Birmingham Co-operative Film Society is pleased to announce its first 2014/2015 programme, leading with the docu-biopic “McCullin“, screening on the 11th of December (doors at 6:30pm for a 7pm start)
As always, films are just £5, £3 for members — membership’s only £10 for a year AND you get to vote on which films we show.
Birmingham Co-operative Film Society has published its forthcoming films for Summer 2014… Click the link to download the flyer.
This film captures the heart of the movement of movements sweeping the planet today. Scenes include the Egyptian revolution, Spain’s Indignado movement, Occupy Wall Street and the Alberta Tar Sands. The film explores the aspects of this arising creating what Martin Luther King Jr. called ‘love in action’.
How did a small group of people in 19th century Rochdale become a multi-billion pound business offering services from cradle to grave today?
Film to be followed by a discussion with guest speakers.
A musical film exploring perceptions and reality of the First World War. Since it was first made it is a recognised classic mixing toe-tapping songs alongside very deep questions about war, peace and who makes decisions.
Venue:
Central England Cooperative Members’ Room
The Birmingham & Midland Institute
9 Margaret Street
Birmingham, B3 3BS
‘Just Film for a Fairer World’
@JustFilmCoop
Synopsis: Spanish director Sebastián, his executive producer Costa and all his crew are in Bolivia, in the Cochabamba area, to shoot a motion picture about Christopher Columbus, his first explorations and the way the Spaniards treated the Indians at the time. Costa has chosen this place because the budget of the film is tight and here he can hire supernumeraries, local actors and extras on the cheap. Things go more or less smoothly until a conflict erupts over the privatization of the water supply. The trouble is that one of the local actors, is a leading activist in the protest movement. (Synopsis courtesy iMDB/Guy Bellinger)
Released: 23 October 2010 (UK)
Certificate: Unrated (BBFC), 98 mins 41 secs
Production: AXN, Alebrije Cine y Video, Canal+ España et al (full iMDB listing)
Distribution: Dogwoof Films (UK)
Direction: Icíar Bollaín
RottenTomatoes.com: 92% positive.
The Guardian: “A testament to human decency.” — Philip French
More reviews: RottenTomatoes, Fire in the Blood official site.
Synopsis: The critically acclaimed film, shot across four continents, depicts the mass devastation brought about in Africa, Asia and other parts the global South due to intentional obstruction of low-cost antiretroviral drugs used for treatment of HIV/AIDS from reaching people in these countries, spearheaded by Western pharmaceutical companies armed with patent monopolies and the governments (above all those of the United States, European Union and Switzerland) doing their bidding.
Released: 22 February 2013 (UK)
Certificate: 12A (BBFC), 87 mins 14 secs
Production: Sparkwater India
Distribution: Dartmouth Films (UK)
Direction: Dylan Mohan Grey
Reviews
RottenTomatoes.com: 92% positive.
The Guardian: “A testament to human decency.” — Philip French
More reviews: RottenTomatoes, Fire in the Blood official site.
Synopsis: Veteran investigator John Pilger has an extraordinary story to tell about white Australia and its deeply dysfunctional relationship with the Indigenous Australian community… (The Guardian)
This disturbingly powerful documentary examines Australia’s attitudes towards the indigenous populations in possession of huge riches in the form of mineral-rich lands – something which has also made them the target of mining corporation executives. Pilger argues the shocking treatment of these communities may actually be little more than a prelude, with the worst yet to come… Gripping viewing.
Released: 15 November 2013
Certificate: 12A (BBFC), 114 mins 54 secs
Production: Dartmouth Films
Distribution: Network Releasing
Direction: John Pilger, Alan Lowery
Reviews
RottenTomatoes.com: Yes, we’re screening ANOTHER 100% positive reviewed film!
The Guardian: 4/5 stars. “… This is a grim and powerful film.” — Peter Bradshaw
(See also: ‘John Pilger: “Utopia is one of the most urgent films I have made”‘)
The London Film Review: “Utopia will sadden, anger and frustrate you; a journey that addresses one of the biggest violations of human rights today.” — Priyanka Mogul
More reviews: RottenTomatoes, John Pilger official site.
Synopsis: What would you do if you were 16, lived in the most remote village in the world, and were the only teenager? What would you do if your biological father lived next door, yet never acknowledged your existence? Well, Lars is surprisingly upbeat about it.
Welcome to the world of high-speed internet and door to door sewage collection, of polar bear hunts, and the summer dips in the melting ocean. Sarah Gavron (Brick Lane) spent a year in Greenland, and delivered this extraordinary documentary.
Released: 10 May 2013, Certificate 12A (BBFC), 82 mins
Production: Met Film Production, Made in Copenhagen
Distribution: Dogwoof Pictures
Direction: Sarah Gavron, David Katznelson
Starring: Amlan Ganguly, Kajal Kahar, Priyanka Mandal, Salim Sheikh, Sikha Patro
Reviews
RottenTomatoes.com: 100% positive reviews!
Guardian: “There a gentle sweetness and charm to this documentary by film-maker Sarah Gavron, her first film since the adaptation of Monica Ali’s novel Brick Lane six years ago. “ — Peter Bradshaw
This Is London: “This is a warm-hearted and affecting tribute to a tenacious people who seem to know the score better than most of us.” — Derek Malcolm
Financial Times: “The mind boggles at the thought of how it was here pre-electricity and motor boats, although elderly villagers don’t exactly recoil from the memory of sputtering blubber lamps. “ — Antonia Quirke
More reviews: RottenTomatoes, iMDB, official site.
Related reading (MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS):
Official site: About the Film
Synopsis: Children are saving lives in the slums of Kolkata. Amlan Ganguly doesn’t rescue slum children; he empowers them to become change agents, battling poverty and transforming their neighborhoods with dramatic results.
Filmed over the course of three years, The Revolutionary Optimists follows Amlan and three of the children he works with on an intimate journey through adolescence, as they challenge the idea that marginalization is written into their destiny. (Courtesy IMDb.)
