PRESS & REVIEWS
“Stella Velon’s The Critic was named best short.”
Gregg Kilday The Hollywood Reporter
*Winners of the 2019 Method Fest Independent Film Festival
“Newcomer Stella Velon nominated for the 2020 Annual Webby Awards. Other celebs include Emily Hampshire, Post Malone, and Trevor Noah
Stella Velon joins ‘Schitt’s Creek’ actress Emily Hampshire, FKA Twigs (also known for ‘Honey Boy’), writer-comedian Gastor Almonte, and Leslie Grace, a multiple Latin Grammy nominee.
Webby Awards distinguish newcomers and well-knowns like Leonardo DiCaprio, National Geographic, and Ellen DeGeneres for their excellence.
Nominations from different categories include Idris Elba and Billie Eilish”
Lisa Baker California Herald
*2020 Webby Award Nominee - Best Individual Performance (Stella Velon)
“Stella Velon’s Star Performance in “The Critic” Recognized with a 2020 Webby Awards Nomination
Nominations have gone out to some well-known personalities from various industries in the 24-year history of the Webby Awards. They include Tom Hanks, Trevor Noah, The Rolling Stones, Billie Eilish, Idris Elba, Serena Williams, LeBron James, Celine Dion, and Leonardo DiCaprio.
There is some stiff competition among the nominees in the same category this year and include: Gastor Almonte (writer and comedian), Leslie Grace (nominee for a Latin Grammy®), FKA Twigs (singer and songwriter) and “Schitt’s Creek” actress Emily Hampshire.”
Jennifer Ross The American Reporter
*2020 Webby Award Nominee - Best Individual Performance (Stella Velon)
“Here’s why you should vote for ‘The Critic’ in the Webby Awards
If you scroll through The Webby Awards and their past winners, a lot of these voices getting awards are from big companies. For example, last year’s winner in this category was James Corden for something he did with his talk show. 2018 similarly had Jay-Z taking home the award.
To be nominated is always just an honor, but to get The Punk Floyd Company a win with a project that was just their first production would make waves in future Webby ceremonies. The best production isn’t always the one with the most famous faces or had the biggest budget.”
Frankie Stein Film Daily
“The Best Of All, From 2018!
Of all the films of 2018, we had some unique entries and never-seen-before shorts, but, perhaps, the best of it all had to be ‘The Critic’, for its sheer content and consistency with regards to performance and execution from all quarters.
Stella Velon’s ‘The Critic’, a poignant, insightful look into the soul of an actress, with the measured performance of Velon is a 14:55 minutes long film that gently peels off the veneer of glamour.
…
‘The Critic’ is an absolutely stunning visual and a treat to the cerebral folk and cinephiles alike!
The editor’s pick this year singularly, unabashedly falls for Stella Velon’s ‘The Critic’, worth every minute of the short!”
Editor’s Pick Indie Shorts Mag
“★★★★★
loaded with exceptional dialogue… and packed with substantial emotional heft, The Critic is a short film that benefits from a powerhouse performance. Velon is incredible in this role she wrote…
Stories about Hollywood notoriety and rags-to-riches are ten a penny and often the characters are so far removed from the audience’s own environment that few of the themes hit home with any real impact. However, in The Critic, the deeply personal approach that Velon takes and the choice to use a single male interviewer makes this a particularly poignant piece of cinema in the current social climate.”
Chris Olson UK Film Review
*Winner: Best Director 2018 UK Film Review Awards
“Written, directed by, and starring Stella Velon, “The Critic” is an indie short that, painted in vibrant colors and rife with symbolism and underlying meaning, is an emotional ride that is immediate and powerful.
The film deals with hard topics such as personal discovery, addiction, fame, and how little the audience often knows of the precarious line between an acting performance and real life.”
Mark Ziobro The Movie Buff
*Winners of the 2019 Independent Film Awards
“★★★★
grabs you from the start… and then straps you in on an emotional roller coaster ride”
Alan Ng Film Threat
“★★★★★
Velon’s direction is exceptional… At a time of #Metoo & #Timesup, ‘The Critic’ remains an honest dissection of what it takes to be a film star and offers a peek-a-boo into that galaxy which we all find so alluring.”
