First day of this year's #LFF virtual press screenings today, prepare for a rather large thread of rambly thoughts over the next two weeks or so.

And I can't even talk about the first film until it premieres. So, in the mean time here's a GIF of a dog having a great time getting it's belly scratched. #LFF

Riz Ahmed absolutely steals the show in Mogul Mowgli, a film filled with brilliant performances. A film about reconnection and discovery through deterioration. It’s proud of its background and where it comes from, making for an effectively personal work. #LFF

The Painter And The Thief falters when it looks at the separate, distanced lives of its central pairing for extended periods of time. However, what it gets that some documentaries don’t quite capture is a true sense of friendship and that’s the core hook. #LFF

The Disciple is a long film, and it feels that way because it’s a slow watch. It’s good intentioned and trying to show it’s passion for the music at the centre of it, but the connection isn’t there and unfortunately it turns into a lengthy two hours. #LFF

Herself was the film I kind of needed at the moment. Amongst all the emotion and worry that the main character is going to lose her kids people come together and LITERALLY BUILD A HOUSE! And I think there’s something rather uplifting, and emotional in itself, about that. #LFF

Serbia is very much a nightmare/ dream sequence stretched out over 90 minutes. It makes Tenet seem a bit easier to understand and I don’t think I overly got on with it, despite one or two somewhat interesting self-confrontations, it overall doesn’t quite gel together. #LFF

Wasn’t really scared by Relic - although I’m not sure if a fair proportion of the time its main aim was to scare. Some good ideas here and there, and it tries to translate a degenerating memory into horror to varying effects. It has its moments but not quite its scares. #LFF

Can’t quite tell why I liked Farewell Amor as much as I did. Perhaps it’s something about the way it tells the story of people trying to reconnect with something they never connected with in the first place. Attempting to adapt, unsure if their hope is fake or not. #LFF

I Am Samuel is a mostly harmless documentary and there’s a fair deal of heart to it. While it does feel as if it wants to show something a bit darker or more serious at times the core relationship is heartening enough for the easily-passing 70 minute run-time. #LFF

Despite some uneven patches there’s a lot to like about 180 Degree Rule. There’s a real emotional punch, and some genuinely scary moments as tension begins to emit amongst the family’s tears. #LFF

Mangrove is great. Brilliant performances all round, especially from Shaun Parkes, and Steve McQueen’s direction is, of course, on top form. It might feel like two films but they’re two fantastic films. And it masters the tensions and emotions of courtroom scenes/ dramas. #LFF

Quite enjoyed Kajillionaire. Very funny with some decent performances to line it. All helped by a fine screenplay and direction from Miranda July. (Admittedly I made only one note during the film, ‘Richard Jenkins!’ - an always welcome presence). #LFF

LOVED the first half an hour of Bloody Nose, Empty Pockets. Unfortunately after that it becomes more of the same amongst the booze-filled red hue of the bar, feeling as if it could have been better as a 45 minute short. Ending up as something, while unique, fairly average. #LFF

I seem to be in the minority when it comes to Shirley. While I liked a number of elements and can kind of appreciate it I just wasn’t able to connect or engage with it properly. For most of it I was just sat watching a screen. But, the performances and score are both strong. #LFF

Undine’s a decent little film. Not really much to say apart from that I quite liked it and there are a few interesting turns in the final 20-25 minutes. #LFF

However, I am slightly disappointed that there was no food/ cooking action at all, although that’s down to me initially thinking that the title stood for something along those lines. Bonus points, for some reason, for featuring a massive fish called Big Gunther though! #LFF

I liked Eyimofe, a bit slow during its quieter moments, and it definitely takes time to pick itself up during the midway transition between its two main characters. But overall it’s fine, if a bit slow. #LFF

Quite liked 200 Meters. It looses itself and its tone in the final 15-20 minutes, but the road trip before it never feels forced or as if most of its events are there to push it to the 90 minute mark. #LFF