Released: 2013, Certificate 12A, 95 mins
Distribution: Shadow (US)
Direction: Maren Grainger-Monsen
Starring: Amlan Ganguly, Kajal Kahar, Priyanka Mandal, Salim Sheikh, Sikha Patro
Reviews
RottenTomatoes.com: 100% positive reviews!
Time Out New York: “It’s truly something to see these children come into their own, and to bear witness to the undeniable sea change Ganguly has set in motion.” — Jenna Scherer
Film Journal International: “Among that rare group of documentaries about child poverty that does not advocate for anything except hope.” — Maria Garcia
Seattle Times: “It’s a tribute to the power of optimism – and to an inspiring man who’s changing the world, one child at a time.” — Moira MacDonald
More reviews: RottenTomatoes, MetaCritic, official site.
Related reading (MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS):
Official site: About the Film
Sundance Institute: The Revolutionary Optimists
Synopsis: The film starts in Lahore, 2011. Changez (Riz Ahmed) is talking with American journalist Bobby (Liev Schreiber) about his experiences in the United States. A decade prior, newly graduated from Princeton, Changez is seeking his fortune on Wall Street.
Successful and with a beautiful girlfriend, the American Dream seems well within Changez’s grasp. However, after the attack on the World Trade Center, a cultural divide begins to engulf them – and his dream soon becomes a living nightmare… Through New York, Lahore and Istanbul, The Reluctant Fundamentalist is a story about conflicting ideologies and shows us how perception and suspicion can hold the power to determine life or death.
Released: 2012, Certificate 15, 128 mins
Distribution: IFC Films
Direction: Mira Nair
Starring: Kate Hudson, Kiefer Sutherland, Liev Schreiber, Martin Donovan, Om Puri, Riz Ahmed and Shabana Azmi
Reviews
Omer M. Mozaffar, RogerEbert.com
Related reading (MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS):
The Guardian: A radicalisation expert’s view on The Reluctant Fundamentalist (2 June 2013)
The Guardian: A Hijacking and The Reluctant Fundamentalist announce a new narrative order (15 May 2013)
The Guardian: Riz Ahmed: actor, rapper, ranter (27 April 2013)
10 October 2013: 94 min: Rated 15
Film starts at 7pm. Persepolis is the award winning animated film of one woman’s story of growing up in revolutionary Iran. See an ever changing world, the effects on her family and what happens when she has to decide on staying in Iran or fleeing for her life.
Join the Just Film Co-op Facebook group and sign up on the Event page for updates…
Entrance : £5 / £3 (members), as usual. Flapjacks, tea and coffee available, donations welcomed! See you at 7pm at the Birmingham Midland Institute, 9 Margaret St, Birmingham.
Realising that they share common foes in Margaret Thatcher, the police and the conservative press, London-based gays and lesbians decide to lend their support to striking coal miners in 1984 Wales.
Doors 6.30pm
Film 7pm
Central England Co-operative Members’ Hall
The Birmingham & Midland Institute
9 Margaret Street
Birmingham, B3 3BS
Tickets £5 (£3 members)
Coming Soon
Download the full Winter / Spring program: BCFSLtdWinter2015
Inspired by best-selling book The Spirit Level, The Divide film highlights the widening gulf between rich and poor. It shows how inequality might even spell trouble for the rich. This is a timely and prescient piece of globetrotting documentary cinema; both a think piece and a powerful warning.
Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1112684615426929
Doors 6.30pm
Film 7pm
Central England Co-operative Members’ Hall
The Birmingham & Midland Institute
9 Margaret Street
Birmingham, B3 3BS
Tickets £5 (£3 members*)
Coming Soon
Miss Representation
November 12 2015 (95 mins)
This multi-award winning film uncovers a glaring reality we live with every day but fail to see. The film exposes how mainstream media contribute to the under-representation of women in positions of power and influence in America, it challenges the limited and often disparaging portrayal of what it means to be a powerful woman.
Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1457567757897896/
Experience a unique insight into one of history’s most dramatic events: the 1984-85 British Miners’ Strike.
No experts. No politicians.
Thirty years on, this is the raw, award-winning, first-hand experience of those who lived through Britain’s longest strike. Follow the highs and lows of that life-changing year.
Doors 6.30pm
Film 7pm
Central England Co-operative Members’ Hall
The Birmingham & Midland Institute
9 Margaret Street
Birmingham, B3 3BS
Tickets £5 (£3 members*)
Coming Soon
The Divide
October 8 2015
Inspired by best-selling book The Spirit Level, The Divide film highlights the widening gulf between rich and poor. It shows how inequality might even spell trouble for the rich. This is a timely and prescient piece of globetrotting documentary cinema; both a think piece and a powerful warning.
Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1112684615426929
“One of the most remarkable and moving documentaries I have seen, about this unreported story. The tragedy of the Palestinians encapsulated in the life of one family and one town- Bethlehem. See the film, then go to Bethlehem and see for yourself.” — Jon Snow
Synopsis: Film director Leila Sansour returns to Bethlehem to make a film about her home town, soon to be encircled by a wall. She left the city as a teenager thinking that Bethlehem was too small and provincial. She never wanted to return but this time she is making an exception. She intends her film to be a tribute to her late father, founder of Bethlehem University, and a man regarded as a hero by his town’s folk. As Bethlehem approaches ruin her decision to flee this sleepy town, taken much to her father’s regret, comes to haunt her.
Armed with her camera and a dilapidated family car that keeps breaking down, Leila plans to make an epic film about a legendary town in crisis but just few months into filming her life and the film take an unexpected turn when cousin Carol, Leila’s last relative in town, persuades her to stay to start a campaign to save the city.
(Synopsis courtesy of the official film web site)
Released: 05 December 2014 (UK)
Certificate: PG (BBFC, AFF321074), 89 mins 53 secs
Production: Leila Sansour (full IMDb listing)
Distribution: Munro Film Services
Direction: Leila Sansour
See also: The Guardian — Why Open Bethlehem is the one film you should watch this week – video review
This Thursday (11 June 2015) Just Film is screening “Manakamana”, a fundraising film for Nepal.
