James Balmont

TOMORROW I’ll be introducing a double bill of Kaizo Hayashi sublime ‘Maiku Hama’ ‘90s neo-noir classics at @thenickelcinema.bsky.social to mark the release of @thirdwindowfilms.com, stunning new box set. Ticket links below!

Tix for THE MOST TERRIBLE TIME IN MY LIFE: tinyurl.com/4tvm7hnf

Tix for STAIRWAY TO THE DISTANT PAST: tinyurl.com/2sfb9n55

TOMORROW I’ll be introducing a double bill of Kaizo Hayashi sublime ‘Maiku Hama’ ‘90s neo-noir classics at @thenickelcinema.bsky.social to mark the release of @thirdwindowfilms.com, stunning new box set. Ticket links below!

MAIKU HAMA DOUBLE BILL COMING TO LONDON!
Back to back screenings of Kaizo Hayashi's The Most Terrible Time in My Life + Stairway to the Distant Past on Aug 8 in London @thenickelcinema.bsky.social
Screenings introduced @jbalmont.bsky.social
ticketlab.app/event/35361#/
ticketlab.app/event/35362#/

Mark Kerr on the brutal true story behind The Smashing Machine The wrestler’s toughest opponent wasn’t in the UFC cage but in his long, bruising battle with addiction

Great to speak with the real-life “Smashing Machine” Mark Kerr and 2002 documentary producer Jon Greenhalgh about the real story behind A24/Benny Safdie/The Rock’s new movie!
www.telegraph.co.uk/films/2025/1...

Rave is resistance for the Japanese teenagers in Happyend The dystopian techno drama is directed by Neo Sora, son of the legendary composer Ryuichi Sakamoto. THE FACE speaks to Sora and composer Lia Ouyang Rusl…

Caught up with director Neo Sora and composer Lia Ouyang Rusli to chat techno, clubbing, resistance and HAPPYEND for The Face! The movie is out in UK cinemas today ❤️ theface.com/music/neo-so...

Spacked Out is Hong Kong’s answer to Larry Clark’s Kids Now marking its 25th anniversary, the cult film stands as one of the most unflinching depictions of teen angst and girlhood in modern Hong Kong cinema

Ahead of a 30th anniversary screening this week at the @riocinema.bsky.social via Hong Kong Film Festival UK, I caught up with director Laurence Lau and actor Angela Au to discuss all things Spacked Out for @dazeddigital.com ! www.dazeddigital.com/film-tv/arti...

Hackers at 30: The story behind the cult cyber fairytale Director Iain Softley reflects on the legacy of the ultra-stylish cult classic, which follows a group of teen hackers in Manhattan who uncover a sinister corporate conspiracy

To mark the 30th anniversary of HACKERS I caught up with director Iain Softley to chat cyber-culture, raves and a bunch of other cool hack-y stuff for @dazeddigital.com ! Screenings tonight at @princecharlescinema.com / new deluxe release via @88films.bsky.social www.dazeddigital.com/film-tv/arti...

Rave is resistance for the Japanese teenagers in Happyend The dystopian techno drama is directed by Neo Sora, son of the legendary composer Ryuichi Sakamoto. THE FACE speaks to Sora and composer Lia Ouyang Rusl…

Caught up with director Neo Sora and composer Lia Ouyang Rusli to chat techno, clubbing, resistance and HAPPYEND for The Face! The movie is out in UK cinemas today ❤️ theface.com/music/neo-so...

Hackers at 30: The story behind the cult cyber fairytale Director Iain Softley reflects on the legacy of the ultra-stylish cult classic, which follows a group of teen hackers in Manhattan who uncover a sinister corporate conspiracy

To mark the 30th anniversary of HACKERS I caught up with director Iain Softley to chat cyber-culture, raves and a bunch of other cool hack-y stuff for @dazeddigital.com ! Screenings tonight at @princecharlescinema.com / new deluxe release via @88films.bsky.social www.dazeddigital.com/film-tv/arti...

Spacked Out is Hong Kong’s answer to Larry Clark’s Kids Now marking its 25th anniversary, the cult film stands as one of the most unflinching depictions of teen angst and girlhood in modern Hong Kong cinema

Ahead of a 30th anniversary screening this week at the @riocinema.bsky.social via Hong Kong Film Festival UK, I caught up with director Laurence Lau and actor Angela Au to discuss all things Spacked Out for @dazeddigital.com ! www.dazeddigital.com/film-tv/arti...

Proud to be a part of this very exciting release of the Maiku Hama trilogy, directed by Kaizo Hayashi, via @thirdwindowfilms.com next month! Find my video essay on the great actor Masatoshi Nagase on disc 3 🤩 thirdwindowfilms.com/films/maiku-...

A deep delve into the dark tales of Takashi Ishii written by @jbalmont.bsky.social for @dazeddigital.com!
www.dazeddigital.com/film-tv/arti...
Takashi Ishii: 4 Tales of Nami is now out as a limited edition box set from #thirdwindowfilms
Order @terracottadist.bsky.social

Kaizo Hayashi's Maiku Hama Trilogy (4K Remasters)
L.E. bluray digipack w/booklet @jslaterwilliams.bsky.social out October 27!
Order @terracottadist.bsky.social
shop.terracottadistribution.com/products/kai...
Bonus features @jaspersharp.bsky.social @jbalmont.bsky.social and more!

Proud to be a part of this very exciting release of the Maiku Hama trilogy, directed by Kaizo Hayashi, via @thirdwindowfilms.com next month! Find my video essay on the great actor Masatoshi Nagase on disc 3 🤩 thirdwindowfilms.com/films/maiku-...

