What's new at Odeon's this week : Thursday 9th July 2026.

This years 23rd Golden Apricot International Film Festival (GAIFF) takes place between Sunday 12th July and Sunday 19th July. It was established in 2004 in Yerevan, the capital and largest city in Armenia, with the co-operation of the 'Golden Apricot' Fund for Cinema Development and the Armenian Association of Film Critics and Cinema Journalists. The Festival is dedicated to the theme of Crossroads of Cultures and Civilisations, and features a multitude of films representing various nations and religions, collectively depicting the richness of the human experience. GAIFF is different from other film festivals as it is smaller in scale and hence more intimate, nevertheless it garners international attention and respect. Earlier this year, GAIFF was granted accreditation by the International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF), joining the global network of internationally recognised film festivals, which now includes forty-nine accredited festivals across twenty-nine countries.

The films are presented in two international competition sections: features and documentaries. The Golden Apricot (grand prize) and the Silver Apricot (special mention) are awarded in each category. The Armenian Panorama is the pan-Armenian competitive section of the festival for films produced by filmmakers of Armenian descent. GAIFF also has three sections outside of competition to showcase more outstanding films - Non-competitive, Retrospective and Tribute. Competing for the Golden Apricot Award for the Best Film in the International Competition, are the following twelve features, given as below, in brief :-

* 'Babystar' - from Germany and Co-Written and Directed by Joscha Bongard. 

* 'Father' - from Slovakia, Czech Republic and Poland and Co-Written and Directed by Tereza Nvotova. 

* 'Hair, Paper, Water . . . ' - from Belgium, France and Vietnam and Written and Directed by Nicolas Graux and Minh Quy Truong, photographed by Nicolas Graux, and Co-Sound Engineered and Edited by Minh Quy Truong.

* 'London' - from Austria, and Co-Written, Directed and Co-Edited by Sebastian Brameshuber.

* 'No Good Men' - from Germany, France, Norway, Denmark and Afghanistan, and Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Shahrbanoo Sadat.

* 'Outliving Shakespeare' - from Armenia and the Nethwerlands, and Directed by Inna Sahakyan, Ruben Ghazaryan, and Co-Written and Co-Produced by Inna Sahakyan.

* 'Past Future Continuous' - from Iran, Norway and Italy and Written and Directed by Morteza Ahmadvand and Firouzeh Khosrovani, and Co-Produced by Firouzeh Khosrovani.

* 'The Currents' - from Switzerland and Argentina and Written and Directed by Milagros Mumenthaler.

* 'The Lion at My Back' - from Cyprus, Luxembourg and Greece and Co-Written, Produced and Directed by Tonia Mishiali. 

* 'The Mechanics of Borders' - from Canada and Co-Written and Directed by Hubert Caron-Guay.

* 'The Moon Is a Father of Mine' - from Georgia, Germany, Luxembourg, Bulgaria, Czech Republic and Turkey, and Co-Written, Co-Produced and Directed by George Ovashvili.

* 'Tristan Forever' - from Switzerland and Written and Directed by Tobias Nolle and Loran Bonnardot, and photographed and Edited by Tobias Nolle.

For the more detailed summary of the above highlighted films in the International Competition, plus the other competitive sections and strands bring showcased, together with a whole bunch of other good stuff, you can visit the official website at : http://www.gaiff.am

Turning the focus then back to this weeks six new release movies coming to your local big screen Odeon this week, we begin with a comedy in which a couple who's marriage is already on thin ice, and when they invite their enigmatic upstairs neighbours for a get to know you dinner party, the night spirals into unexpected places. This is followed by a supernatural horror that is the sixth offering in this franchise and quite probably the most brutal yet, in which following the death of her husband, a woman seeks comfort with her in-laws in their remote family home, and as one by one they are transformed into Deadites, so turning the gathering into a family reunion from hell. Next up we have another supernatural horror offering where a lovelorn medical student, becomes terrorised by a sinister force after taking part in an obscure weight-loss craze that involves consuming human ashes. Then we turn to a drama film about an elderly Catholic nun in the Philippines whose faith is challenged by institutional corruption and cover-ups after witnessing a construction worker's fatal accident. Following on we have coming-of-age autobiographical drama film where, in order to secure her education, an eighteen year old woman must find her birth family, and so guided by her mother's diary, she travels to the coast and uncovers buried secrets and long-hidden shames of the past. And closing out the week we have a live action remake of two hugely successful animated feature films from the recent past, where, leaving her island for the first time, this young girl embarks on an epic seafaring adventure to restore prosperity to her people.

Whatever your taste in big screen film entertainment is this week - be it any of the six latest release new films as Previewed below, or those doing the rounds currently on general release or as Reviewed and Previewed in previous Blog Posts here at Odeon Online, you are most welcome to share your movie going thoughts, opinions and observations by leaving your relevant, succinct and appropriate views in the Comments section below this or any other Post. We'd love to hear from you, and in the meantime, enjoy your big screen Odeon outing during the coming week.