Step aboard a cable car and travel high above a jungle in Nepal. Encounter the people following an ancient pilgrimage journey to worship at the legendary Manakamana temple.
Due to the generosity of Manakamana’s distributors, Dogwoof, we can give all donations for entrance to the International Co-operative Alliance Nepal Crisis Appeal. The appeal is providing immediate humanitarian relief and helping rebuild the co-operative sector in the country.
Join our Facebook events page for more! https://www.facebook.com/events/1671777443050011/
Thanks so far to our friends at Central England Co-operative who’ve helped publicise this screening:
Birmingham Co-operative Film Society presents a viewing of 'Manakamana'
on 11/06/15 @ 7pm for the #NepalQuake Appeal: http://t.co/mEIqCmSfIf
— Central England Coop (@mycoopfood) June 5, 2015
On Friday the 20th of March, as part of the 2015 Flatpack Film Festival, we’re hosting a screening of the harrowing, award-winning film ‘Miners Shot Down’ in partnership with Film Bug.
This acclaimed documentary film focuses on the massacre of 34 mineworkers in South Africa. Made by one of the country’s leading directors, Rehad Desai, the film unfolds in real time over seven days, documenting a group of mineworkers as they strike for better wages. Six days into the strike the police move in, killing 34 of the miners and injuring many more.
The film runs from 8:30 pm – 10:00 pm and is at the usual venue, the Birmingham Midland Institute — see you all there!
For more, see http://flatpackfestival.org.uk/event/miners-shot-down/.
Just Film Co-op and Film Bug present: Miners Shot Down
Director: Rehad Desai
South Africa 2014, 86 mins
Certificate: 15*
Synopsis: For the first time ever through intimate, quasi confessional interviews and his personal, photographic and film archive ‘Will And Testament’ reveals a very human face behind the political mask.
In this feature length film, Tony Benn also criss-crosses the UK bearing witness to major social and political upheavals and events. This documentary is an exclusive and deeply personal look at the life of a national treasure, a frank, candid and sometimes painful exploration of the great themes of life that affected him and affect us all, love, loss, hopes, dreams, fears and death. Never before has a person of his calibre and reputation spoken to camera in such a direct way.
(Synopsis courtesy of the official film web site)
Released: 21 March 2006 (UK)
Certificate: 15 (BBFC, AZF316245), 95 mins 04 secs
Production: Skip Kite (full IMDb listing)
Distribution: Praslin Pictures
Direction: Skip Kite
Synopsis: The Road to Guantánamo focuses on the Tipton Three, a trio of British Muslims who were held in Guantanamo Bay for two years until they were released without charge. (Synopsis courtesy IMDb)
Released: 21 March 2006 (UK)
Certificate: 15 (BBFC, AVF222357), 91 mins 29 secs
Production: Andrew Eaton (full IMDb listing)
Distribution: Revolution Films
Direction: Michael Winterbottom, Matt Whitecross
Synopsis: Grow Your Own is a warm-hearted British comedy with a host of well-known British stars. A refugee family is given a plot to help rehabilitate their traumatized father. At first they are met with suspicion by the men who have worked the gardens for years but eventually they are accepted by their united love of making things grow. (Synopsis courtesy Amazon/EPK)
Released: 15 October 2007 (UK)
Certificate: PG (BBFC, AVF237350), 96 mins 51 secs
Production: Carl Hunter, Barry Ryan, Luke Alkin (full iMDB listing)
Distribution: Pathe Distribution (UK)
Direction: Richard Laxton
Birmingham Co-operative Film Society is pleased to announce its first 2014/2015 programme, leading with the docu-biopic “McCullin“, screening on the 11th of December (doors at 6:30pm for a 7pm start)
As always, films are just £5, £3 for members — membership’s only £10 for a year AND you get to vote on which films we show.
“Crip Camp is both a gripping look at the history of the disability rights
movement and a timely call to action, urging us to explore our own duty
to fight for the dignity of all people.”
– President Barack Obama, Executive Producer
On 8th September, join us for a FREE screening of Crip Camp. Doors open 6.30, screening starts at 7pm.
You can view the trailer here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRrIs22plz0&t=3s
Reserve your place here https://www.tickettailor.com/events/birminghamcooperativefilmsocietyltd/758315/#
24th June – 3rd July 2022
We are delighted to announce the second Just Film Festival.
Screening drama and documentary films and also short films from our competition winners.
CLICK HERE for details and bookings
As a new mom of twins, filmmaker Liz Canning is lonely, stressed about the planet’s uncertain future. She is missing what made her feel connected, free and alive: her bicycle.
Having retreated to the car to ferry her Children about, her life changes when she discovers the cargo bike and the supportive cycling community that encourages its use.
This crowd-funded film doesn’t just tell her story but the wider story of liberation and freedom at the heart of the bicycle
Doors 6.30
Start 7.00pm
Entrance £6/ £4(members)
The Warehouse
54-57 Allison Street,
Digbeth,
Birmingham,
B5 5TH
Coming in April
We The Power!
A film all about the future of energy – renewable community energy
Exploring the truths behind the stereotypes of the Southern USA, SOUTHERN JOURNEY (REVISITED) is both a music documentary and a road movie. Set against the incendiary backdrop of the 2018 mid-term elections, and accompanied by a glorious soundtrack of blues and bluegrass, hollers and spirituals, the film retraces the route of an iconic song collecting trip from the late 1950s – Alan Lomax’s so called “Southern Journey”
The film travels the back roads of the rural South, and while the focus is on the transcendental roots music of the region, it also contradicts the many reductive stereotypes about the region and offers insight into the historical injustices that underpin the Black Lives Matter movement.
Screening Online – Buy Your Ticket Now
Coming in March
MOTHERLOAD
As a new mom of twins, filmmaker Liz Canning is lonely, stressed about the planet’s uncertain future, and missing what made her feel connected, free and alive: her bicycle.Having retreated to the car to ferry her Children about, her life changes when she discovers the cargo bike and the supportive cycling community that encourages its use.
Celebrate independent booksellers and their bookshops in a beautiful documentary. Traveling around New York, meet just some
of the obsessives, intellects, eccentrics and dreamers who preserve and sell 2nd hand and antiquarian books.
