It occurred to us the other day that 7 Inch Cinema is almost ten years old. In June 2003 we put on a filmnight at the Rainbow in Digbeth, setting in motion all sorts of other things which have eventually landed us here. Still doing quite similar things, but in a completely different way. Or is that vice versa?

In any case, things have moved on, and we’ve decided to bundle all the things we do under the banner of Flatpack. That means all our year-round work will come to be known as Flatpack Projects, and 7 Inch Cinema will quietly recede into the background. It doesn’t mean we’re doing less year-round stuff: far from it. But for many the 7inch name is still very much tied up with the pub gigs that started it all, and it makes things a bit clearer if all our work can go in one place.

That one place is the Flatpack website, which was relaunched in a small way last week. There’s plenty more to come, and eventually the site will contain an archive of all the old gigs gathered here. It should also be a bit of a kick up the bum for our web presence, which has got a little sparse of late. This post is a way of starting the countdown – but 7 Inch Cinema will not be forgotten, and next summer we’d like to mark the tenth anniversary in some way.

hello,

Once again an event-light summer has been followed
by an autumn pileup of gigs and screenings. To help
sift through some of this we have compiled one of our
occasional Birmingham listings mailouts. As ever we’re
not responsible for these – we just thought they
looked interesting.

Firstly, some Flatpack notices…

BIRMINGHAM – THE MAGIC CITY
Last week we were part of a Birmingham contingent
at Liverpool Biennial, launching a section of the City
States exhibition. This is on show for another couple
of months and includes David Rowan’s subterranean
film installation, Napalm Death fanzines and an orgy
of promotional films from over the years. The other
big reason to visit the Biennial is also Birmingham-
related (natch): John Akomfrah’s beautiful 3-screen
portrait of Professor Stuart Hall at the Bluecoat.

POSITION VACANT
Flatpack are currently advertising for the exciting new
role of Development and Finance Director. Lots to get
your teeth into, and a chance to help shape the
festival over the next few years. Deadline is 1 October,
and more details can be found here:

NIGHTLIFE
On: Thursday 27 September, 6pm
At: Yorks Bakery Café, Newhall St, Birmingham
Free short film night at an ace new café in the city
centre, themed around a night on the tiles and
including LAS PALMAS (Johannes Nyholm), GIRLS
NIGHT OUT (Joanna Quinn) and obligatory archive
footage of Brummies letting their hair down. 2 for 1
deals on drinks and cakes, and massive beanbags
courtesy of Bean2Bed.

This is part of a Purple Flag programme hosted by
Colmore Business District, with a Moseley Arts
Market in the cathedral grounds earlier in the day.

FLATPACK FESTIVAL no.7 (21-31 March 2013)
A submissions shout is coming very soon, but in the
meantime pencil in these dates. The eagle-eyed may
notice that it goes on longer than in previous years –
this is to accommodate more one-off events and
avoid some of the programming clashes people
always grumble about. We hope you like our new
direction…

SO WHAT ELSE IS GOING ON?

18 Sept – 18 Oct at the Library Theatre, mac, etc
WEST MIDLANDS HUMAN RIGHTS FILM FESTIVAL
Busy month of crusading and thought-provoking
docs on Putin, banana oligarchs, Bhopal and
Mugabe. We’re particularly keen to see 5 BROKEN
CAMERAS and NOSTALGIA FOR THE LIGHT, in
which Patricio Guzman brings together astronomy
and Pinochet.

Weds 19 September, 7.30pm at the Custard Factory
MV + EE / HOME COMFORT SOUND SYSTEM
Otherworldly A/V show hosted by Americana duo,
with moonshine and 16mm visuals by Hogge of
Bristol Cube fame.

Sunday 23 Sept, 11-3 at Martineau Gardens in Edgbaston
AUTUMN EVENT
With ukuleles, accordions and apple-pressing.

Sunday 23 September, 12-7 at the Prince of Wales in Moseley
POW-WOW LITFEST
Featuring Alison Moore, whose debut novel The
Lighthouse was recently shortlisted for the Booker.