'THE INVITE' (Rated MA15+) - this American comedy film is Directed by Olivia Wilde in her third feature film Directorial outing following 'Booksmart' in in 2019 and 'Don't Worry Darling' in 2022, as well as her many acting roles in the likes of 'The Girl Next Door' in 2004, 'Alpha Dog' in 2006, 'Cowboys & Aliens' in 2011, 'People Like Us' in 2012, 'Deadfall' also in 2012, 'Rush' in 2013, 'Her' in 2013, 'The Lazarus Effect' in 2015, 'Love the Coopers' in 2015, 'Life Itself' in 2019 and 'Richard Jewell' in 2019. This film is an English language remake of the Spanish film 'The People Upstairs' Directed by Cesc Gay.

Joe (Seth Rogen) and Angela's (Olivia Wilde) marriage is on thin ice. When they invite their enigmatic upstairs neighbours Hawk (Edward Norton) and Pina (Penelope Cruz) for a dinner party, the night spirals into unexpected places. Have they reignited the spark or lit the match that burns it all down? The film saw a limited release in US cinema's on 26th June before going wide from this week too, having seen its World Premiere showcasing at the Sundance Film Festival in late January this year. It has so far grossed US$1.5M.

'EVIL DEAD BURN' (Rated R18+) - is an American supernatural horror film that is Co-Written and Directed by the French film maker Sebastien Vanicek, whose only other feature film Directing output was 2023's 'Infested'. This film serves as the third standalone entry, after 2013's 'Evil Dead' and 'Evil Dead Rise' in 2023, and the sixth instalment overall in the 'Evil Dead' film series. Those first five films in the series have grossed US$300M from combined production budgets of US$47M. Sam Raimi, the series creator, returns in the capacity of Co-Producer. Following the loss of her husband, a woman seeks solace with her in-laws in their secluded family home. As one by one they are transformed into Deadites, turning the gathering into a family reunion from hell, she comes to discover that the vows she took in life live on . . . even in death. Starring Souhelia Yacoub, Tandi Wright, Hunter Doohan, Luciane Buchanan, Erroll Shand and George Pullar. In April 2024, it was announced that another mainline film is currently in development, which was later titled 'Evil Dead Wrath', with Francis Galluppi as the Writer and Director. Principal photography began in late February this year, in Auckland, New Zealand, with the film scheduled for release in early April 2028.

'SACCHARINE' (Rated MA15+) - this Australian supernatural horror film is Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Natalie Erika James who made her feature film debut with 'Relic' in 2020 and would follow this up with the prequel film to 1968's 'Rosemary's Baby' with 'Apartment 7A' in 2024. After succumbing to an obscure weight-loss craze involving the eating of human ashes, lovelorn medical student Hana (Midori Francis) finds herself terrorised by the ghost of the person she's eating. Also starring Danielle Macdonald, Madeleine Madden and Robert Taylor. The film had its World Premiere screening at the Midnight section of this years Sundance Film Festival in late January, was released in the USA in late May, has so far grossed US$116K and has generated mixed or average critical reviews. 

'FIRST LIGHT' (Rated M) - is a Co-Production between the Philippines and Australia and is Written and Directed by James J. Robinson in his feature length debut. Set in a decaying convent in the mountains of Luzon in the Philippines, the film follows Sister Yolanda (Ruby Ruiz), a middle-aged Catholic nun whose faith is shaken by a tragic accident, in which a young construction worker dies. As pressure mounts from the Church and state to suppress the truth, she finds herself questioning the ethical standards and the institution she has devoted her life to. The film had its World Premiere in August 2025 at the Melbourne International Film Festival, where it won the AU$50K Blackmagic Design Best Australian Director Award. It was released in the Philippines toward the end of last month, and has garnered positive critical reviews. 

'ROMERIA' (Rated MA15+) - this Spanish and French coming-of-age autobiographical drama film is Written and Directed by Carla Simon in her third feature length outing following 2017's 'Summer 1993' and 'Alcarras' in 2022. Here, 18 year-old Marina (Llucia Garcia) , who travels to the glittering seaside town of Vigo determined to uncover information on her deceased biological father. Gradually tracking down his siblings, she slowly learns uncomfortable secrets about her parents' unconventional life and turbulent past. The film saw its World Premiere showcasing at the Cannes Film Festival in late May 2025 where it was in competition for the Palme d'Or, cost US$3.6M to produce, has so far grossed US$3M and has received favourable critical reviews. 

'MOANA' (Rated PG) - is an American musical adventure film, and is a live-action adaptation of Disney Animation's 2016 film of the same name. It is the third instalment and the first live-action film in the 'Moana' franchise, and is Directed by Thomas Kail in his feature film making debut. Those first two animated feature films grossed US$1,7B at the worldwide Box Office off the back of combined production budgets of US$300M, making this live action offering a shoe-in. Prompted by a summons from the ocean, Moana (Catherine Laga'aia, in her feature film debut) departs her home island of Motunui for the first time and travels past its barrier reef. Accompanied by the demigod Maui (Dwayne Johnson, reprising his role from the previous two animated films and also taking a Co-Producer credit here), she undertakes a voyage aimed at recovering the well-being of her community. Also starring Rena Owen, John Tui, Frankie Adams, and Jemaine Clement. The film is released this week also in the US.

With six new release movie offerings this week to tempt you out to your local Odeon, remember to share your movie going thoughts with your other like minded cinephile friends afterwards here at Odeon Online. In the meantime, I'll see you sometime somewhere at your local Odeon in the week ahead.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-