This in-person screening will be followed by a panel discussion featuring guests from the radical and independent book trades.
Mince pies will be served at this special screening which concludes our 2021 season.
Doors 6.30pm
Start 7.00pm
Tickets £6
(£4 for members)
Screened @
The Warehouse
54-57 Allison St,
Birmingham
B5 5TH
Asunder tells the story of what happened to an English town during the First World War, with almost all of its men abroad fighting and its women and children left behind. The North East was in the front line, thanks to its shipyards and munitions factories.
Using archive and contemporary footage and audio, Asunder collages the stories of people from Tyneside and Wearside to uncover what life was like on the home front, with bombs falling on Britain for the first time, conscientious objectors sentenced to death, and women working as doctors, tram conductors and footballers. The narrative moves from an Edwardian golden era, in which sport grew in popularity and aircraft and cars pointed to a bright new future, to a war that horrifically reversed this progress. In the Battle of the Somme, commencing on 1 July 1916, British, French and German armies fought one of the most traumatic battles in military history. Over the course of just four months, more than one million soldiers were captured, wounded or killed in a confrontation of unimaginable horror.
The narration for the film is voiced by journalist Kate Adie, with the actor Alun Armstrong as the voice of the Sunderland Daily Echo and Shipping Gazette.
This screening is being promoted in partnership with the Fellowship of Reconciliation. It will be followed by a discussion of the issues raised about the social impact of war on people’s lives and opportunities for peacemaking and nonviolent conflict resolution today lead by FoR Vice Chair, Rev Chris Collins. Everyone is welcome to join the discussion if they wish.
Asunder.
11th November 2021
7.00pm
Birmingham Co-operative Film Society, Central England Co-operative and Co-op News are pleased to bring you the very first Just Film Festival. Mixing new creative shorts with a diverse range of
The festival starts on June 18th with the feature ‘2040’ and ends on July 4th with ‘Versus: The life of Ken Loach’. There are a wide range of films and nations covered in between and more details will be released shortly.
The full festival program and your opportunities to purchase either a festival pass or one off ticket to a film are available at our Festival Page
(Our normal monthly screening program returns in the autumn)
This one time screening will start (online) at 7.30pm on Thursday 13 May 2021
If there will be more than one of you at the computer we encourage you to purchase more than one ticket to help us cover our costs of the screening.
Buy your ticket now
PLUS
Don’t forget about our upcoming Just Film Festival – more details at www.justfilm.coop/festival
Britain, late-1970s. Punk is exploding. The country is deeply divided over immigration. The National Front, a far-right and fascist political party, is gaining strength as politicians like Enoch Powell push a xenophobic agenda. Outraged by a racist speech from Eric Clapton, music photographer Red Saunders writes a letter to the music press, calling for rock to be a force against racism. NME, Melody Maker, and Sounds all publish the letter.
Flooded with responses, Red discovers many share his views. Teaming up with like-minded creatives Roger Huddle, Kate Webb, Syd Shelton and Australian graphic designer Ruth Gregory, the team bands together to create Rock Against Racism (RAR) and a fanzine, Temporary Hoarding. Speaking directly to the youth, Temporary Hoarding reports stories and issues that the mainstream British media ignores, like immigration, the Catholic side of the Northern Ireland conflict, and the police’s controversial “suspected persons” (sus) powers. They give a voice to the voiceless. The National Front begins to strike back, committing acts of violence against RAR supporters and petrol-bombing their HQ. Despite this, RAR spreads virally across the UK and into Europe, becoming a grassroots youth movement. The Clash, Steel Pulse, Tom Robinson and other top bands of the day jump on board.
White Riot is a moment in time when music changed the world. When a generation challenged the status quo. It’s Woodstock meets the March on Washington, punk-style.
This is a one time online screening
Thursday 15th April 2021
7.00pm
Buy your tickets now:
Birmingham Co-operative Film Society is continuing to screen ‘films for a better world’ on a regular basis.
Followers of our social media and subscribers to our email list are regularly update with the latest monthly film to screen at their home. Not on our email list? Signup now
PLUS
We have teamed up with Central England Co-operative and the Co-operative News to bring the Just Film Festival online during co-operatives fortnight, 21 June‑4 July 2021.
Our members have already been suggesting feature films and now we need your help.
We are looking for short films (5 mins or less) that fit into any of the three categories, and have been made since January 2019.
For more details and to submit your films goto FilmFreeway
We Are Many documents a day like no other. It’s 15th February 2003 and millions of people around the world took to the streets to speak up for peace. Feel the passion, be amazed by the size of the demonstrations and listen to many people, including locals Clare Short and Salma Yaqoob, share their experience of the day. Our online screening will feature additional exclusive music performances and a Q&A, the whole event celebrating the International Day of Peace.
Tickets are available now and enable you to watch the film at a time of your choosing between 22nd and 24th September via our Virtual Theatre page: https://watch.eventive.org/wearemanyuk/play/5f5bdac871650f005c4d4251
If you purchase from us, we receive 50% of revenue to support our ongoing work, and at our upcoming board meeting we’ll be discussing how to put the extra revenue from Coup 53 and We Are Many to use for future projects.
Hello!
It wasn’t soon after we had a bumper turnout to celebrating our tenth anniversary with cake and fizz that we suspending our screenings until further notice, in line with Government recommendations for tackling the coronavirus.
We intend that this is just a postponement of our current programme and that the films scheduled for the next few months will be shown at a later date. They films you’ve selected are too good to miss altogether!
Until we can safely get together again to enjoy “films to make you think”, we hope you will all stay safe and keep well.