A guide to the erotic Japanese cinema of Takashi Ishii From porn scripts to cult slashers, Takashi Ishii carved out a singular vision of crime, desire and neon-lit melancholy

Unpacking the dark and erotic cinema of Takashi Ishii for @dazeddigital.com this week, just in time for @thirdwindowfilms.com’s new box set 💘

www.dazeddigital.com/film-tv/arti...

‘You always know you’ll get something interesting’: an oral history of Cafe OTO The story behind the legendary Dalston music venue.

Thrilled to share my latest "oral history" for Time Out, exploring the history and legacy of Dalston's inimitable outsider arts hub
@cafeotodalston.bsky.social with Thurston Moore, Suzanne Ciani, Brady Corbet, Stewart Lee, @hotchipofficial.bsky.social & many more...
www.timeout.com/london/music...

Haruomi Hosono on 50 Years of Musical Innovation From Happy End to Yellow Magic Orchestra and a genre-spanning solo career, Haruomi Hosono reflects on his legacy, and how his grandson is part of the next evolution.

It was my great privilege to sit down with Yellow Magic Orchestra co-founder and mercurial Japanese music icon Haruomi Hosono yesterday in London, ahead of his first UK show in five-and-a-half years tomorrow at Royal Festival Hall <3 www.discogs.com/digs/feature... @discogsofficial.bsky.social

Haruomi Hosono on 50 Years of Musical Innovation From Happy End to Yellow Magic Orchestra and a genre-spanning solo career, Haruomi Hosono reflects on his legacy, and how his grandson is part of the next evolution.

It was my great privilege to sit down with Yellow Magic Orchestra co-founder and mercurial Japanese music icon Haruomi Hosono yesterday in London, ahead of his first UK show in five-and-a-half years tomorrow at Royal Festival Hall <3 www.discogs.com/digs/feature... @discogsofficial.bsky.social

Fun oral history of my favorite venue anywhere - here’s hoping @cafeotodalston.bsky.social keeps on keeping on

‘You always know you’ll get something interesting’: an oral history of Cafe OTO The story behind the legendary Dalston music venue.

Thrilled to share my latest "oral history" for Time Out, exploring the history and legacy of Dalston's inimitable outsider arts hub
@cafeotodalston.bsky.social with Thurston Moore, Suzanne Ciani, Brady Corbet, Stewart Lee, @hotchipofficial.bsky.social & many more...
www.timeout.com/london/music...

David Cronenberg: “AI is inevitable and I don’t fear it at all” The legendary director on his most vulnerable, revealing film yet, The Shrouds , and the fact he and Charli xcx are digital pen pals. Or, at least, that’s…

It was my great privilege to speak with David Cronenberg about dissecting frogs on the internet, replacing Trump with AI, and being sort-of pen pals with Charli XCX. His new film 'The Shrouds' opens in UK cinemas next week! theface.com/culture/davi...

David Cronenberg: “AI is inevitable and I don’t fear it at all” The legendary director on his most vulnerable, revealing film yet, The Shrouds , and the fact he and Charli xcx are digital pen pals. Or, at least, that’s…

It was my great privilege to speak with David Cronenberg about dissecting frogs on the internet, replacing Trump with AI, and being sort-of pen pals with Charli XCX. His new film 'The Shrouds' opens in UK cinemas next week! theface.com/culture/davi...

Mark William Lewis’s introspective music is making a lot of noise Having crafted his tender sound in South London, the poetic songwriter is heading on an international tour with the backing of A24’s new record label.

Really proud to have profiled the prodigiously talented Mark William Lewis for The Face this month, following his unlikely signing to @a24movies.bsky.social’s brand new music arm, A24 Music. File in the sweet spot between Durutti Column, Arthur Russell and Talk Talk. theface.com/music/mark-w...

Mark William Lewis’s introspective music is making a lot of noise Having crafted his tender sound in South London, the poetic songwriter is heading on an international tour with the backing of A24’s new record label.

Really proud to have profiled the prodigiously talented Mark William Lewis for The Face this month, following his unlikely signing to @a24movies.bsky.social’s brand new music arm, A24 Music. File in the sweet spot between Durutti Column, Arthur Russell and Talk Talk. theface.com/music/mark-w...

Label founder Adam Heron was recently interviewed in
@crackmagazine.bsky.social as part of a spotlight on Kankyō Ongaku ft @passepartoutduo.bsky.social & Inoyama Land and their sold out shows at @cafeotodalston.bsky.social

Words and interview by @jbalmont.bsky.social
Read in full in May's issue

I’ve got a big feature in the new @crackmagazine.bsky.social exploring how Japan’s ‘80s ambient & environmental music has found new relevance in a present-day world descending into unchecked chaos. Interviews w/ icons Inoyamaland, Takashi Kokubo & Yumiko Morioka! @tonalunion.bsky.social

I’ve got a big feature in the new @crackmagazine.bsky.social exploring how Japan’s ‘80s ambient & environmental music has found new relevance in a present-day world descending into unchecked chaos. Interviews w/ icons Inoyamaland, Takashi Kokubo & Yumiko Morioka! @tonalunion.bsky.social

Very proud to share some new work this month via a pair of video essays included on the @thirdwindowfilms.com and @arrowvideo.bsky.social releases of ‘Tokyo Pop’ and ‘V-Cinema Essentials’. Great films, great releases - out in May!

Very proud to share some new work this month via a pair of video essays included on the @thirdwindowfilms.com and @arrowvideo.bsky.social releases of ‘Tokyo Pop’ and ‘V-Cinema Essentials’. Great films, great releases - out in May!