Nimisha Menon Indie Shorts Mag
*The Critic became the first short to receive 5 stars on IndieShortsMag.com
“quietly fierce, dramatically potent, and heartbreakingly palpable… The Critic is a sublime piece of indie film magic”
Kirk Fernwood One Film Fan
“writer/director Stella Velon's emotionally involving and thought-provoking short film The Critic… is nearly instantly engaging and a remarkably poignant story that somehow manages to travel a broad emotional spectrum while delivering a complete story within its modest 15-minute running time.”
Richard Propes The Independent Critic
“a slick short film, with a look that belies its low budget and great performances… It feels incredibly sophisticated and mature for a short film. It’s even more impressive given the very limited location… The Critic is well written, stunningly shot with a beautifully observed performance at its centre.”
Nick Bartlett Critical Popcorn
“The film deals with heavy material… and is rife with good performances and thoughtful shots… You’re left with the distinct impression of watching a film”
Mark Ziobro The Movie Buff
“The script is a powerful foundation which is intensified tenfold by the performances of the protagonists.”
Olivia Ballington Indy Reviews
“The standout offering of the block is The Critic… Understanding the form and purpose of a short story is just as important as screencraft and The Critic succeeds on all fronts.”
Sophie London for Acting Hour
*London Independent Film Festival (Best Short Film nominee)
“The Critic is a true gem, compelling, riveting & visually captivating.”
Queen Palm International Film Festival
*Annual Grand Jury Prize Winner & Best Short First-Time Filmmaker of the Year
“Deftly capitalizing on a simple premise, with a tension-crackling script that is always surprising, topped with a compelling central performance, The Critic showcases a major talent in the world of short film.”
Lawrence Bennie Medium
“The subdued, neo-noir style combined with a dash of Hitchcockian threat and a sharp twist, creates a short but punchy little number”
Billy Reynard-Bowness Film 280 Reviews
“Stella Velon’s mesmerizing short film “The Critic” not only depicts the inner collision of two different entities of a celebrity but also presents an overview of our perception of them in a dramatic sequence. It will be an injustice towards the craft of the filmmaker if the background score, the quality editing and the amazing screenplay goes unmentioned. The reputation this short film gathered can be imagined by its success in numerous festivals. But what went totally underrated is the performance of Alan Smyth as the interviewer which is a display of brilliant versatile acting.”
CinExplorers
"The Critic" highlights one of the most primal pleasures of watching films and televisions: the hypnotic allure of watching a compelling face feel and express emotions, often in a way that makes them more legible and understandable to ourselves.”
Omeleto
AUDIENCE REVIEWS
“★★★★★
Brilliant. It wasn't just a movie. It was an experience.”
Magz Faux Amazon Customer
“★★★★★
Powerful, powerful film with an even more explosive message.”
TTM Amazon Customer
“★★★★★
each character was so fully developed… punches a wallop of a message”
thecouxsr Amazon Customer
“★★★★★
You don't realize how deep the movie sucks you into believing the story is absolutely real that you think you (the viewer) are sucked into believing like you're part of the movie until the movie is over. EXCELLENT! The best short film I've ever seen.”
Larry Bloodworth Amazon Customer
“★★★★★
From the great sound, the stunning cinematic look, and the acting, this film is great but goes much deeper than most will ever realize.”
Curtis Amazon Customer
“★★★★★
A smartly written and directed film which offers a raw, unflinching look into the psychological impact of the entertainment industry”
Mel Amazon Customer
“★★★★★
A little gem! As it unfolded, I was transfixed.”
Melissa L. Amazon Customer
“★★★★★
Moving and skillful”
John Hindman Amazon Customer
“★★★★★
“It hits so many great spots and took me on a rollercoaster of emotions...
All to remind me, in the end, why I love cinema so much…”
León ⚡ Serratos Letterboxd
“★★★★½
Holy shit, that was intense. 😅
Stella Velon!!! I see youuuu. Wowzers.”
Zack Letterboxd
“★★★★½
This disorienting drama-thriller short is not one you want to miss out on.”
Dani Letterboxd
“★★★★½
This disorienting drama-thriller short is not one you want to miss out on.”
Dani Letterboxd
“★★★★
This 15-minute film was more powerful than well-known movies. The characters were excellent and the music was incredible.”
Susan Lang Letterboxd
“★★★★
Masterful and provoking.... Insanely gorgeous.”
Michael Dean Letterboxd