With all good wishes,
Your Birmingham Co-operative Film Society Board
When restrictions are lifted and we are allowed to gather we will be screening
Official Secrets
A political thriller based on a GCHQ whistle blower. Discover the story of Katherine Gunn who leaked a memo exposing illegal efforts to blackmail UN diplomats tasked to vote on the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
A political thriller based on a GCHQ whistle blower. Discover the story of Katherine Gunn who leaked a memo exposing illegal efforts to blackmail UN diplomats tasked to vote on the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
Doors 6.30
Start 7.00pm
Entrance £6 (Guest) / £4 members
The Warehouse,
54 – 57 Allison Street
Digbeth
B5 5TH
All Welcome
Up next:
The Workers Cup – 14 May 2020
Inside Qatar labour camps, African and Asian migrant workers are building the facilities of the 2022 World Cup. A film made to share their stories current working conditions and their own football tournament, the Workers Cup.
Ken Loach’s latest, realist drama gets to the heart of our 24hr internet-based economy. Following a couple struggling to make ends meet, it asks who really pays the price for our quick and easy deliveries.
Doors 6.30
Start 7.00pm
Entrance £6 (Guest) / £4 members
The Warehouse,
54 – 57 Allison Street
Digbeth
B5 5TH
All Welcome
Next Month:
Official Secrets – 9 April 2020
A political thriller based on a GCHQ whistle blower. Discover the story of Katherine Gunn who leaked a memo exposing illegal efforts to blackmail UN diplomats tasked to vote on the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
At the age of 84, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has developed a breathtaking legal legacy while becoming an
unexpected pop culture icon. The unique personal journey of this diminutive, quiet warrior’s rise to the nation’s highest court has
been largely unknown until now.
Film screened at
The Warehouse, 54-57 Allison St,
Birmingham B5 5TH
Doors 6.30pm, Start 7.00pm
Entrance £5 / £3 members – buy your tickets on the door
All Welcome
In 1974, a group of Rolls Royce workers in Scotland refused to repair jet engines because they had been used during a brutal coup led by General Pinochet. This film re-unites the workers now, as they discover the impact in Chile of their 4 year boycott.
This film has challenged and inspired people wherever it’s been shown — not to be missed!
£5 / £3 entrance
doors 6.30
start 7.00pm
All Welcome
Controversial when first screened, but since recognised as a classic, this gritty drama follows a young couple and their children as they are cruelly overtaken by events which lead them into an unrelenting trap of debt, homelessness and poverty.
Doors 6.30
Start 7.00pm
£5/£3
All Welcome
Costa Rica disbanded its military in 1949 and instead, redirected national resources towards public education and universal health care. This film examines the true value of happiness, health, and explores nonviolence as a national defense policy.
Doors 6.30pm
Start 7.00pm
Screened at: The Warehouse,
54-57 Allison Street,
Digbeth,
Birmingham,
B5 5TH
Entrance £5 / £3 members
The Warehouse
54 – 57 Allison Street
Digbeth
Birmingham
B5 5TH
All Welcome
#flapjacktivist
Explore the stories of the founding of the modern womens’ movement, including NOW and the street theatrics of WITCH (Womens International Terrorist Conspiracy from Hell). These women created a world-wide revolution while fights for their own equality.
Doors 6.30
Start 7.00
Entrance £4/£3
Film Shown at our New Venue
The Warehouse
54 – 57 Allison Street
Digbeth
Birmingham
B5 5TH
All Welcome
Twitter.com/justfilmcoop #flapjacktavists www.justfilm.coop
Walk with Zen master Thich Nhat Hanah and discover a monastic community in which everything is calm and serene. Narrated by Benedict Cumberbatch, this film shows a community giving up all they have, to re- dedicate their lives to mindfulness and living in the present.
Doors 6.30
Start 7.00
Entrance £4/£3
Film Shown at
Irish Centre
14-20 High Street
Deritend,
Birmingham
B12 0LN
All Welcome
Twitter.com/justfilmcoop #flapjacktavists www.justfilm.coop
The true story of three aboriginal girls, forcibly taken from their families to be trained as domestic servants – official policy in 1931. They escape and embark on an epic 1,500 mile journey home, following the rabbit-proof fence that bisects Australia, with the authorities in hot pursuit.
Doors 6.30
Start 7.00
Entrance £4/£3
Film Shown at
Irish Centre
14-20 High Street
Deritend,
Birmingham
B12 0LN
All Welcome
Twitter.com/justfilmcoop #flapjacktavists www.justfilm.coop
Told entirely in the words of James Baldwin, through both personal appearances and the text of his final unfinished book project, I Am Not Your Negro touches on the lives and assassinations of Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr., and Medgar Evers to bring powerful clarity to how the image and reality of blacks in America today is fabricated and enforced.
Start 7.00pm
Tickets £5 / £3 members
Film Shown at
Irish Centre
14-20 High Street
Deritend,
Birmingham
B12 0LN
All Welcome
Twitter.com/justfilmcoop #flapjacktavists www.justfilm.coop
Birmingham Co-operative Film Society Presents
Addicted to Plastic
|
Daniel Blake, 59, has worked as a joiner most of his life in the North East of England. Following illness he now needs help from the State for the first time ever. Ken Loach’s latest film gets to the heart of the realities of the benefit system today.
Doors Open: 6.30pm
Film starts: 7.00pm
The Irish Centre
14-20 High Street,
Deritend (Digbeth),
Birmingham,
B12 0LN
Entrance: £5 / £3 members
All Welcome
Next time: We Are Many
February 9 2017
The story of the biggest demonstration in human history, which took place on 15th February 2003, against the impending war on Iraq.
Download our full Winter2016/17 Program
The idealist William Wilberforce manoeuvres his way through Parliament, endeavouring to end the British transatlantic slave trade.
Doors Open: 6.30pm
Film starts: 7.00pm
The Irish Centre
14-20 High Street,
Deritend (Digbeth),
Birmingham,
B12 0LN
Entrance: £5 / £3 members
All Welcome
Next Time: I, Daniel Blake – January 12 2017
Daniel Blake, 59, has worked as a joiner most of his life in the North East of England. Following illness he now needs help from the State for the first time ever. Ken Loach’s latest film gets to the heart of the realities of the benefit system today.
Horsemouth sets himself up in business selling records but when gangsters steal his bike, things start to turn nasty….