Sunday 23 Sept at the Hare & Hounds in Kings Heath
TOM PALEY’S OLD TIME MOONSHINE REVUE

Weds 26 Sept, from 6.15pm at the Old Joint Stock
KINO 10: INDIAN FILM NIGHT
Including a feature by Adoor Gopalakrishnan and a
selection of shorts from 8.30pm.

Thursday 27 Sept, 6pm at Yorks Bakery Café
NIGHTLIFE
See above.

Thursday 27 Sept, 8.30pm at mac
DEPARTURE LOUNGE: NFA + Q&A
Steve Rainbow presents his debut feature about a
homeless man in a downward spiral, recently
premiered in Edinburgh.

Thursday 27 Sept, 9pm at the Crescent Theatre
BEST OF BUG
Adam Buxton’s stand-up music video show. Was
showing as sold out, but there may be a few seats left.

Friday 28 September, from 5pm at Spotlight in Digbeth
DIGBETH DINING CLUB
Start of a weekly streetfoodfest, including churros, burgers,
wood-fired pizzas and so forth.

Friday 28 September at the Hare and Hounds
SUGARFOOT STOMP
Noir-themed eighth birthday vintage kneesup.

28 September – 27 October in Birmingham
PLAY POLAND FILM FESTIVAL
Birmingham leg of a national festival. Includes screenings
at mac and Ikon, and an interesting shorts programme at
The Edge on 20th Oct.

Saturday 29 Sept, 5pm at the Custard Factory
PROVIDE SHOP LAUNCH
Party for a new men’s clothing shop.
Nice promo video here:
http://vimeo.com/49427340

Sunday 30 September, 7.30pm at Symphony Hall in Birmingham
BATTLESHIP POTEMKIN
Eisenstein’s 1925 rabble-rouser with a new live score
by Michael Nyman.

3-4 October at the Patrick Centre in Birmingham
THERE IS HOPE
World premiere of a new dance piece by Birmingham
choreographer Rosie Kay.

Thurs 4 Oct at the Hare & Hounds in Kings Heath
COPPE’ + MODIFIED TOY ORCHESTRA
“The godmother of Japanese electronica.”

4-13 October in Birmingham
BIRMINGHAM BOOK FESTIVAL
Alongside guests like Caitlin Moran, Jackie Kay and Liz
Lochhead, this year includes a writing all-nighter in
Willenhall and “interactive storytelling experience”
Reliable Witness.

Thursday 11 Oct, 8pm at Ort Café in Balsall Heath
SHORT AND SWEDE
Sweded films from around the world, part of the Birmingham
Comedy Festival.

11-14 Oct in Birmingham
EYE CANDY
Festival of visual pop culture, including talks, workshops,
films and an Inky Goodness event.
…Overlapping and entwined with:

12-15 Oct in Birmingham
BIRMINGHAM ZINE FESTIVAL
Oodles of zine stalls, and shorts programme by Kino 10.

Friday 12 Oct, 7.30pm at mac
TRIBUTE TO RAJESH KHANNA & KISHORE KUMAR
Celebration of an Indian matinee idol, and the man who
provided his voice.

Sat 13 October, from 10.30am at the Custard Factory
MR BIRD’S EMPORIUM
Another shop launch, this time in the space we used for
Flatpack Palais back in March.

Sat 13 October, 2pm-2am in Birmingham
OXJAM BRUM TAKEOVER
Masses of gigs plus comedy, graffiti, talks and sleeve art.

Tuesday 16 October, 6.30pm at the Electric
LAST SHOP STANDING
Birmingham filmmaker Pip Piper has been touring the UK
with this one-hour paean to the independent record shop.
This hometown gig includes a Q&A with denizens of the
legendary Diskery.

17-20 October all over Birmingham
2.8 HOURS LATER
Cross-city zombie game.

