The festive season is in full swing, so what better way to get into the holiday season than by taking in a Christmas movie? Here are five recommendations for fantastic festive film events.

The Red Sea International Film Festival, the first ever such gathering in Saudi Arabia, is underway, with a dazzling collection of Middle Eastern and Arabic films, as well as from around the globe.

Icelandic first-time writer-director Valdimar Jóhannsson makes his feature debut with Lamb, a surreal tale set on a rural sheep farm and starring Noomi Rapace and Hilmir Snær Guðnason.

Mike Mills, the director of ‘Beginners’ and ‘20th Century Women’, returns with ‘C’mon C’mon’, starring Joaquin Phoenix as a radio journalist who must look after his nephew.

‘Bach Is Blue’ explores the world of a young woman who is rediscovering her senses. We talk to director Sophie Kenny and leading actor Victoria Emslie about this remarkable short.

What’s new to watch on demand? Aesthetica Film Festival selects five engaging and varied movies that are available stream on some of the world’s best platforms across December.

Having downloaded a self help programme devised and narrated by the enigmatic Max, we follow Ash as he prepares to tackleLesson 7: Confronting Death. A twisting journey of anguish.

Out in the wilderness alone. Thoughts wildly running through his head as he rambles through nature. Sifting through his mind he fixates on a series of half lost memories. Yet, he can feel it.

Through a process of automatic writing in response to image, Still, Passing Between Worlds utilises a fixed point-of-view to imagine a world outside the visible frame. The audience is kept in the dark.

The monarch migration and an unearthed cassette tape form a storm speaking towards motherhood, loss, expectation, care and legacy. An elegy. An ode to uncertainty. A cry for optimism.

The British Crown Jewels contain an infamous diamond. From India, the famed “Kohinoor” or “Mountain Of Light” is now the thing of legend. But a group of thieves wants it back.

A homeless Irish alcoholic and an artistic backpacker clash on a Sydney street. The backpacker becomes the focus of her anger. But they quickly develop an unlikely connection over his art.

Authentic Footage questions the reliability of the director as narrator. This one-shot has become a hallmark of truth and reliability through its indication of “real-time.”

The Aesthetica Awards are open for submissions, celebrating the best contemporary talent across film, art, photography and literature.

It’s your final chance to stream ASFF 2021. Here’s a reminder of some of the fantastic films, masterclasses, discussions and panels that you can still access.

A brand new celebration of Middle Eastern and world cinema gets underway in December. Opening with Joe Wright’s ‘Cyrano’, we preview Saudi Arabia’s first ever film festival.

Oliver Stone returns to one of the 20th Century’s greatest mysteries: the 1963 murder of President John F. Kennedy. His latest documentary examines new evidence and interviews.

Watch industry experts from a range of disciplines speak about their craft, from the comfort of your own home. We select ten ASFF 2021 masterclasses to stream.

Looking for an evening of intense entertainment? We recommend five must-see thrillers to stream on the ASFF 2021 platform, including this year’s winning short ‘Such Small Hands’.

Japanese director Ryusuke Hamaguchi returns with ‘Drive My Car’. Adapted from the short story by Haruki Murakami, Hidetoshi Nishijima stars as Kafuku, an actor-director in crisis.

This year’s British Independent Film Awards, which take place on 5 December, will celebrate the brightest and best homegrown cinema. We preview the nominations, ahead of the awards.