Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Stephen Morgan @drsmorgan.com · 15h

For a time, barely a week went by when I didn't wish for just one more film set in the Mad Max universe. Not so much anymore.

Guardian Australia @australia.theguardian.com · 20h

‘AI is here to stay and change things’: Mad Max director George Miller on why he is taking part in an AI film festival

The director believes AI has made film-making ‘way more egalitarian’ – and is set to lead the judges at Omni AI film festival in Australia There’s no arguing the use of artificial intelligence in film-making is getting a bad rap. Last week’s unveiling of Hollywood’s first AI “actress”, Tilly Norwood, generated howls of protest from actors’ unions across the UK and US, where the industry is still reeling from last year’s 118-day strike over, among other issues, the threat of AI. And earlier this week, Australia’s Productivity Commission was pilloried by Liberals and Greens alike for failing to recognise the dire impact AI may have on the country’s creative industries. Continue reading...

www.theguardian.com

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Stephen Morgan @drsmorgan.com · 20h

Unwound cancelling their UK/EU tour has definitely harshed my Wednesday vibes. 😭

Screenshot of an email from Dice.FM reading: "Postponement: Band Statement
A message from the event organiser

The band is disappointed to announce that we must postpone our scheduled UK/EURO tour dates. The decision hasn’t come easy, and we’ll make it up to you come 2026.

For now we appreciate your well wishes and respect for our privacy. Take care of yourself and each other while we’re gone.

The new date for 2026 will be announced as soon as possible."

Stephen Morgan @drsmorgan.com · 1d

I'm doing Stride for Gaza over the next 23 days, raising much needed funds for @medicalaidpal.bsky.social. Not sure I can run the full 98km in time allotted, so I'm including my cycle journeys too!

Any and all donations are much appreciated: medicalaidforpalestinians.enthuse.com/pf/stephen-m...

Stride for Gaza 2025

I am striding for Gaza in aid of Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP). I will be running (and cycling) 98km in 23 days and virtually following the displacement journey of one of MAP's Palestinian collea

medicalaidforpalestinians.enthuse.com

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Yair Wallach @yairwallach.bsky.social · 3d

Like many scholars, Trump (2025) argues that the dynamics in Palestine are one of a violent settler-colonial project, and rejects the idea of a symmetrical "conflict"

Yair Wallach @yairwallach.bsky.social · 3d

Damn it looks Iike I'll be out of a job soon

Trump on Truth Social

There have been very positive discussions with Hamas, and Countries from all over the World (Arab, Muslim, and everyone else) this weekend, to release the Hostages, end the War in Gaza but, more importantly, finally have long sought PEACE in the Middle East. These talks have been very successful, and proceeding rapidly. The technical teams will again meet Monday, in Egypt, to work through and clarify the final details. I am told that the first phase should be completed this week, and I am asking everyone to MOVE FAST. I will continue to monitor this Centuries old “conflict.” TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE OR, MASSIVE BLOODSHED WILL FOLLOW — SOMETHING THAT NOBODY WANTS TO SEE!

(TS: 05 Oct 17:56 ET)‍‌‍

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Lee Hurley @hleehurley.com · 4d

So those people outside hotels will be moved, too, right?

Paul Brand @paulbrand.bsky.social · 4d

BREAKING: The Home Office is giving police new powers to restrict repeat protests like pro-Palestine marches.

Police can consider the ‘cumulative impact’ of protests on an area and could ban the protest / force it to move elsewhere.

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Stephen Morgan @drsmorgan.com · 4d

😂😭😵

NY Times Pitchbot @nytpitchbot.bsky.social · 4d

Hamas, who I do not support, should accept the progressive peace plan put forward by Donald Trump, who I also do not support.

by Glenn Greenwald

Reposted by Stephen Morgan

Benjamín Schultz-Figueroa @benjaminschultzfig.bsky.social · 4d

It really is striking how much they want us to see images of their own brutality. The pretense of being anything but a exercise in violence has all but disappeared.

Raider @iwillnotbesilenced.bsky.social · 4d

Gestapo posting about their work.

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Shelley Stamp @shelleystamp.bsky.social · 4d

Thinking about this film today for absolutely no reason.

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Stephen Morgan @drsmorgan.com · 4d

It's a stupid game, anyway.

Reposted by Stephen Morgan

Alan Lester @alanlester.bsky.social · 5d

Reactions to this horror fall into two categories. Those, including the terrorist himself, who frame opposition to the Israeli government’s genocide as hating Jews. And those, including many Jews, who insist on marking the difference.

www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...

Kemi Badenoch: Dial down rhetoric on Israel after synagogue attack

The Tory leader said Jews faced a ‘climate of fear and aggression’ as senior figures from the community lined up to criticise the government over antisemitism

www.thetimes.com

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Stephen Morgan @drsmorgan.com · 5d

I saw Dennis fronting The (International) Nose Conspiracy a few times, but this was my first (and last) time seeing the legendary Refused. Don't think I've been at Brixton Academy since the kinda average ATDI reunion many moons ago, but this was rather less lacklustre. 😂 #TerriblePhotosOfGreatBands

A fairly average photo of a great band. Refused, on stage at the Brixton Academy.

Stephen Morgan @drsmorgan.com · 5d

An update: on the 6 Music news just now, they added "or BOUQUET' as she preferred it". Sanity prevails.