18-19 October at the University of Birmingham
BIRMINGHAM CULTURE SUMMIT

19-21 October at the Custard Factory
SUPERSONIC FESTIVAL
Capsule’s annual feast of experimental music, celebrating
its first decade with a Vinyl Rally, kids gigs, DIY cinema
workshop, a pagan celebration of the river Rea, and a load
of bands too. The film programme also includes a new
documentary by Jeremy Deller.

Weds 31 October at Birmingham Town Hall
HALLOWEEN MOVIE SPECIAL: DER GOLEM (1920)
Mythical clay beast scored by Nigel Ogden on the organ.

Sat 3 November, 7,30pm at Warwick Arts Centre
PANDORA’S BOX
Louise Brooks being sexy as hell with a new score by
Icelandic composers Jóhann Jóhannsson and Hildur
Gudnadóttir (from Múm).
(Also coming up at WAC, the brilliant PAPER CINEMA)

+ A FILM YOU MIGHT LIKE

BERBERIAN SOUND STUDIO (Dir: Peter Strickland)
We’ve been waiting a whole month for this to arrive in Birmingham.
Skewed tribute to giallo horror, with soundtrack contributions
from Broadcast.
21-27 Sept at the Electric; 1-3 Oct at mac

+ A FEW EXHIBITIONS

Until 14 Oct at Tate Britain in London
PATRICK KEILLER: THE ROBINSON INSTITUTE

Until 4 Nov at Ikon Gallery in Birmingham
YAEL BARTANA: AND EUROPE WILL BE STUNNED

Until 6 Nov at the Old Joint Stock in Birmingham
CLARKE GRIFFITHS LEVINE: JOINT STOCK

Until 2 December at the Barber Institute in Selly Oak
SARAH TAYLOR SILVERWOOD: LIVING CITY

22 Sept – 27 Oct at Grand Union
NECROSPECTIVE

6 Oct – 1 Dec at Eastside Projects
ABSTRACT POSSIBLE: THE BIRMINGHAM BEAT

12 Oct at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery
HISTORY GALLERIES OPENING

DEVISE TO DELIVER 2
The second edition of Sheffield Doc/Fest’s funding and
distribution lab for cross-platform projects is about to
kick off. Deadline for applications is 5 November.

WHAT I OWE CHRIS MARKER
It was easy to miss the passing of Chris Marker during
the summer, but the influence of this quizzical cat-
obsessed film-essayist will continue to be felt for many
decades. This tribute by Patricio Guzman is well worth
a read:

OLDSKOOL PHOTOGRAPHY
Phtographer Dan Burwood has started running darkroom
courses at the Old Print Works in Balsall Heath.

TURNING POINT WEST MIDLANDS
Oodles of visual arts calls, opportunities and listings can
be found in TPWM’s fortnightly bulletin.

Before then, we’re hosting the UK premiere of daft sci-fi dance-battle movie The FP (trailer below) and this Sunday a compendium of shorts at mac including Mark Leckey’s Fiorucci Made Me Hardcore.

hello,

During a rare breathing space we have found time
to compile a list of interesting things happening
around Birmingham over the next 31 days or so.
As you’ll see there is an embarrassment of festivals
(seven at least) and plenty more besides. As usual,
we’re not responsible for any of these events, and
apologies in advance if we’ve missed something out.
Happy heatwave!

Friday 30 Sept, 7.30pm at Akamba in Shirley

GOGO CHATINKHA AFRICAN PARTY NIGHT
A night of music and food raising funds for a maternity
unit in Malawi.
[Facebook link, sorry]

Sat 1 October, all day at the Public in West Brom
BOXSTOCK
The third UK festival of cigar-box guitars. Looks like fun.

Sat 1 October, 12-5 at the Custard Factory in Digbeth
VINTAGE FAIR

Sat 1 October, 9pm at 22 Green St in Digbeth
SEELAND + HEALTH & EFFICIENCY
Free gig.

1/2 Oct at Mary Arden’s Farm in Stratford
APPLE DAYS
Tudor music, falconry, sheepdogs and apples.

