s Burning (Es Brennt)
A shockingly racist confrontation symbolises a systemic problem in this prescient German drama - from the 32nd edition of Raindance
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My Name is Alfred Hitchcock
The Master of Suspense guides you through his work in Mark Cousins's illuminating new documentary - on all major VoD platforms on Monday, July 24th
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Punch
New Zealand drama blends boxing with gay romance, in a story that hits viewers right in the face - from the First Feature Competition of the 26th Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival
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The Accident (O Acidente)
Inspired by a true "accident", this debut Brazilian feature delves straight into challenging subject matter, grabbing you from the very beginning of a story that grows into a compelling moral maze - from the First Feature Competition of the 26th Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival
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Three Thousand Numbered Pieces (Haromezer Szamozott Darab)
Theatre director and Roma actors discuss their traumatic life, in this ambitious play-within-a film story - Hungarian drama premieres at the Rebel with a Cause strand of the 26th Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival
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Job Interview (Entrevista Laboral)
Experimental to the extreme, this dirty gem from Colombia portrays a young rapper and the impressive urban landscape that surrounds him - from the Rebel with a Cause strand of the 26th Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival
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Wake Up, Leonard
An LA actor tries to stay mindful in the chaos of this irreverent, modern comedy - from the 30th Raindance Film Festival
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Dogwatch
War may be hell, but this excellent Greek documentary shows that peace can also have its challenges - from the 30th Raindance Film Festival
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When We Speak
The costs of exposing the wrongs of the powerful are examined in this ambitious British documentary - from the 30th Raindance Film Festival
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Winners
This charming comedy from Iran celebrates childhood, community, and movies - from the 30th edition of the Raindance Film Festival
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Compartment No. 6
A nightmare train journey becomes a tale of human connection in this intriguing European co-production - on all major VoD platforms on Friday, May 6th
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King Richard
The biopic of tennis coach Richard Williams is a glossy but inspiring take on the American Dream, with a career-best performance from Will Smith - five-Oscar nominee is now in cinemas and also on various streaming platforms
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West Side Story
Spielberg is a little too reverent to cinema history in a remake that searches for a purpose - Oscar winner is out on VoD on Wednesday, April 21st.
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Drive My Car
This Oscar winner is a quietly wonderful exploration of grief and accepting the beauty of human complication - on all major VoD platforms on Friday, April 1st
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Souad
Egyptian drama conducts a quiet and yet powerful examination of faith, societal pressure and family - in cinemas Friday, August 27th
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Vanquish
Familiar actors fight their way through a dreadful John Wick imitation - on various Digital platforms on Friday, May 28th
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The Virtuoso
The life of an assassin has never been duller, as this limp thriller clings to an Oscar winner’s involvement for some credibility - on Digital on Friday, April 30th and on DVD on Monday, May 10th
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Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery
James Luxford sheds a new light on the dirty comedy classic from the late 1990s, just in time for the release of its special edition on April 19th
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Ammonite
Francis Lee’s follow up to God’s Own Country is a disappointingly chilly romance with striking similarities to his previous endeavour – out on digital platforms from 26th March
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The Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy
This Japanese trio of short stories explores the power of the past in inventive ways - Silver Bear winner is on all major VoD platforms on Friday, July 1st
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Willy’s Wonderland
Maximum Cage rage as the Oscar-winner takes on killer animatronics, in a film that is more fun than it has a right to be – out on Digital platforms from 12th February
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You Cannot Kill David Arquette
The Hollywood actor seeks a blood-spattered redemption on the wrestling ring, as he grapples with his faltering career and tragic personal life - documentary is on VoD on Monday, November 23rd
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Monsoon
Henry Golding is haunted by the past in this elegant British work of cinematic tourism - in cinemas Friday, September 25th
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The New Mutants
This disjointed X-Men afterthought proves that some things aren't worth waiting for - the latest addition to the Marvel franchise is on Sky Cinema and NOW on Friday, June 11th
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Babyteeth
Parents disapprove of a seriously-ill teen's dalliance, in this palpably human Australian drama dotted with familiar faces - on VoD on Monday, December 7th; on Netflix on Thursday, December 31st
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An American Pickle
In an industry where even dead actors are getting new gigs, Seth Rogen playing two concurrent roles is nothing new, but the way he plays them is the true attraction - on Sky Cinema and NOW on Friday, April 30th
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Perfect 10
This gritty, powerful take of a fractured family has echoes of Andrea Arnold's FISH TANK, and is guaranteed to enrapture audiences in Britain and beyond - out on Friday, August 7th
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Summerland
Gemma Arterton shines in a wartime drama whose cosiness belies a revolutionary streak – on Sky Cinema and NOW on Saturday, July 31st; also on other platforms
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Stage Mother
Texas church choir director inherits her late son's drag queen club, in this all-American comedy where all problems are solved with a jolly tune - on VoD on Monday, November 16th; on Netflix on Monday, December 7th
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Litigante
A single mother cares for her ailing mother, with whom she has a stormy yet profound relationship, in this quietly impressive Colombian drama - on various VoD platforms in January
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Hamilton
Ambition, love, and hip-hop combine to bring Lin-Manuel Miranda's masterpiece to the small screen - out on Disney Plus on Friday, July 3rd
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