Rockers is a 1978 Jamaican film by Ted Bafaloukos. Several popular reggae artists star in the movie, including Leroy “Horsemouth” Wallace, Burning Spear, Gregory Isaacs, Big Youth, Dillinger, and Jacob Miller. Rockers was originally to be a documentary but blossomed into a full-length feature showing the reggae culture at its peak
Doors Open: 6.30pm
Film starts: 7.00pm
The Irish Centre
14-20 High Street,
Deritend (Digbeth),
Birmingham,
B12 0LN
Entrance: £5 / £3 members
All Welcome
Next time: Amazing Grace
December 8 2016
The idealist William Wilberforce manoeuvres his way through Parliament, endeavouring to end the British transatlantic slave trade.
Discover the story of gospel/soul music legend and civil rights icon Mavis Staples and her family group, The Staple Singers. She is famous for freedom songs of the ’60s, hits in the ’70s, funked-up collaborations with Prince and her recent albums with Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy. This is her story of how she stayed true to her roots, kept her family close, and inspired millions along the way.
Doors 6.30
Start 7.00pm
The Irish Centre
14-20 High Street,
Deritend
B12 0LN
Entrance £5 (£3 members)
Membership is open to individuals and like-minded organisations. Individual membership £12 per year and includes free entrance to one film screening, a vote on film choice and discounted entry to all other films.
COWSPIRACY: The Sustainability Secret is a groundbreaking feature-length environmental documentary following an intrepid filmmaker as he uncovers the most destructive industry facing the planet today, and investigates why the world’s leading environmental organizations are too afraid to talk about it.
Join the Just Film Co-op Facebook group and sign up on the Event page for updates…
Entrance : £5 / £3 (members), as usual (you can become a member on the door!).
Flapjacks, tea and coffee available, donations welcomed!
See you at 6:30pm at the Birmingham Midland Institute, 9 Margaret St, Birmingham.
“Crip Camp is both a gripping look at the history of the disability rights
movement and a timely call to action, urging us to explore our own duty
to fight for the dignity of all people.”
– President Barack Obama, Executive Producer
On 8th September, join us for a FREE screening of Crip Camp. Doors open 6.30, screening starts at 7pm.
You can view the trailer here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRrIs22plz0&t=3s
Reserve your place here https://www.tickettailor.com/events/birminghamcooperativefilmsocietyltd/758315/#
Birmingham Co-operative Film Society has published its forthcoming films for Summer 2014… Click the link to download the flyer.
This film captures the heart of the movement of movements sweeping the planet today. Scenes include the Egyptian revolution, Spain’s Indignado movement, Occupy Wall Street and the Alberta Tar Sands. The film explores the aspects of this arising creating what Martin Luther King Jr. called ‘love in action’.
How did a small group of people in 19th century Rochdale become a multi-billion pound business offering services from cradle to grave today?
Film to be followed by a discussion with guest speakers.
A musical film exploring perceptions and reality of the First World War. Since it was first made it is a recognised classic mixing toe-tapping songs alongside very deep questions about war, peace and who makes decisions.
Venue:
Central England Cooperative Members’ Room
The Birmingham & Midland Institute
9 Margaret Street
Birmingham, B3 3BS
‘Just Film for a Fairer World’
@JustFilmCoop
Synopsis: Spanish director Sebastián, his executive producer Costa and all his crew are in Bolivia, in the Cochabamba area, to shoot a motion picture about Christopher Columbus, his first explorations and the way the Spaniards treated the Indians at the time. Costa has chosen this place because the budget of the film is tight and here he can hire supernumeraries, local actors and extras on the cheap. Things go more or less smoothly until a conflict erupts over the privatization of the water supply. The trouble is that one of the local actors, is a leading activist in the protest movement. (Synopsis courtesy iMDB/Guy Bellinger)
Released: 23 October 2010 (UK)
Certificate: Unrated (BBFC), 98 mins 41 secs
Production: AXN, Alebrije Cine y Video, Canal+ España et al (full iMDB listing)
Distribution: Dogwoof Films (UK)
Direction: Icíar Bollaín
RottenTomatoes.com: 92% positive.
The Guardian: “A testament to human decency.” — Philip French
More reviews: RottenTomatoes, Fire in the Blood official site.
Synopsis: The critically acclaimed film, shot across four continents, depicts the mass devastation brought about in Africa, Asia and other parts the global South due to intentional obstruction of low-cost antiretroviral drugs used for treatment of HIV/AIDS from reaching people in these countries, spearheaded by Western pharmaceutical companies armed with patent monopolies and the governments (above all those of the United States, European Union and Switzerland) doing their bidding.
Released: 22 February 2013 (UK)
Certificate: 12A (BBFC), 87 mins 14 secs
Production: Sparkwater India
Distribution: Dartmouth Films (UK)
Direction: Dylan Mohan Grey
Reviews
RottenTomatoes.com: 92% positive.
The Guardian: “A testament to human decency.” — Philip French
More reviews: RottenTomatoes, Fire in the Blood official site.
Top Vinexpo Bordeaux 2015 spirits showcases With its renewed focus on spirits, Vinexpo Bordeaux 2015 will be showcasing a range of exciting liquor brands All eyes are firmly on Bordeaux as it anticipates the arrival of the drinks industry’s leading brands in the most inclusive and immersive exhibition of the summer – Vinexpo Bordeaux. The world-class wine and spirits trade show is making its mark on the industry calendar for the 18th consecutive year. Since 1981 its organisers have worked hard to establish Vinexpo as an unmissable flagship event, drawing in trade professionals and associated businesses from across the globe. Such international reverence is not proffered without good reason. Hundreds upon hundreds of producers including Bardinet, H. Mounier, and La Martiniquaise will be exhibiting over 14-18 June, giving visitors the opportunity to greet the key players, estate owners and distillery masters in person, and build important business relationships. pre bonded hairWorld-renowned experts will impart their knowledge and wisdom, guiding guests through tastings, various conferences, and food and wine pairings, while reflecting on the latest international market trends. A dedicated concept spirits bar, Spiritual – hosted in partnership with the world’s leading international spirits magazine, The Spirits Business, and the International Bartenders Association (IBA) – is also returning for its second year after an outstanding debut at Vinexpo Asia-Pacific 2014. A wide range of spirits including brandy, vodka, rum, whisky, gin and Armagnac will feature prominently in the spirits sector of the show, alongside others such as cachaça, grappa and Tequila. For those also looking to let their hair down and make some new contacts, Vinexpo will host a number of relaxed socialising opportunities at venues around Bordeaux city centre, most notably official party venue, unique pop-up club The Blend. To give you a taster of what’s ahead, we’ve selected our top pick of products for you to keep your eyes peeled for along the way. A selection of spirits producers showcasing at this year’s event can be found on the following pages. For further information on the exhibition visit www.vinexpo.com.