Sunday 2 Oct, 1-5pm at St Columba’s in Moseley
MOSELEY RECORD & BOOK FAIR
Celebrating its first birthday.

Sunday 2 October, 6pm at the Drum in Newtown
USTAD NUSRAT FATEH ALI KHAN TRIBUTE
Annual concert devoted to the Qawwali master.

Tues 4 Oct, 7.30pm at the Light House in Wolverhampton
IN TRANSITION
New film about the Transition movement, a response to
peak oil and climate change. Followed by a discussion.
> http://light-house.co.uk
[Light House are also showing Kill List next week. Strong
meat, but well worth a trip if you've not seen it.]

Tuesday 4 Oct, 8pm at the Library Theatre in Bham
OUR GENERATION
WM Human Rights Filmfest draws to a close with a film
about the Yolngu tribe in Australia’s Northern Territories.
Followed by a Q&A with the filmmakers.

Weds 5 Oct at the Custard Factory in Digbeth
SOCIAL CINEMA
Launch of a new weekly community-run filmnight.

Thursday 6 Oct at the Hare and Hounds in Kings Heath
SOUND KITCHEN: COPPE’
Japanese electronica luminary with Casio support from
Modified Toy Orchestra.

6-16 Oct in Birmingham
BIRMINGHAM BOOK FESTIVAL
With literary guests like Tony Harrison, Will Self and Stuart
Maconie, plus special events including a ‘Dice Slam’ at
Fazeley Studios on 13 Oct.

Friday 7 Oct, 7pm at Thinktank, Millennium Point
TRIPNOTIC
“A mind-expanding trip to the far reaches of your
imagination.” First of a series of night-time shows in the
Thinktank Planetarium.

7-16 Oct in Birmingham
BIRMINGHAM COMEDY FESTIVAL
Featuring an array of standups plus various film bits:
comedy screening at the Jekyll and Hyde; Van Damme
stinker Streetfighter presented by Bad Film Club; and
a special Laurel and Hardy event in Erdington.
(Birthplace of L&H henchman Charlie Hall.)

Sat 8 Oct, 11am at Warwick Arts Centre near Coventry
FILM TALK: ELIZABETH TAYLOR
Lecture followed by a showing of BUtterfield 8.

Weds 12 Oct, 7.30pm at the Drum in Newtown
THE COLONY
Philip Donnellan’s bracing BBC film on Birmingham’s
first generation of Caribbean migrants, later recycled
by John Akomfrah for Handsworth Songs.

Weds 12 Oct, 7.30pm at the Victoria in Birmingham
HOW TO CREATE YOUR OWN CULT
The latest Birmingham Skeptics event is a guide to
cults from seasoned Scientology-watcher Martin Poulter.

Thurs 13 Oct at the Light House in Wolves
SHORTS ON WALLS
Regional animation gathering, and a taster for Flip.

14-23 Oct in Birmingham city centre
BIRMINGHAM FOOD FESTIVAL
Including Guerilla Gastronomy from Companis, a Sideways
wine tasting at the Electric and a chili festival in Brindleyplace.
(Beware of jalapeno hallucinations.)
> http://www.milkandcookies.com/link/64972/detail/

Friday 14 Oct, 8pm at the Red Lion in Kings Heath
UNLIKELY POP QUIZ
Raucous musical trivia gathering.

Sat 15 Oct in Birmingham
OXJAM BRUM
All sorts of bands at the Flapper, Yardbird, Sunflower Lounge etc.

Tuesday 18 October, 6pm at the Barber Institute, Bham Uni
KINO 10
A programme of shorts responding to the Barber collection.

Thursday 20 Oct, 8pm at the Lamp Tavern in Digbeth
THE WOBBLIES
Documentary on the radical labour movement.

Thurs 20 October at the Robin 2 in Bilston
JOHN COOPER CLARKE
Cadaverous Salfordian motormouth.

