BIG SCREEN BIRMINGHAM SUMMER FILM FESTIVAL
Big Screen Birmingham's annual Summer Film Festival continues. There are 6 categories; adult drama, animation, drama, documentary, experimental and music plus a collection of children's films from Resident Films and Red Banana Drama.
This is a great selection of films to kick-start the summer with including a comedy drama from the Rural Media Company which highlights climate change, a homage to Tom & Jerry, a student film about a woman that can control the weather through dance and a drama that focuses on the effects of video games on children...poor insect!
A couple of changes have been made to coincide with the start of June - Red Banana 2005 Films have been replaced with the 2006 films from Resident Films, there's also the introduction of a Pig's Dream from Karen Lamb; about a little pig with a big dream, and an experimental film from Steve Rainbow, TO, which shows a continuing image of the journey from Birmingham to London, down the Grand Union Canal.
This week's schedule is below:
Saturday, Monday to Friday @ 10am: Quest for Fire, Virtual College, African Brummie, Before I Could Remember, Dis Life
Saturday @ 6.25pm, Friday @ 10.35pm (Music Videos): Satsangi - Iodine, Shimm1 - Stereo, Def 1 - Hustle Everyday, Compassion, Two - Never Ever, General Kid - Juicy, Satin Dolls - Walk Away
Monday to Friday @ 12pm: William the Cog, Me Not Him, The Fool Looks at the Finger that Points to the Sky, Pig's Dream, Indian Rain Dance, Cat & Mouse
Monday to Friday @ 3pm: Auto Da Fe, Loading, Costa Del Marches, The Un-Gone
Monday to Friday @ 4pm: Red Banana Films
Monday to Friday @ 5pm: PKNY, Used, Artificial Memory, Fish Don't Know Rheumatism, See Through , TO
Monday to Friday @ 7pm: Satsangi - Iodine, Def 1 - Hustle Everyday, Two - Never Ever, Shimm 1 - Stereo, General Kid - Juicy, Satin Dolls - Walk Away
Monday to Thursday @ 10.35pm: I'm George She's Ringo, Director's Cut, Four Weeks Notice
ADULT DRAMA
Director’s Cut by Northern Lights Film Festival, Newcastle-upon-Tyne
(First Light Film Award Nominee)
A surreal take on a film premiere where the director and producer try to capture the perfect scene. We are transported into the world of film within a film and get a fresh look at a film premiere from the Director’s point of view. The result is an interesting juxtaposition between his memories of shooting a scene and what the audience sees. A confident and accomplished film made by just two young people aged 16 and 18.
Four Weeks Notice by Pat Wintersgill
Matt teaches arch-rival Christo how to please mutual love interest Debbie.
ANIMATION
Cat & Mouse by Ali Assaf
Love hurts for the world’s most infamous cat and mouse duo in this traditionally animated homage.
Every Street Dreams from Cornerhouse, Manchester
(First Light Film Award Nominee)
This quirky film, produced by a group of 12 young people aged between 14 and 18, portrays the dreams of some residents of a typical terraced street in Manchester. Through a range on animated techniques, including claymation and computer graphics, the audience peeks at some horrific, funny and sweet unconscious feelings and emotions through glimpses of other people’s dreams.
Indian Rain Dance by Manjeet Gill
A ghostly female controls the weather through the power of dance.
Me Not Him by Ali Assaf
An all-singing, all-dancing tale of sibling rivalry.
The Fool Looks at the Finger that Points to the Sky by Aaron Bradbury
The life of a simple wooden puppet is changed when he is drawn into a chaotic world played out on a mysterious stage.
William the Cog by Paul W J Martin
A surreal exploration of ideas regarding individuality, the relationship between an organism & encompassing artificial systems, perception of identity & awareness…
DOCUMENTARY
African Brummies by David King
An exploration of cultural identity within a particular family’s everyday life.
Before I Could Remember from St Basils Shaftesbury House, Birmingham
(First Light Film Award Nominee)
Before I Could Remember is an amalgamation of abstract images from the young filmmakers’ memories. The beautifully shot pictures are poignantly coupled with fairytales and nursery rhymes presenting dream-like imagery. The film was made by a group of ten 16 to 18-years-old residents at Shaftesbury House, a residential house for young women.
Darkness Visible from Living Archive, Milton Keynes
(First Light Film Award Nominee)
Addressing key issues about stereotyping and mental health, this sensitive documentary made by five 15 to 17-year-olds explores the effect of labelling young people with mental health problems. With insightful interviews alongside strong symbolism this well crafted documentary provides a platform for people to start talking more openly about mental health.
Dis Life by Tanya Bullock
A documentary about a group of Walsall actors with disabilities. The film follows them as they devise and perform a play about their negative social experiences.
Quest for Fire by Steve Rainbow & Lucy Baxter
A short film about the hottest curry in the world.
DRAMA
Auto Da Fe by Steve Rainbow
Two Brummies get lost in the wilderness of a film noir.
Costa Del Marches by Alison Chapman (The Rural Media Company)
Bob, an ambitious but comical Marches farmer plans to profit from climate change by turning his farm into a seaside resort.
I’m George, She’s Ringo by Will Morris
After a night out Paul invites Helen back to his flat for coffee. All is going well until he cannot decide which cup to use.
Loading by Rajesh Divakaran & Gerard Coyne
A young girl reading a comic, rescues an insect in the water before a young boy, who’s been playing a video game, disturbs the silence.
The Un-Gone by Simon Bovey
If individuality makes a person special what happens when that is no longer unique?!
EXPERIMENTAL
Artificial Memory by DOTB & PHW
Casper Hauser enigma applied to the current situations of the ability to blame memory.
Fish Don’t Know Rheumatism by Scarlet Scardenelli
Pre-unification Berlin: A shoe is stolen with mysterious consequences for the owner.
PKNY by Paul Windridge
Experimental film based in New York produced by Rare Company.
See Through by Paul Windridge
Experimental film produced by Rare Company.
TO by Steve Rainbow
An experimental film that takes us on a journey from Birmingham to London, down the Grand Union Canal.
Used by Mehul Desai
Witty exposition of ‘boxfresh’ culture stars a pair of shoes.
MUSIC
Hustle Everyday by Def 1
Produced by Jevan Chowdry, Def 1’s follow up single to ‘Ey Ey’.
Iodine by Satsangi
Music video produced by Rare Company.
Never Ever by Two
Pop promo produced by Big Button Media Ltd.
Transit by Louise James
Short film with students from Holy Trinity School. A site specific dance film exploring transition through the school space; the music reflects the day in the life of a school building.
Walk Away by Satin Dolls
Music video produced by Rare Company.
Red Banana Films
Red Banana Drama & Resident Films present: Locked In, The Grim, Red Banana News & Motive 4 Murder.