Flatpack Festival II
Birmingham, 1-4 February 2007
Venues: Electric, mac and Odeon cinemas; 22 Green Street; the Island bar; the Jug of Ale; St Martins and St Pauls churches; the Actress and Bishop; the Market Tavern.
Full schedule archived at flatpackfestival.org.
Programme included:
OPENING DOUBLE-WHAMMY
Surrealist gem The Seashell and the Clergyman with live score by Minima in St Paul’s Church, followed by a singing computer in the pub down the road.
ANIMATION
Packed screenings of Paprika and Blood Tea and Red String, the UK premiere of Don Hertzfeldt’s Everything Will Be OK, silent work by Norman McLaren and Harry Smith with live accompaniment, and the usual barrage of distinctive new work from the outer reaches of the universe/internet.
MUSIC DOCUMENTARIES
The last gasp of the Wu Tang Clan in Rock The Bells, the strange world of the Danielson family, Faust reunited, Dixie Chicks on the rocks and Cornelius Cardew revisited.
LIVE STUFF
An evening of Valerie-related adventures put together by Andy Votel, a lethal mix of stadium rock, live cello, mural-painting and cake at Known Unknowns, and improvised rescores of experimental cinema in Bodies of Water... Guests included Scart Trio, Bibio, Broadcast and Misty’s Big Adventure, who were house band for a chatshow retrospective on Tamworth maverick Mark Locke.
NEW FEATURES
Including The Science of Sleep, Mutual Appreciation, Black Sheep, Ten Canoes, Bamako, Interkosmos and the world premiere of John Bradburn’s debut feature Kyle.
…AND PLENTY MORE BESIDES
Carnivorous plants in 3D, a Jinpow installation, work by Peter Tscherkassky and Luke Fowler, underwater films, machinima films, parkour films, bike films, films in a yurt and the unique Harrachov Exchange.
Some feedback:
"There's a happening happening around Birmingham's warehouses and spaces, notably the 100 year old Electric Cinema. A Dadaist flyer promises innovation and experimentation - and the Flatpack Festival, now in its second year, does not disappoint. This four-day celebration of ideas takes in independent features and shorts from directors old and new, music documentaries, animation, discussion panels, weird web wonders, a clanking automata sculpture, a 3D film of carnivorous plants installed in a church, a singing laptop, Machinima films, parties and plenty of super 8." - Plan B magazine
“Flatpack is, in my opinion, the most important festival in the UK for emergent artists who work across platforms, and this is due in no small part to the care and dedication of its organisers who proved yet again that it's possible to be professional without losing the human touch.” - Matt Hulse, filmmaker
"Oh yes oh yes oh yay, it’s another pie to the eye of those who say nothing interesting ever happens in Birmingham..." - Russ L
And various satisfied customers...
“consider me inspired”
“fun and inspiration for all”
“great, just moved back to Birmingham and really pleased there's something like this happening here”
“love the publicity, loving the festival so far. Good to have so many different things happening at diverse venues”
“excellent, ambitious, interesting, inspiring”
“friendly and inclusive atmosphere”
“what an opportunity to see the weird and wonderful”
“very well organised”
“a very brilliant thing for brum, should continue”
“I like the way that music is integrated with moving image throughout the festival”
“dream come true”
“wonderful idea”
“really exciting, so many things to see, I wish we had one in Liverpool”
“it’s a breath of fresh air! An oasis of culture for brum”
“excellent, wish it was more often”
“this is the best thing ever”
“a proper film festival. long may it continue”
“friendly and well organised with a laidback and generous spirit”
“Flatpack tickles parts of my brain I didn't know I had. Thank you 7inch. Birmingham deserves this”