Company: Marie Brizard Bélvèdere Groupe Stand: Hall 1, Stand BD-280 A new commemorative bottle is being showcased by Cognac house Gautier at this year’s Vinexpo Bordeaux, to celebrate the brand’s 260th milestone anniversary. Founded in 1755 by the banks of the Osme river in Aigre, France, Gautier is one of the oldest Cognac Houses around. To commemorate the landmark achievement, the brand has created a special 260th anniversary medallion that will be embossed on all Gautier Cognac bottles in 2015. A light golden colour, Gautier VS is said to have a fruity aroma with “lively” spicy flavours complemented by a touch of vanilla to give “lots of finesse” on the palate. Gautier prides itself on its “harmonious ageing” process, which maintains humidity levels of between 75% and 80% all year round in an effort to reduce the water evaporation from the barrels. This is said to generate Cognac with a “unique rounded, smooth and rich aroma”. Furthermore, visitors will also have the opportunity to become accustomed with Marie Brizard’s other brands, such as Sobieski Vodka, William Peel Blended Scotch Whisky and Old Lady’s gin. What they say: “At Vinexpo Bordeaux 2015, Bélvedère Group invites you to share a memorable and uplifting virtual entertainment for celebrating our Maison Marie Brizard and Gautier Cognac’s 260th anniversary.” remy hair extensions Company: Nemiroff International Vodka Company Stand: Hall 3, Stand W-341 Spirits producer Nemiroff is heading to this year’s Vinexpo Bordeaux with a whole host of offerings for guests to try. Initially founded in 1872 by Earl Grogiriy Stronganov, the vodka brand is now exported to more than 80 different countries around the world including Italy, Germany, the UK, Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, Israel, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Moldova, to name just a few. Nemiroff now boasts more than 40 products, with one of its most popular offerings being Nemiroff Honey Pepper. The unique flavour variant is made from chilli pepper, steppe herbs and natural honey. Other expressions in the brand’s portfolio include Nemiroff Delikat, Nemiroff Ukranian Birch Special, Nemiroff Foxberry Leaf, Nemiroff Strawberry and Nemiroff Premium, all of which are produced and bottled at the company’s facilities in Ukraine, Russia and Belarus. Visitors to Nemiroff’s stand during Vinexpo Bordeaux will also have the opportunity to taste and learn about Nemiroff Lex, Nemiroff Lex Ultra, Nemiroff Original, Nemirovskaya and Nemiroff Premium de Luxe. What they say: “Honey and Pepper – what a combination! A mild and insinuating start with the aroma of floral honey and wild grasses gradually flows into the pleasantly burning taste of pepper.”
Company: Constellation Brands Stand: Hall 1, Stand E-199 Having acquired the brand from famed musician Carlos Santana last year, Constellation Brands will be showcasing Casa Noble Tequila in Bordeaux this month. Created using 100% single estate blue agave that is fermented for up to five days and triple-distilled, the Tequila range comprises Casa Noble Crystal (blanco), Reposado and Añejo. Constellation will also be exhibiting a selection of other spirits from its portfolio at this year’s show, including Svedka Vodka and Black Velvet Canadian whisky. What they say: “As the first super-premium spirits brand in our portfolio, Casa Noble is a natural fit. It complements our successful Mexican beer brands and we intend to leverage our existing strong routes-to-market, as well as our marketing expertise and deep knowledge of the Hispanic consumer.” perruques cheveux naturels Company: Fraternity Spirits Stand: Hall 3, Stand W-340 Fraternity Spirits intends to introduce a number of brands to buyers for the first time at Vinexpo Bordeaux, with a particular focus on Espanta Espiritus Mezcal, made from 100% Salmania agave from the highlands of San Luis Potosi, Mexico. Joining the expression will be a range of gin distilled in specially-designed copper stills in El Puerto de Santa Maria, as well as the company’s “historic” Ron Prohibido Habanero Rum. Visitors to the stand can also get reacquainted with the Tequila Corralejo range by sampling two unique cocktails on offer. What they say: “With enormous symbolic, religious and mythological meaning, Mezcal Espanta Espiritus is a true ancient Mexican spirit.”
Company: Dictador Europe Stand: Hall 3, Stand X-339 Dictador will be showcasing its selection of solera-aged rums at Vinexpo Bordeaux this year. Among the collection will feature Dictador 12 Years Solera System Rum, produced in Colombia on the Caribbean coast of Cartagena. The rum is made using virgin sugar cane honey and is said to deliver aromas of soft caramel and honey on the nose with flavours of light oakiness, caramel and cocoa on the palate. Dictador’s portfolio also includes Dictador 20 Years Old Solera System Rum, XO Perpetual Solera System Rum and Premium Colombian Aged Gin Treasure. What they say: “Aged in pre-used oak barrels using the solera method and finally bottled under the highest quality control to ensure all the secrets are contained in the liquid flavour.” perruques cheveux Company: Wenneker Distilleries Stand: Hall 3, Stand W-348 The Dutch spirits producer will be introducing its newest flavour variant: Wenneker 24 Carrot. Packaged in a bottle resembling a traditional jam jar, the vessel is intended to be recycled as a cocktail glass once empty. The Wenneker Liqueurs range boasts more than 40 different flavours, including Ginger, Vanilla, Cranberry, Sloe Gin, Strawberry, Hazelnut, Limoncello and Chocolate, to name a few. What they say: “The crisp taste reminds you of soil and grass and brings you back to mother earth. Exactly what you would expect from vegetables grown in grandfather’s kitchen garden. Wenneker 24 Carrot tickles the tongue, gives a round bitter sweet spiciness through to the end.” § Company: Bardinet Stand: Hall 1, Stand BC-308 The newest additions to the Glen Moray Scotch whisky portfolio will be showcased at Vinexpo Bordeaux – Glen Moray Classic Port Cask Finish and Glen Moray Classic Peated. With the Port variant offering notes of spice, citrus and caramel, and the Peated edition giving flavours of smoke, light spice and creamy vanilla, the duo will sit alongside Glen Moray’s existing collection including Glen Moray Elgin Classic and Glen Moray 16 Years Old. Bardinet is also inviting visitors to learn more about its other brands including rum brand Negrita and Scotch whisky Sir Edward’s. What they say: “Glen Moray has only had five distillery managers in its history. This exceptional legacy along with a small but dedicated team has allowed for the skills required in crafting whisky to be finely honed.”
