This year, in an unprecedented move, Fantastic Fest are streaming 10 of their movies online : 5 features and 5 shorts are available to watch anywhere in the world from 14th September onwards - for more details visit www.fantasticfest.com.

One of the films featured in the online line up is writer Eric Shapiro's film debut 'Rule Of Three'. Focusing on three sets of interwening events in a seedy hotel room, 'Rule Of Three' is one of the refreshing independent features that I've seen this year. Featuring a cast of largely unknowns, the film focuses on a father's obsession with finding out the answer to the disappaerance of his daughter and then proceeds to tell what occurred in the hotel room where she was last seen intercut with the room's previous occupants.

'Rule Of Three' is a sharp shock to the system: a well - written film with realistic characters and dialogue which goes a long way to hide its' miniscule budget. By focusing on the characters and their relationships to each other, Shapiro avoids the pitfalls that many independent film makers fall into: he also directs the film with a steady eye, avoiding any fancy camerawork and focusing on nothing but the action.

This first film shows great promise on Shapiro's part and anyone with even a remote interest in independent cinema must make the time to watch it.