Morning, And what a beautiful day for a film festival.

After a jam-packed and atmospheric opener with Shadow Shows, Flatpack proper gets underway today. Here are a few options…

VINTAGE MOBILE CINEMA- 12-5pm – Handsworth Library.

Following an impromptu visit to Victoria Square yesterday, this Rialto on wheels will be touching down in Handsworth today. The programme includes children’s shorts, archive footage of the local music scene and at 2pm a 60s film about green spaces in Birmingham introduced by writer Catherine O’Flynn. There’s also a range of crafty activities going on courtesy of Craftspace.

NESST 2 OPENING- 5.30-7pm – Zellig, the Custard Factory.

The mysterious Baron Mordant has left a concrete structure lurking in the basement of Zellig, beaming rescored transmissions from the Central Office of Information. This evening it’s your first chance totake a look at an installation which will run throughout the weekend.With thanks to Auchentoshan whisky.

MOTHWASP - 6.30pm -Fairbridge

Following that you might like to wander around the corner, for the first performance by a Birmingham three-piece employing heavy noise and slide projectors to maximum effect.

SHORTS ON WALLS – 6.30pm – The Dirty End

…Or you can check out the latest animation from around the regionat The Dirty End, including the first peek at new films from Louis Hudson and Steven Spencer.

DIGGING FOR GOLD – 7.30pm – Town Hall

In honour of our patron saint Iris Barry, a feast of silent film and live music, including Buster Keaton stepping through the screen in Sherlock Junior. Live accompaniment by Nigel Ogden and Alcyona Mick.

WE DON’T CARE ABOUT MUSIC ANYWAY- 8pm – Ikon Eastside

This documentary about the experimental music scene in Japan has taken on a very different resonance since the horrible events there a fortnight ago.

This event will finish with a performance by cellist Hiromichi Sakamoto.

…And that’s not forgetting a documentary on the Magnetic Fields, the new film from Kelly Reichardt, a lovely slice of life in the Italian countryside and a roundup of the latest world animation at the Electric which includes award-winners The External World, The Eagleman Stag and Tord and Tord. And this is one of our quieter days.

Food is also being served throughout the day at The Dirty End, and of course Fiercethings are happening across the city. We won’t be doing this every day, I promise! But if you want some more potted highlights here are a couple of Flatpack writeups from yesterday…

The Guardian: Forget Tribeca online: here’s the virtual Flatpack festival

Creative Review: Flatpack Festival 2011

Category : programme, publicity, the dirty end   |   Posted by : Annabel   |   No Comments

In some ways you might call Quentin Dupieux’s new film Rubber a tricky sell; tyre discovers psychokinetic powers and embarks on killing spree in the desert. Here’s a couple of very different attempts at selling it. The first is a slick three-colour number by Olly Moss, and the second a lurid 80s job by Boris Vallejo & Julie Bell. (Boris has been doing this kind of thing for ages – Barbarian Queen is a particular highpoint in his CV.) Apparently Dupieux hates the watercolour approach; which one do you prefer? Oh, and if you want to see this film at Flatpack then get your tickets soon, it will be all booked up by next week. So not such a tricky sell, I suppose.

Category : publicity   |   Posted by : Ian   |   Tags : posters, Quentin Dupieux, Rubber   |   No Comments

The festival got a nice mention in yesterday’s Observer, as part of Catherine O’Flynn’s cultural highlights:

(NB: It’s actually 23-27 March.) To return the favour – and also because it’s a great book – watch out for Catherine’s latest The News Where You Are, which comes out in paperback on Friday. And while we’re on the subject, Flatpack also pops up in this month’s Elle magazine. You’ll be glad to hear that we’re not draped over a sofa pouting. Maybe next month.

Category : publicity   |   Posted by : Ian   |   Tags : Catherine O'Flynn, Elle, Observer, press   |   No Comments

The programming for this year’s Glasgow Film Festival has just been unveiled, and our friends at the Shorts fest have made this natty wee trailer. Audience development in action.

Category : publicity   |   Posted by : Ian   |   1 Comment

If you’re running out of time and unsure of what to get you’re loved one for Christmas, you can always give them a Flatpack/Fierce bookmark. They’ll be making their way into various shops, galleries, art and information centres over the next few days.

Category : publicity   |   Posted by : Sam   |   No Comments