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Stephen Morgan @drsmorgan.com · 5d

Deeply disrespectful of the BBC radio news announcers to keep referring to Patricia Routledge's character as Hyacinth BUCKET instead of using her preferred pronounciation of 'Bouquet'. Put some respect on her (best known character's) name, you monsters. 😆

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Film Noir UK @filmnoiruk.bsky.social · 11d

Caught up with the Plaza Cinema team in Weston-super-Mare yesterday, in ref to #FilmNoirFest. Very excited to say that we have been upgraded!

This year the festival will take place in Cinema 4 (like last year) and (new for 2025) Cinema 1. #FilmNoir Passes available here: ti.to/film-noir-uk...

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Decolonial Conference @decolonialconf.bsky.social · 11d

Submissions to our call for proposals are due October 3, 2025!

On April 6-7 2026, we will have the in-person conference and on April 8 it will be entirely online. Online attendees will have access to some in-person sessions, pending presenters' consent to being recorded.

#decolonialconference

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Mark Harris @markharris.bsky.social · 12d

This is one thing giant movie studios can still do--the crazy big swing that costs a lot of money and is not tied to an algorithm or concern about "viewer retention rate at minute three"--that no other entity can. It is one reason the film ecosystem still needs them.

Corey Atad @coreyatad.com · 15d

if you're a person who doesn't see the unalloyed good in Warner Bros spending $150 million on a loose Pynchon adaptation by Paul Thomas Anderson, we simply do not occupy the same reality

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Insurgent Thought @insurgentthought.bsky.social · 12d

Give the Decolonial Conference a follow!

Decolonial Conference @decolonialconf.bsky.social · 12d

The Decolonial Conference is about confronting complicity and building coalitions.

It’s about organizing and fighting against domination, imagining new worlds, and putting radical thought into action.

Los Angeles, CA, April 6-8, 2026

#decolonialconference

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Stephen Morgan @drsmorgan.com · 12d

I liked ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER a lot.

But it also has a bit of Centrist Dad energy, and it's not as radical as all those Centrist Dad critics might have you believe. It's still bloody great though.

letterboxd.com/screenaddict...

A ★★★★ review of One Battle After Another (2025)

Believe (some of) the hype. This is entertaining as heck, looks phenomenal, and has some extremely salient things to say about Amerikkka, but... I can't shake a slight sense that it maybe has a little...

letterboxd.com

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Jeff Doctor @jeff.doctor · 16d

Canada, like all settler colonial projects, is very careful about who it "recognizes" and who it doesn't. Always read the fine print, the conditions mean everything. Remember, this is the country that still has an "Indian Act" which demonstrates how this process works in practice.

Rachel Gilmore @rachelgilmore.bsky.social · 16d

Canada, Australia, the U.K. and France have finally -- conditionally -- joined the many other nations who recognize the State of Palestine.

But today, Prime Minister Mark Carney also once again called for a “Zionist Palestine.”

Here's what's going on:

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Forbidden Worlds Film Festival @fwfilmfestival.bsky.social · 16d

On Friday 24 October, we have three classic horrors from the land down under.

🦘LONG WEEKEND (1978)

👻NEXT OF KIN (1982)

🫠BODY MELT (1993)

Weekend and Day Passes are selling fast! Individual screening tickets will be put on sale later this week.

www.forbiddenworldsfilmfestival.co.uk

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Stephen Morgan @drsmorgan.com · 16d

Come for the giant pig, stay for Harold Bishop with a gun!

@fwfilmfestival.bsky.social's The Big Scream: Six Feet Down Under takes over the Bristol Megascreen, 24-25 October 2025.

Forbidden Worlds Film Festival @fwfilmfestival.bsky.social · 17d

'The Big Scream returns just in time for Halloween with Six Feet Down Under: two nights of cult Ozploitation, described as “a fair dinkum celebration of the grindhouse-style exploitation flicks that went troppo around the world in the 70s and 80s.”'

www.bristol247.com/culture/film...

The Big Scream goes Down Under

www.bristol247.com

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Simon Abrams @simonsaybrams.bsky.social · 20d

What a fun Ozploitation lineup, featuring more than enough deep cuts to satisfy the sickest among us. FAIR GAME! THIRST! BODY MELT! NEXT OF KIN!

Forbidden Worlds Film Festival @fwfilmfestival.bsky.social · 20d

Forbidden Worlds Film Festival returns with The Big Scream (24-25 Oct at Bristol Megascreen) to celebrate cult horror, with two nights of grindhouse and exploitation movies from Australia.

Get ready for SIX FEET DOWN UNDER!

www.forbiddenworldsfilmfestival.co.uk

Artwork by Andy Janes showing a rock robot head surrounded by bloodied Australian licence plates and road signs.

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Stephen Morgan @drsmorgan.com · 20d

Bloody excited to be introducing both classics and hidden gems at @fwfilmfestival.bsky.social's The Big Scream: Six Feet Down Under, a two day extravaganza celebrating all things Ozploitation on the 'humungus' Bristol Megascreen.

Come witness the sickness on Oct 24-25, ya flamin' galahs!

Forbidden Worlds Film Festival @fwfilmfestival.bsky.social · 20d

Forbidden Worlds Film Festival returns with The Big Scream (24-25 Oct at Bristol Megascreen) to celebrate cult horror, with two nights of grindhouse and exploitation movies from Australia.

Get ready for SIX FEET DOWN UNDER!

www.forbiddenworldsfilmfestival.co.uk

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