Write for Rialto 5:15

Rialto 5:15 is an independent international film journal dedicated to serious writing on cinema, culture, psychology, politics and society.

We publish criticism, essays, interviews and festival coverage that engage with film not simply as entertainment, but as a lens through which to understand contemporary culture and the human experience.

We welcome pitches from emerging and established writers from around the world.

What We Are Looking For

We are interested in original, thoughtful and well-researched writing that goes beyond plot summaries, consumer reviews and promotional coverage.

Areas of particular interest include:

• Film criticism and analysis

• Cinema and psychology

• Cinema and politics

• Film history

• World cinema

• Film festivals and festival culture

• Director studies

• Industry features

• Cultural criticism

• Interviews with filmmakers and creative practitioners

• The relationship between cinema and society

We are especially interested in distinctive voices, fresh perspectives and writing that demonstrates expertise, curiosity and intellectual rigour.

Critical Essays

Long-form analytical essays exploring films, filmmakers, movements or themes in cinema.

Examples might include:

• The psychology of loneliness in contemporary cinema

• Political cinema in the twenty-first century

• The evolution of slow cinema

• National cinema traditions

• Recurring themes in a filmmaker’s body of work

Suggested length: 1,500 to 4,000 words

Director Studies

In-depth examinations of a filmmaker’s work, exploring recurring themes, stylistic signatures, artistic development and cultural significance.

Suggested length: 1,500 to 3,500 words

Interviews

We welcome pitches for interviews with directors, writers, cinematographers, editors, composers, producers, critics and other figures working in cinema.

We are particularly interested in conversations that reveal creative processes, artistic influences and broader cultural questions.

Suggested length: 1,000 to 3,000 words

Festival Dispatches

Coverage from major international film festivals.

We are interested in:

• Festival reports

• Programming trends

• Industry observations

• Festival culture

• Interviews conducted during festivals

We are generally less interested in diary-style coverage.

Suggested length: 800 to 2,500 words

Cinema and Society

Essays examining the relationship between film and wider social, political, psychological and cultural issues.

Possible topics include:

• Cinema and identity

• Migration and belonging on screen

• Memory and trauma in film

• Film and masculinity

• The politics of nostalgia

• Cinema in an age of digital culture

Suggested length: 1,200 to 3,500 words

Anniversary Essays

Original perspectives on significant anniversaries, re-releases and rediscoveries.

We are looking for fresh arguments and original angles rather than general appreciations.

Suggested length: 1,000 to 2,500 words

Book and Exhibition Coverage

Essays and reviews connected to film culture, including:

• Film books

• Museum exhibitions

• Retrospectives

• Archive discoveries

• Cinematheque programmes

Suggested length: 800 to 2,000 words

What We Are Not Looking For

We generally do not publish:

• Plot summaries

• Celebrity gossip

• Generic rankings and listicles

• Promotional content disguised as criticism

• AI-generated writing

• Previously published work

• Academic papers submitted without adaptation for a general readership

How to Pitch

Please email your pitch to:

editor@rialto515.com

Subject line:

PITCH: [Working Title]

Your pitch should be approximately 200 to 300 words and include:

• A clear summary of the idea

• Why it matters

• Why it is relevant now

• Expected word count

• Any interview access or sources

• Links to previous work where available

Please do not submit completed drafts unless requested.

Editorial Approach

Rialto 5:15 values criticism that is intellectually rigorous, accessible and original.

We believe cinema is more than entertainment. It is a lens through which we can understand culture, power, memory, identity and human experience.

We are looking for writers who share that perspective and who are willing to engage seriously with the art of film and its place in the world.

Payment

Commissioned work is paid. Rates vary according to article type, length and complexity and will be agreed before work begins.

Response Times

We aim to respond to pitches within seven working days. If you have not heard from us after that time, you are welcome to follow up.

We look forward to hearing from you.