Separado! is a terrific, off-kilter docu tracing Gruff Rhys’ family ties in Patagonia. Flatpack was one of the first places to show it in the UK, and we’ll be screening it again as part of a jammed evening of 7inch entertainment at this weekend’s Green Man Festival in Wales. Even better, we’ve just confirmed that co-directors Dyl ‘Goch’ Jones and Gruff Rhys will be coming along to talk about the movie. Show starts 7:30pm on Friday.
While I’m here – please excuse the lack of news in these parts. As always 7 Inch Cinema is rolling along through the year, and we’ll be back here in a few weeks with a submissions call for Flatpack no.5…
The world keeps on turning, and 7 Inch Cinema is ready to try and fill that Flatpack-shaped hole in your life…
Wednesday 21 April, 7pm at Maison Mayci in Moseley OFFSIDE
Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi has been under arrest without charge in his home country since the start of March. From 15-21 April there are screenings of his work taking place around the world, including this showing of his 2006 comedy about a group of women attempting to sneak into a World Cup qualifier between Iran and Bahrain. Min. donation £3 – proceeds to Amnesty International. Food served on the night.
Wednesday 28 April, 6pm at Loughborough University 7 INCH CINEMA GOES TO WORK A programme of archive clips, documentaries and shorts exploring the workplace. Includes Philip Donnellan’s debut film JOE THE CHAINSMITH (1958) and a memorable German spoof on instructional films, FORKLIFT DRIVER KLAUS (2000). Free event.
30/31 May at Aston Hall in Birmingham YOUNG READERS BOOK BASH
As part of this annual kid-lit jamboree we’ll be screening an array of short films, including The Red Balloon.
2-4 July at mac, Cannon Hill Park in Birmingham
IT CAME FROM PEBBLE MILL
In association with Birmingham City University, a weekend devoted to the remarkable, risk-taking drama which emerged from BBC Pebble Mill in the 70s and early 80s under the watch of producer David Rose. More info soon.
20-22 August in mid-Wales GREEN MAN FESTIVAL
Our fourth outing at this fine folk-ish festival, which last year added sunshine to its many attractions. We’ve already got some good films in store.
And plenty of other stuff in the pipeline too. To stay posted on all this stuff sign up for the 7 Inch Cinema email list in the box at the top.
Today Flatpack has seen workshops on animating vegetables, tours of the region’s old Odeon cinemas and more shorts than you can shake a stick at. We are now preparing for A Plasticine Party, an Eastside knees-up featuring a DJ set from Stuart Braithwaite from Mogwai, punk-dub multimedia threesome Jackdaw with Crowbar and Zappa influenced Moon Unit. There will be plenty of plasticine to play with and competitions between some of Eastside’s cultural organisations in building an alternative plasticine universe!
Tomorrow (remember that the clocks go forward one hour tonight) sees more films for children and the young at heart, including the rarely screened The 5000 Fingers of Dr.T, the only feature film written by Dr.Seuss. The hyper fantasy musical looks like the Wizard of Oz might have done if Salvador Dali had designed it. Later there are a multitute of music documentaries including a rare screening of Rudies Come Back on two-tone with footage of the Specials in ‘79 in Three Minute Heroes and The Family Jams, travels with Joanna Newsom and Devendra Banhart on their 2004 US tour.
On Sunday evening Belbury Youth Club comes to Vivid with a screening of spooky seventies drama Penda’s Fen and a night of psychedelia, folk, squelchy synths and clattery breakbeats from Belbury Poly, Moon Wiring Club and The Focus Group.
Day four of Flatpack brings terrific treats including magic from artist Julien Maire, an odd insight into the lives of Finnish men in Living Room of the Nation, and Mexican horror Alucarda.
Tonight, Synth Eastwood are putting on a spectacular night of music, animation, installations and interactivity at the Rainbow Warehouse. Over the last three days they could be spotted around Birmingham taking photos and films to use in tonight’s show, Fast Forward. It will also feature a one-off sound collage from Clark (Warp Records), a set from the spectacular French AV duo Gangpol & Mit, and sets from Sarsparilla and Health & Efficiency. As well as music there will be installations such as Hugh Cooney’s Info Processor, Synth Eastwood’s GIF Shoot!, Birmingham Says Hello and the Fast Forward Group Project.
The weekend brings even more parties, features shorts, films for children and animations. We hope to see you there!
Remember: the clocks go forward 1 hour at 1am on Sunday 28 March!
Uncle Hans-Peter is a character from the world of Let Me Feel Your Finger First. He started out in comic books, then animation, and now has a whole evening at VIVID devoted to him. Each guest receives a free mask and comic.
Or if you’re after something a bit more genteel tomorrow there’s a double-bill of 30s events at Ikon Eastside; a look at Birmingham’s literary and cultural scene, and then a programme of animation, docs and avant-garde shorts all shown by Birmingham Film Society around the same time. Tickets are £6 each, or £9 for both on the night. As a bit of homework for the literary event, check out Michael Johnston’s google map of 30s Birmingham.
Today Flatpack has seen workshops on animating vegetables, tours of the region’s old Odeon cinemas and more shorts than you can shake a stick at. We are now preparing for 
Day four of Flatpack brings terrific treats including magic from artist 
