“A terrifically enjoyable and engaging film: open-minded and open-hearted, and utterly unlike the material on regular commercial release”

“A woozy, dream-like, magical-realist movie which demonstrates that despite living amid a landscape of conflict, the minds of the children are ‘like Aladdin's caves’ ”

“…an intriguing and inspiring work”, Belfast Telegraph

More a pro-childhood movie than an anti-war movie, The First Movie celebrates happiness… In a sequence that could have been patronising but instead is utterly joyous, the director erects a screen in the village square and shows classic family films to the locals. Later the kids get cameras to make movies… One captures a powerful interview with a woman who lost fifteen family members in the chemical gas attack, but the star of the show is 8 year old Mohamad, who crafts a remarkably moving piece about a boy giving his wishes to the water…

Overall this is an intriguing and inspiring work.

Andrew Johnstone, Belfast Telegraph
30th April 2010

RTS Award Nomination

The First Movie has been nominated for a prestigious Royal Television Society Programme Award in the Arts category!

A Sunday Herald mention

“Life affirming” — Sunday Herald, 14th Feb 2010