Company: Quintessential Brands Group Stand: Hall 3, Stand X-338 A new Irish whiskey expression is being launched by Quintessential Brands at Vinexpo Bordeaux, in the form of The Dubliner Irish Whiskey. The new release is the work of master blender, John Drennan, and is aged in Bourbon casks to give a “warm and smooth whiskey”. Bottled at 40% abv, The Dubliner is said to offer fresh, grassy and apple notes on the nose, which lead to a honey sweetness and “underlying pepper spice” on the palate. Set to launch initially in the UK in June, The Dubliner Irish Whiskey will carry an RRP of £25 per 700ml bottle. What they say: “The Dubliner is the perfect introduction to Irish whiskey for those looking for an approachable, smooth whiskey that works equally as well on the rocks, in an Irish coffee or in cocktails.” § Company: Maison de la Vodka Stand: Hall 3, Stand U-321 Celebrating its Russian-French heritage at this year’s exhibition is flavoured vodka brand Viche Pitia. Owned by Maison de la Vodka, Viche Pitia is made in the Cognac region of France using a Russian rye recipe that dates back to 1765. Two variants of Viche Pitia are now available in more than 20 markets worldwide, including No.7 Caraway bottled at 58% abv and No.30 Lemon and Milk with an abv of 43%. What they say: “Our Viche Pitia products are not vodka in the modern sense of the word. Viche Pitia is a high-end vodka intended for gastronomy and tasting, targeting informed amateurs.” lace front wigs Company: Tovaritch Spirits International Stand: Hall 3, Stand V-330 Russian vodka brand Tovaritch! will be returning to Vinexpo Bordeaux this month to showcase its latest achievements from the past year. Not only this, but the brand is also the official vodka sponsor at the Blend networking parties introduced for the first time at this year’s exhibition. Alongside French syrup manufacturer Giffard, Tovaritch! has designed a signature cocktail called Russian Delight especially for the occasion. What they say: “We can’t stress enough the importance of consolidating our many international awards in participation with Vinexpo, the most prestigious wine and spirits event of the year. The Blend parties offer us a great opportunity to present our unique formula to top professionals and industry leaders in the exclusive atmosphere of Bordeaux.” § Company: H. Mounier Stand: Hall 1, Stand BC-268 Attending Vinexpo this year will be the team from H. Mounier, who will be on hand to inform guests about their Cognac collection. Comprising VS, VSOP, XO, CO Carafe and Extra expressions, H. Mounier’s Cognac is the product of cellar master, Mickaël Bouilly. H. Mounier will also be on hand to communicate information about its other products, including La Fayette and Reynac. What they say: “Our hundreds of winegrowers, our production team, winemakers and the cellar master work tirelessly for decades to develop exceptional Cognacs and Pineau and disclose eaux-de-vie that only the most prestigious houses can offer.”
Company: International Beverage Holdings Stand: Hall 3, Stand R-326 Scotch whisky Balblair added a 1999 vintage to its core range last year, which will be showcased at this year’s show. Balblair Vintage 1999 was the fourth whisky to be introduced to the brand’s permanent range, which includes Balblair Vintage 2003, Balblair Vintage 1990 and Balblair Vintage 1983. The 1999 edition is aged in ex-Bourbon barrels and ex-Sherry butts to give hints of spice, citrus fruits and vanilla notes. Other whiskies set to feature on International Beverage Holding’s stand include anCnoc, Old Pulteney and Speyburn. What they say: “We are now able to offer consumers a core range of four Balblair expressions all in premium opening packaging. Each of these whiskies has its own unique nuances and offer exceptional options for whisky fans across the spectrum.” § Company: Latvijas Balzams Stand: Hall 3, Stand VW-342 Latvian spirits producer Latvijas Balzams is looking to communicate its Riga Black Balsam liqueur at this year’s Vinexpo Bordeaux. The brand is made from 24 “all-natural” ingredients, to deliver flavours of linden blossom, birch buds, ginger, nutmeg, raspberry and bilberry. It is recommended to be mixed in a multitude of cocktails, sipped neat, added to coffee or drizzled over desserts. Latvijas Balzam will also be exhibiting other products from its portfolio, including Riga Black, Amber Gold and Moka Coffee Liqueur. What they say: “Upper class, mysterious and forever young. Riga Black Balsam is an amazing blend of extracts of roots, grasses, flowers and buds. Riga Black Balsam continues to delight its connoisseurs even after centuries.” cosplay wigs Company: La Martiniquaise Stand: Hall 1, Stand AB-291 Blended Scotch whisky Label 5 will be on display at the La Martiniquaise Vinexpo stand. Made from a selection of grain and malt whiskies – including Glen Moray Single Malt – the brand was first founded in the 19th century. Also making an appearance at this year’s show will be a multitude of other spirits brands within the La Martiniquaise range, including Poliakov Vodka, Saint James Rum and Gibson’s London Dry Gin. What they say: “An independent French group founded in 1934, La Martiniquaise is the second largest spirits group in France. “Label 5 Classic Black is a great smooth, sweet and delicately fruity blended Scotch whisky with a generous ration of Speyside malt.”