Chess Of The Wind is a magnificent gothic tale of witchcraft, madness and illness, greed and lust. Fantastically told from the very start. And the house it’s set in looks, much like the restoration itself, brilliant. #LFF

Never Gonna Snow Again’s a decent enough film. It might not have much in the way of plot, but you’re just about kept in place by the gradual opening up of the characters to a seemingly familiar stranger. Plus, performance moments that are set to what sounds like Wii music. #LFF

Time is a really well laid out and told documentary. Getting straight to its emotional core and effect through the use of home videos, keeping the black and white theme for the more recent footage to keep you connected to a highly personal story #LFF

Yes, Supernova is great. Stanley Tucci and Colin Firth and both brilliant with subtle performances and great chemistry that help fuel the film’s emotion. All bringing to life a well written screenplay that invests you further in the conflicted state of the characters. #LFF

There’s a point in Supernova where Colin Firth is in a shop and briefly glimpses at the Jaffa Cakes. This is the point where I knew I was properly on board with the film. #LFF

I also realise that I can now talk about Honeymood, a fairly simple yet effective comedy that while a bit conventional and a bit padded out towards the end has enough laughs to keep it going for the 90 or so minutes it’s on. #LFF

The Reason I Jump is superb! Throughout it does its best to give examples of what it’s like to be in the mind of a silent autistic person and it does it so well. Maybe I love it on quite a personal level, but I’m absolutely sure that I love it. #LFF

Thoughtful, caring, engaging and emotional; it’s clear that the creators care deeply about the subject matter. It’s overall brilliant and one of the best of the festival so far. #LFF

I enjoyed the first half hour of The Cheaters, however after that the rest of the film lost me. The restoration is pretty good, especially when bearing in mind what I've just read about the different versions of the film, but the film itself is tonally all over the place. #LFF

Right, time for one of the films I’ve been really looking forward to this festival. A new Cartoon Saloon!

Wolfwalkers is exactly the kind of gem you would expect from Cartoon Saloon. A great animation style to compliment a well told folklore story. Not forgetting the finely tuned touch of darkness in the final stages. It’s another hit from them! #LFF

Can’t talk about the film I just watched until it premieres. So, until then here’s a GIF of a dog having a great time in a hammock. #LFF

Wildfire is the small film that I fall for mostly because it’s good (was a fair bit of the case with Nocturnal last year). Great performances throughout, with the strong chemistry of the two leads helping to power through a lot of the emotion and themes. #LFF

Clearly made by people who want to tell a good story and have caringly gone about doing so. I was really taken in by it (Wildfire) #LFF

The first 45 minutes of Genus Pan are pretty good. Some interesting points and fairly accessible without being “too clever”. But, as it goes on it looses substance, diverting from the folklore and superstition that bring you in in the first place. Making it feel uneven. #LFF

Think I can now talk about Sound For The Future, a delightfully odd experimental documentary. Like a personal making of film that avoids feeling like a breakdown or vanity project. Funny, interesting and at it’s core something very different, which only makes it even better. #LFF

One Night In Miami is a fantastic directorial debut from Regina King. Top performances from the leading cast that bring to life an equally great screenplay. It might feel a bit stage-like at times but there’s still plenty to hook onto. Plus, the cinematography is great too! #LFF

Was on board with The Intruder and really enjoying it for the first half hour or so. However after that it becomes quite average. Working best when it leans towards horror it seems to not quite know what to do with its drama. Still trying to wrap my head around the ending. #LFF

Finally about to see at least one of these films on the big screen! And I feel that after the news this week this was the right pick!

At none other than the brilliant @wshed no less. #LFF

I realise I should probably mention, the film is Soul.

Soul is pure modern Pixar. Top quality animation to cleverly visualise and simplify the most human of things. Wonderfully told with great voice performances and imagination. There might be some moments that take a slight step back, but overall it’s a great watch. #LFF   #TerryTime!