21-23 Oct at the Custard Factory in Digbeth
SUPERSONIC
Approaching its tenth birthday, one of the UK’s most
respected experimental music festivals this year features
Silver Apples, Electric Wizard and Mike Watt of Minutemen
fame. Plus a beefed-up programme of screenings and
installations including late-night horror, Imperfect Cinema
and music docs aplenty.

21-23 Oct at the Ikon Gallery in BrindleyPlace
ANDREW CROSS: ENSEMBLE
New filmed portrait of prog legends The Enid, following
their performance at Symphony Hall on Oct 15th.

21-30 October in Digbeth
THE EVENT
Visual arts gathering featuring a two-day ‘Symposion’, a
lover’s library, an empty orchestra and an exhibition of
Heath Robinson-type machines at Curzon St station.
There’s a programme of films at Lombard Method throughout.

Sat 22 Oct at Warwick Arts Centre near Coventry
THE TINDERSTICKS
Playing a selection from their Claire Denis scores.

Sat 22 Oct, 8pm at Birmingham Town Hall
MICHAEL MOORE: HERE COMES TROUBLE
The tireless self-publicist hits the Midlands.
Pauline Kael was very shrewd on Mr Moore back in ‘89:
> http://eddriscoll.com/archives/000181.php

24-30 Oct in Birmingham
BLACK INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
Marking its fifth birthday with a programme of screenings
at mac and an awards do. Details on the website still
pretty vague.

Weds 26 Oct, 7pm at VIVID in Digbeth
THE NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH
Open submission filmnight. They will literally show
anything. (Subject to a few rules – see online.)

Thursday 27 Oct, 8.15pm at Birmingham Library Theatre
A BOY AND HIS DOG
One-of-a-kind dystopian B-movie, with Don Johnson comprehensively
outacted by his mutt Blood. Showing at Bham Film Society in
response to VIVID’s Ballard-themed exhibition Crash, which is on
until 29 Oct.

Thurs 27 Oct, 8.45 at mac in Edgbaston
LITTLE DREAMS
Departure Lounge screening of the debut feature by
Birmingham-based Egyptian director Khaled El-Hagar.

27-29 Oct at the Light House in Wolves
FLIP ANIMATION FESTIVAL
Three day of screenings and workshops. Programme
will be announced shortly.

Friday 28 October from 6pm in Warstone Graveyard, JQ
HALLOWEEN ALLEYCAT
Spooky cyclists gathering.

Friday 28 Oct, 8.30pm at the Hare and Hounds in Kings Heath
SUGARFOOT STOMP
Celebrating seven years of unbridled vintage hedonism.

Friday 28 Oct at the Public in West Brom
DEAD BY DAWN HORROR MARATHON
All-nighter featuring The Mist, Evil Dead 2 and Zombies of
Sugar Hill. We’ve also nominated some shorts including
Canadian chiller There Are Monsters.

Saturday 29 Oct, 9 till late at The Edge, Cheapside
OUTER SIGHT
The return of this renegade psych filmnight, presenting a
Halloween special with an emphasis on mystic Americana.
Includes a once-lost 70s horror, Lynch shorts and photo show.

Sunday 30 Oct, 2-5pm at AE Harris in the Jewellery Quarter
DISCO BABY YEAH!
Family-friendly dance-off.

Sunday 30 Oct, 7.30pm at the Wagon & Horses in Digbeth
THE NIGHTINGALES
Resilient post-punkers conclude UK tour in their hometown
with support from anti-comedian Ted Chippington plus Betty
and the Id and Micronormous.

Monday 31 Oct, 7.30pm at Birmingham Town Hall
DR JEKYLL AND MR HYDE
1920 John Barrymore chiller with live organ from Nigel Ogden.
Preceded by Stan Laurel’s Dr Pyckle and Mr Pryde.

3-30 November in Birmingham
SHOUT FESTIVAL
Month-long celebration of queer culture, with a substantial film
programme which actually kicks off in October at mac.

Until 5 November at Eastside Projects in Digbeth
WILLIAM POPE.L
New three-screen video commission made in Birmingham by a
man from Chicago who describes himself as “the Friendliest
Black Artist in America.”

