Henry Roberts

The Spectre of Hope (2001) - which is a conversation between Salgado and Berger on globalisation, inequality and photography - is now streaming on BBC iPlayer

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We're commissioning for our autumn and winter issues. Do you have a five-star feature in your locker? Have a read of the pitch guide and get in touch with us at editorial@the-fence.com. First-time writers are, of course, especially welcome.

www.the-fence.com/about/pitch-...

Beautifully clear pitching guidelines!

Discussion of our recording-breaking spring weather on BBC’s PM, yet hardly a mention of climate change / the reasons behind the high temperatures. Audiences need better.

We need smarter, more focused aid As aid budgets are being slashed, the sector needs a decisive shift in how aid is delivered, writes Flora Alexander, Executive Director of International Rescue Committee UK.

"The global humanitarian system stands at a precipice. Only 5% of the $44.72bn needed to meet humanitarian needs has been funded. This isn’t just a shortfall; it’s a catastrophe unfolding in slow motion."

Our latest IBT Voices article comes from Flora Alexander, Chief Exec of @uk.rescue.org

14,000 babies will die in Gaza in the next 48 hours if Israel continues to prevent baby food aid from reaching Palestinians.

There is no question, no nuance, no possible justification.

We must do everything we possibly can to stop Israel from committing such atrocities #r4today

Some photographs from yesterday’s demonstration in London.

Amazing. I cannot wait for this.

Had a great time photographing this weekend in Greenwich Park.

I love medium format!

📸 Mamiya 645
🎞️ Kodak Portra 400

One of London’s most historic West End cinemas is closing down The 90-year-old Curzon Mayfair is being redeveloped by its landlords

somehow got past me that Curzon Mayfair announced its closure a couple of days ago. fucking awful state of affairs, landlords continue to be the ruin of this city www.timeout.com/london/news/...

“Yippee ki-yay…”

We are excited to tell everyone that Westminster Council decided on May 1st that the Prince Charles Cinema would be included in the list of Assets of Community Value maintained by the Council under section 87 of the Localism Act 2011.

Very happy to be included in this list 😊

Warp Films to reboot landmark TV film Threads Adolescence indie's series will update the 1984 nuclear fallout drama for modern audiences

Oh god Threads is coming back as a series

www.broadcastnow.co.uk/indies/warp-...

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I'm writing up my latest newsletter, where I recommend some of the best foreign, queer, old and just generally brilliant films streaming on the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and 5.

I also include links to articles related to the films I find interesting.

Please sign up for fortnightly(ish) film recs!

Aesthetica Magazine - Navigating Relationships A new documentary explores the complex and nuanced relationship between photographer Joel Meyerowitz and his wife Maggie Barrett.

📷 I interviewed Joel Meyerowitz and Maggie Barrett about their new film Two Strangers Trying Not to Kill Each Other for Aesthetica

A real career/personal highlight for me!

aestheticamagazine.com/navigating-r...

Wired is dropping paywalls for FOIA-based reporting. Others should follow As the administration does its best to hide public records from the public, Wired magazine is stepping up to help stem the secrecy

They're called public records for a reason. Starting today, WIRED will *stop paywalling* articles that are primarily based on public records obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, becoming the first publication to partner with @freedom.press to offer this for our new coverage.

‘Actually romantic and actually funny’: why When Harry Met Sally is my feelgood movie The latest comfort movie recommendation in an ongoing series is a reminder of Nora Ephron and Rob Reiner’s landmark romantic comedy

My slight obsession with this film started when I was a boy, anxious on Sunday evenings before school. We had a dusty VHS tape of When Harry Met Sally and I would watch it every week as a source of comfort. Glad to write about this ritual in The Guardian 📼👇

www.theguardian.com/film/2025/ma...

Haven’t wasted this weekend 🎬

Florida mayor seeks to evict cinema for showing Oscar-winning documentary Miami Beach mayor also proposes withdrawing grant after O Cinema screened Palestinian-focused film No Other Land

A model is emerging, which is simply pretending the First Amendment doesn't exist

Gossip Song from Chantal Akerman's Golden Eighties (1986) YouTube video by james

Watched Chantal Akerman's Golden Eighties for the first time last night.

Such a different tone, style, mood from her other work. I loved the colours, the outfits, and this glorious song!

www.youtube.com/watch?si=9az...

Couldn't recommend Henry's newsletter more - saves you ever scrolling mindlessly through hundreds of meh films again, and comes with thoughtful and political commentary on the state of cinema!

You can sign up to my newsletter here should you fancy! 🎥

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No Other Land (2024) Oscar-winning film offering an insider's view of the destruction of the West Bank

I'm really pleased Channel 4 are streaming No Other Land, the documentary on the West Bank that won the Oscar last night.

I included it in my newsletter this morning, in which I recommend the best global/old/queer films available on our public service streamers

www.channel4.com/programmes/n...

Best Cinematography Ridiculously Not Nominated for an Academy Award: Jomo Fray for #TheNickelBoys (RaMell Ross, 2024). The framing of the images frequently stops you in your tracks and makes you see things differently. These shots are from just the first 10 minutes.

IBT members condemn the government’s decision to cut foreign aid The announcement on Tuesday that the government is slashing the foreign aid budget to increase defence spending was met with alarm and dismay across the INGO sector. Henry Roberts looks at some of the...

This has been a difficult week for the NGO sector.

Henry Roberts sums up the mood of IBT members before looking ahead at next steps for the sector.

ibt.org.uk/opinion/ibt-...

Had great fun co-organising this event (and taking these snaps!)

What’s the point in refusing citizenship to refugees who have ‘made a dangerous journey’?

What’s the point in publishing footage of people being deported?

I’m sorry to say that this is simply a continuation of the performative cruelty we saw from the Conservatives.

Screenshot of a BBC Politics tweet shows Chancellor Rachel Reeves speaking at a podium during a live broadcast of her speech. The quote at the top reads, “We are reducing the environmental requirements placed on developers when they pay into a nature restoration fund… they can focus on getting things built and stop worrying about the bats and the newts,” as she addresses the audience. In the background, there are large screens displaying the live stream of the speech, with a banner at the bottom reading “Kickstarting Economic Growth.”

Stop worrying about bats and newts? No Rachel Reeves MP – start worrying about the future of our economy if we tear down the nature it depends on.

Nature isn’t a blocker; it’s the foundation of growth.

Sophia Goodfriend | Militarised AI Last week, a trove of leaked documents offered a glimpse into the role that large technology companies have played in...

Last week, a series of leaked documents revealed tech companies' instrumental war in Israel's war efforts

I wrote a brief response for the @LRB blog: on Gaza, Silicon Valley, and militarized AI.

www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2025/ja...