About Us

Richard Lennox – Founder, Editor

Richard is an English Literature and Film graduate with a huge appetite for film.  Anything from Arthouse to Blockbusters and everything in between, he loves them all.

On 28 December, 2010, while the weather outside was frightful and Christmas TV offered no refuge, he decided to start Filmoria.  It started as a film diary and has grown into the site you know today.

“I’m excited about sharing the site with an amazing team of talented writers who are equally, if not more passionate about film than I am.  We’ll keep writing about the very latest film news, reviews and trying to bring you as many exclusive insights into the world of film for as long as we can.  I hope you enjoy the site.”

Email: richard@filmoria.co.uk
Twitter: @filmoria
Facebook: Like Us – Filmoria

Amanda Keats – Interviews, Reviews, Film News

Amanda is a 28 year old film buff with tastes ranging from Japanese horror to classic comedies. Favourite films include Monty Python’s Life of Brian, Top Secret and Battle Royale and when she isn’t watching films (or talking about them non-stop) she likes to debate whether book to film conversions are ever any good. (Answer: yes, sometimes they are!) A recovering vegetarian, Amanda is also fluent in Spanish and yet still follows subtitles during Spanish films.

Email: amanda@filmoria.co.uk
Twitter: @filmvsbook

Steve Willingham – Film News, Reviews, Features, Interviews

Steve is a 35 year old English and Media graduate with an overriding passion for everything film. Ensconced on the Isle of Wight, by day you’ll find him working as a training co-ordinator, but by night you’ll find him wearing out his season pass at the local cinema. A fan of all genres whether it’s foreign language thriller or epic Sci-Fi Blockbuster he’s never happier then when discussing the wide world of film. His favourite film is The Prophecy with Christopher Walken and his dream is to see a worthy cinematic adaptation of a H.P.Lovecraft story.

“One of my earliest memories is of attending the cinema with my parents. I think I must have been about four years old. I’d like to say that it was to watch Star Wars, however I have a sneaking suspicion that it was actually The Jungle Book. Ever since that first time I’ve been in love with films and some of my clearest memories have been about my experiences with them. Whether it’s queuing for two hours to watch Moonwalker, sitting in the back row smoking whilst watching Seven or just generally boring my wife with my endless diatribes about why Mystery Men is actually a really good film. The opportunity to share my passion with like-minded people is a fantastic opportunity, and one just too good to pass up.”

Email: steve@filmoria.co.uk
Twitter: @Zinematic

Hillary Butler – Reviews, Film News

Originally from Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Hillary moved to London in July 2010 and though her DVD collection stayed (mostly) behind, she brought along her love of film. By day, Hillary is a small animal veterinarian, but in her limited spare time she’s usually reading the entertainment news, at the movies, or talking about them.

“I feel privileged to be able to share new views and articles on Filmoria, and hope they can spark interest and conversation. And yes, I do review the odd, usually strange, Canadian movie! I’m a patriotic girl! If you’re reading this then that means you’re part of a community, part of a group of people passionate about films. Its one of the best parts about the movies, that it brings people together, no matter where you’re from.”

Email: hillary@filmoria.co.uk
Twitter: @PetDocHill

Brogen Hayes – Reviews

Brogen Hayes is a 31 year old film nerd with a BA in Journalism and Visual Media and an M.Phil in Film Theory and History.

Brogen has been working as a freelance film journalist for almost 10 years, and has loved every moment of it so far. Brogen’s career highlights include the entire Cannes Film Festival 2011 – sunstroke included – somehow ending up on the beer in Dublin with Kiefer Sutherland and chatting film with Tilda Swinton, Antonio Banderas, John Lasseter and many more…

Brogen has a passion for film, but finds it impossible to name her favourite movies. At the moment she loves La Jetée, Fight Club, Wall-E, The Royal Tenenbaums and American Beauty; which always crops up in her top films list.

Blog: hayesatthemovies.com
Twitter: @brogenhayes

Michael Nazarewycz – Reviews, News, Features

By night, Michael is a film buff and writer who spent his childhood watching old black-and-whites and cheesy horrors on UHF (and if you don’t know what UHF means, use your Google machine). He also served his time as a video store clerk, where he was the resident expert on all things 1940s. By day, Michael has spent the last 22 years wearing Corporate America’s golden handcuffs, writing more things for less credit than he’d care to admit (contracts and agreements, corporate newsletters, training manuals, sticky-notes, technical specifications, Excel formulas, ideas for the cafeteria suggestion box, etc.).

Michael’s favorite films include Die Hard, Grave of the Fireflies, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, The Thin Man, and Tombstone.

“I’ll watch anything anyone would consider a motion picture, from a nickelodeon silent to a digital epic. I’m a sucker for disaster movies (the more post-apocalyptic the better). I love the Rat Pack; I lived the Brat Pack. I thinkk it’s great to have thousands of movies available to me around the clock, but I so miss the joy of random discovery that broadcast television used to bring in the pre-home video era. And I believe movies are like food, so whether your tastes are meat-and-potatoes or champagne-and-caviar, there’s nothing wrong with binging on cheese puffs from time to time, so live it up.”

Twitter: @scribehard

James Thompson – News, Reviews

James is a 23 year old film fanatic who has recently taken the leap from talking about his passion for film to writing about it. Citing Donnie Darko as his favourite film, closely followed by Saving Private Ryan and Scarface, James is a keen follower of films from all genres and is always open to something new.

“Despite never going to university to cover film, I believe that the passion I hold for this medium is huge. I am a regular cinema-goer, with an annual cinema pass of course, and I love a good blu ray view whilst carrying out my ironing duties at home! With an ever-growing dvd and blu ray collection at home my one golden rule is: Always unwrap a film once purchased, I hate films being left in their packaging!
Hopefully you will all enjoy my content and share as much enthusiasm in film as I do”

Twitter: @thommoj03

Ria Amber Tesia – Features, Interviews, Reviews

Ria is a loquacious, London-based freelance writer and blogger. An English Literature graduate with a penchant for reading and political PR, she has penned her debut novel ‘Screaming Snowflakes’ (the first in a three book saga), started on the sequel, and is currently writing five other novella. She loves exploring new opportunities and can usually be found head buried in a book (Dickens, Dumas and Rowling are the usual suspects), or glued to Hollywood classics (On The Waterfront and Some Like It Hot are just a few to mention). Ria has an unhealthy fixation with political spin doctors and brie (thankfully not together because that would be plain weird). Ideal dinner guests would be The Dalai Lama, Kenneth Branagh, Carla Bruni, David Heyman, Joe Biden, Mickey Rourke, and Sarah Palin (OK the last one was a joke – sorry Sarah, but the Dalai Lama wouldn’t approve).

Twitter: @Ria_Amber_Tesia

Kathryn Moir – Reviews

Kathryn is an 18 year old student who’s just finished studying Film, Media and English at A Level. Although she enjoyed the other two subjects, Kathryn always knew Film was what she loved and wanted to go into.

“I wrote, directed and edited my first film when I was 13, and from then on they’ve got longer and better. I’ve been writing since I was little, from short stories to novels, but I’ve discovered what I really love doing is reviewing films I think everyone should see. My favourite films are Meet Joe Black, American Beauty and The Duchess, although I enjoy anything from surrealist films to French crime movies. I’m proud of my huge DVD collection but just wish I had more room to collect more amazing works of art!”

Twitter: @kathrynmoir