You never need many excuses to see a film at The Electric Cinema. This is the oldest working cinema in the UK, it has the comfiest sofas you’ll ever sit in – and you can text the bar to bring you drinks and popcorn if you fancy paying for the privilege.

On Friday 25th April they will be screening We Are The Freaks, an ode to teen coming-of-age movies, the fall of Margaret Thatcher and mad nights out in 1990s Birmingham. The ensemble cast includes the stars of This is England, Kill List, Skins and Fresh Meat.

The film premiered at last year’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival and received some excellent reviews. Birmingham-born director Justin Edgar has filled it with energetic and irreverent humour. It does contain many piece-to-camera sequences and references to films of similar genres, but manages not to take itself too seriously.

The film will be followed by an open Q&A session with cast and crew. Click HERE for tickets and more information.

Milque & Muhle is an independent record shop based in the Custard Factory, created by Nathan Warner and Ellena Donlon,

Milque & Muhle serves as a shop which not only provides adventurous, underground vinyl and cassette, you will also find music fanzines, comics, presses and occasional art prints; with due course Milque & Muhle intend to curate local gigs and music/art based events targeted towards adventurous and curious audiences within Birmingham.

Milque & Muhle are screening an original 16mm print of If… at Custard Factory’s theatre space on 30th January.

Starring Malcolm McDowell (A Clockwork Orange), this allegorical tale of the British public schooling system is universally acknowledged as a landmark of British counter-cultural cinema.

The feature will be introduced by a series of shorts starting from around 8pm. It’s £3 on the door and full details can be found here: http://milqueandmuhle.co.uk/news-events/

Film-poster image credit: https://www.cctvcambridge.org/sites/default/files/imagefield/if-2.jpg

Ort Café’s The Magic Cinema is back, and looking for local short films. In their own words, The Magic Cinema is:

“A Birmingham based micro-cinema featuring an “open reel” section (bring your film along and we’ll show it, as long as it’s under 15 minutes), and a selection of underground/no-budget/obscure/DIY/outsider etc. films from further afield.”

Ort is one of those magical unique places outside of the city centre – in Balsall Heath to be precise, and well worth a venture. I was there on Friday night watching some what can only be described as mesmerising far out jazz.

For Ort’s full list of events, including language lessons, quizzes, art exhibitions, workshops, screenings and much much more, best see their website.

KINO 10 have two events on in south Birmingham tomorrow. The first is OPEN YOUR NOGGIN in collaboration with Stirchley community cheerleaders Stirchley Happenings. KINO 10 have programmed a series of short kids films, suitable for all ages. It’s being screened upstairs at T.A.S.C.O.S (the Ten Acres and Stirchley Co-operative Society Social Club) on Hazelwell Lane, Stirchley. It starts at 3pm, ‘From cloud heroes to sprites made of sunlight, you’re sure to meet some inspiring and mischievous characters!’ 

At the Bull’s Head in Moseley tomorrow night, KINO 10 are back with the best in short film. Tap to Retry. ‘There are multi-award-winning films from Denmark, Norway, Spain, Japan, Israel, and the UK. From the sublime to the bizarre, no where else will you find such a brilliant selection of international shorts.’

We don’t generally write about music things, but At Tap to Retry, KINO 10 have two tickets to give away for a Capsule gig next Wednesday at the Custard Factory. For a chance to win the tickets, all you need to do is come along on Sunday – 8pm, The Bull’s Head, Moseley. Entrance is £4.

MV & EE with the Home Comfort Sound System – A spectral sound and cinema show from the visionary American free-folk duo, MV & EE with support from Health & Efficiency.

If you are a young creative (aged 16-30)  and a dab hand with the videocamera then it might interest you to know that as part of ArtsFest, IdeasTap and the Midlands Art Centre have opened up submissions for a showing of locals who have created their own shorts.

The criteria – a full one can be found here – calls for it to be suitable for all and range from 30 seconds to 8 minutes and will be shown on a loop over the Artsfest weekend Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 September.

Deadline is very soon – 5pm Wednesday August 29th, so get those final edits in fast.

More info head over to IdeasTap

I am currently looking for creative projects to get involved with in the Birmingham area, specifically film or media based projects. I have lots of transferable skills through studying film on my course and I am looking for possible work experience (unpaid) in TV, film or any kind of production, as a runner, film grip and/or any position where the skills I have may come in useful.

My biggest focus is finding opportunities, getting out there and getting involved in anything I can, from possible collaborations to arts events, workshops, anything to keep me busy and anything that allows me to be creative and continues the type of work I was doing on my course.

I couldn’t think of anything specific but gave a few starting places. I operate on the assumption that CiB readers know much more than I do, so if anyone can add anything then please do in the comments. My reply:

Hey

I can’t think of any specific opportunities at the moment. It’s a bit of a funny time for that kind of thing at the moment, what with Screen WM (who used to put on events and so on) closing down a few months back and Creative England (the body taking their place) only just getting up and running. In the meantime it might be worth looking at http://www.bsin.co.uk/ and seeing what they’re up to.

Also, have a look at these events, get yourself along and see who you meet:

• http://www.producersforum.org.uk/
• http://www.creativenetworksonline.com/
• http://www.birminghamsmc.com/
• http://www.helloculture.net/ (this is on tomorrow)

Maybe see what courses are happening at http://www.macarts.co.uk/ or http://light-house.co.uk/

Cheers

Chris

The competition is open to all, irrespective of sexual orientation, should be no longer than 20 mins, and completed in 2009 or later.

While any theme or topic can be chosen, the resulting film must reflect the SHOUT ethos of celebrating and/or exploring Queer culture in all its forms.

All shortlisted films will be screened during the festival, with a winner to be announced during the festival.

SHOUT doesn’t take place until November, and the deadline for this competition 15 July, so you’ve got plenty of time to put something together.

To enter, take a look at the full info and download to entry form.

‘The Garage Presents…‘ is the first of VIVID‘s 2011 programme, running throughout February with a series of events in music, film, art and installation.

The fun kicks off this weekend, with Video Valentines on Sat 12 Feb, at 2pm, featuring a free screening of Woody Allen’s 1977 romcom, Annie Hall, alongside a bunch of independent shorts and heart-shaped treats.

The series continues with ‘All Tomorrow’s Parties: The Film + A Short Film by Vincent Moon‘ on Fri 18 Feb. Admission is £2.

This post-punk DIY bricolage uses material generated by the fans and musicians themselves, on a multitude of formats including Super8, camcorder and mobile phone material, over the history of the festival, to capture the uncompromising spirit of a parallel music universe.

The following weekend hosts a screening of Lis Rhodes’ avant-garde installation Light Music (1975) 25 Feb, from 6.30pm – 8.30pm, in association with George Saxon and Daniel Simcox

Visitors are immersed in the beams of two dueling projectors; as the film flickers and flashes, Rhodes varies sonic frequency, alters amplitude, and plays with tone to create a groundbreaking and visceral cinematic experience.

And finally on 26 Feb, Woof! Woof! William Wegman Weekend takes place at 2pm.

Coming of age in the 1960s, Wegman was an early exponent of conceptual art, well known for his use of irony, humour and satire. VIVID presents a selection of Wegman’s video works taken from his 1970s series of cryptic videos which  star his obliging canine partner Man Ray.

The last KINO 10 event of 2010 takes place on 21 December at the Bull’s Head, Moseley, with a touch of festive flavour.

Expect an eclectic mix of old and new short films, some music videos, various animations and a few Christmas treats.

The evening starts at 7.30pm, with films from 8pm. Entry is £3.