Don't think I was as taken in by Cicada as most other people have been. While it definitely feels like something different and is sensitively done I didn't overly feel an emotional response to it - having been a bit distracted throughout by the bobbing of the camera. #LFF

Another film that I can’t talk about until it premiered. So, here’s a picture of Tom Hanks on a swing. #LFF

Definitely conflicted on how I feel about Bad Tales. While it's not a bad film I struggled with a number of scenes. It's a film about bad people being bad people, displaying some of the worst parenting. And some scenes had me nothing short of uncomfortable. #LFF

Another case of it’s not that it’s a bad film for If It Were Love. Certainly not for everyone, I might come under that, while it has its moments it’s a very personal work for those involved and perhaps not those watching. Not delving into psychology as much as it might like. #LFF

Another Round does have one or two issues, it’s a bit long in the final 20-25 minutes and not the funniest. But, it’s still entertaining and fairly interesting to see unfold. Mads Milkelson is brilliant, alongside the supporting cast. It’s an enjoyable film overall. #LFF

Can’t talk about the film I’ve just watched for the moment so here’s a GIF of Wakko Warner packing it with the snacks instead. #LFF

While I can’t find anywhere that says it premieres today it does look as if the film I just watched has its first showing tonight. So to be safe here’s a picture of Willem Dafoe gleefully looking at cereal. #LFF

Was absolutely drawn in to One Man And His Shoes, despite not much initial connection with basketball or shoes. An entertaining watch filled with people who are nothing but passionate for what they talk about. It feels a bit rushed at the end, but overall I really liked it! #LFF

A Common Crime is a bit all over the place. Leaning between about three different genres and never quite being satisfying it has some moments but never where it shows signs of properly picking up. It starts off relatively well but unfortunately falls apart quickly. #LFF

And I think I can now talk about Ultraviolence. A documentary that is likely a difficult watch for many, with many tough scenes. Filled with honesty and dead-pan anger it’s very well told and put together for even more of a punch effect. And, of course, it’s very timely. #LFF

Another film I can’t talk about until it premieres. So, in the meantime, here’s a picture of a dog having a great 1st birthday. #LFF

Although the title star David Byrne isn’t really the central focus of American Utopia. The film is about the collective effort of the band that shares the stage with him. Through each song it’s about everyone watching, not just in the theatre. Bringing energy and welcoming. #LFF

The first hour of Limbo is wonderfully hilarious. Laugh out loud and almost having me in tears of laughter. While the second hour seems to forget the laughs and move into drama it still manages to work. The tone could be eased into a bit more but overall I really liked this. #LFF

Notturno does have some interesting moments, mostly relating to the personal stories of some of its subjects. However, its lack of narrative and the fact it’s mostly made up of short glimpses of things does restrict it and prevents a proper connection being formed. #LFF

Not overly blown away by Striding Into The Wind. It started off rather promising but soon turned into something a bit long and rambling, which is a shame with the potential it could have had. #LFF

Can now talk about The Salt In Our Waters. An effectively told story of clashes and tensions when in terms of art, censorship and corruption. Helped by some great performances throughout, particularly from Fazlur Rahman Babu’s authoritarian chairman. #LFF

Rose: A Love Story is a weird (in a good way) little indie cult horror looking at relationships with only slight hints of potential horror, which actually works. It brought me in and I had a good time watching it. Things just click and move on from there. #LFF

Another yet-to-premier film. So, here’s an artist’s interpretation of the time Brian Blessed punched a polar bear in the face. #LFF

I could try to unpack quite a bit about Nomadland. But, the main things to say are; Frances McDormand is, of course, brilliant, Chloé Zhao knows how to get across feelings of isolation and loneliness. The film looks great, flows really well and it's overall rather good. #LFF

Apparently I’m not allowed to say anything about the film I’ve just seen at the moment. So, here’s a GIF of a dog arriving at the end of a water slide. #LFF

Another tweet in this thread with a picture or GIF. That must mean I can’t talk about the film until it premieres. Here’s a picture of Taika Waititi with some Doritos for now. #LFF