Until 10 December at International Project Space in Bournville
THE WANDERER (BETTY DRUNK)
New film installation by London-based French artist Laure Prouvost,
recently shortlisted for the Jarman Award.

BITS AND BOBS

THE MECHANICAL MUSICAL MARVEL
An animated short about the inner workings of Symphony
Hall’s organ is showing at Chicago Childrens Film Festival
this month. It was made at Digbeth’s Second Home
Productions, and you can see it along with the back-story
at their blog:
> http://www.secondhomestudios.com/blog/

SOUND IT OUT
Screened as part of the Home of Metal film programme a
few weeks back, Jeanie Finlay’s record shop documentary
is now set for a proper UK release. They’re looking for
supporters to help get the film out there in exchange for
exclusive perks.
> http://www.indiegogo.com/sounditoutdoc
Those in the North-east can also see the film on Oct 14th
at a taster for November’s Press Play Festival:
> http://www.pressplayfestival.org/programme/2011/sound-it-out

THE STORY OF FILM
This humungous More4 series rolls on towards WWII tomorrow
night. If you can get past Mark Cousins’ upward intonation?
at the end of every bloody sentence? and sometimes in the
middle? there’s some good stuff in there.

GOODBYE SCREENWM & BRIGHTSPACE
Both these organisations are closing their doors for the last
time today. Thanks to all the hard-working people at both
organisations, and good luck with whatever you get up to next.

Happy birthday to Michael Powell and Deborah Kerr.

>>>>>

>>>What on earth is 7 Inch Cinema?
A Birmingham-based outfit which produces all manner of
film events and projects, including the Flatpack Festival
(13-18 March 2012).
> http://www.flatpackfestival.org.uk
> http://www.7inch.org.uk

>>>Do you take open submissions?
Currently we’re seeking shorts up to 20 mins long for next
year’s festival. See the blog for details.

>>>What if I have a burning desire to engage via social media?
> http://www.twitter.com/flatpack
> http://www.facebook.com/flatpackfestival

The movie which gave the band their name, a lurid omnibus chiller with Boris Karloff nearing the end of his career…

…And Shane Embury from Napalm Death has hand-picked one of his favourite video nasties, Lucio Fulci’s The Beyond. Expect shonky dubbing and spectacular gore.

If you haven’t been visiting the events section of this site you’d be forgiven for thinking there’s nothing going on in 7inchland. Far from it. Tomorrow we hit the road for the Green Man festival once again, supplying kids matinees to the bleary-eyed masses and teaming up with Ghost Box on the Friday night. (See Julian House’s splendid flyer, above).

The following Saturday night we’re showing films for the opulent Lost Picture Show at Shambala, and then it’s full steam ahead for the Black Country. From 1-4 September we’ll be helping to bring Home of Metal’s summer to a close with the Metal on Film weekender. Tickets are now on sale at the Light House, and there’s a taster of some of the shorts on the Flatpack blog. In the meantime we’ll also be overhauling both our websites, laying some foundations for Flatpack 6, and planning for a special event on freelancing at the end of September – drop us a line if you’re interested in taking part.

It’s showing at a London International Animation Fest event on July 4th, followed by a Q&A with Morgan himself.

At the top is pianist Paul Shallcross, who drove all the way from Brecon to accompany the inspired vandalism and acrobatics of Laurel and Hardy and Buster Keaton. Below is his appreciative audience. Watching all these rapt young faces taking so much pleasure from something nearly a century old, I wondered if we could get Michael Gove to make silent comedy compulsory for all five year-olds. I was also reminded of a 1954 book called Children and Films: A Study of Boys and Girls in the Cinema, by Mary Field. The effect of cinema on young audiences was a hot topic at the time, and Field travelled around the country using infra-red photography to capture children’s reactions to particular sequences of film. The two images below are of matinee audiences in Barnstaple and Chippenham, both enjoying a moment of ‘Anticipated fun’.

With thanks to Pete James, and Janet Brisland.