Fantastic London - free films at The Birkbeck Cinema

Titled "Fantastic London", The Birkbeck Cinema is currently showing another series of films presented by the London Screen Study Collection. The theme of the series is "London re-imagined".

These screenings are free and take place every Tuesday at 2.30pm. 9th December is the finale and highlight of the series - another chance to catch "London Loves" which was shown last month in Trafalgar Square as part of The London Film Festival. This is a harvest of excellent rarities from London's archives including clips of Fluffers cleaning the London Underground, Eel and Pie Houses and "The Elephant Will Never Forget" from 1953 which documents the moving story of London's last trams.

The Birkbeck Cinema is located at: 43 Gordon Square, London, WC1H 0PD

For more information, including full programme, contact Angela English on a.english@bbk.ac.uk

Duke Vin & The Birth Of Ska - 7th August

The SERTUC film club presents a private screening and panel discussion of "Duke Vin and the Birth of Ska" on Thursday 7th August.

This documentary covers the arrival in London of pioneering Jamaican soundmen Duke Vin (who DJ'd for me at Right On! back in 2003) and Count Suckle and looks at the effect that Jamaican music and culture had on the UK. These men and the role they played in championing ska music in the UK has often been sadly neglected, so I am very pleased to hear of such an interesting sounding film on the subject. Hopefully this will help give them some of the recognition they deserve from the wider public.

Admission to the screening is free but advance booking is essential.

Location: Congress House, Great Russell Street, WC1B 3LS
Time: 6.30pm - 9.30pm

You can register by emailing sertucevents@tuc.org.uk or by calling (020) 7467 1220

European Film Noir - 2nd-27th March

During March, The BFI Southbank (formerly the National Film Theatre) is running an excellent programme of films entitled "Twilight and Treachery: The Postwar European Film Noir"

Highlights of the season include Godard's New Wave masterpiece "Bande à part", Bertolucci's stylish 1970 adaptation of Moravia's "The Conformist" and "Lift to the Scaffold" - famous for it's soundtrack by Miles Davis.

For full details of the season and a programme of all the films being shown visit:

http://www.bfi.org.uk/whatson/bfi_southbank/twilight_and_treachery_the_postwar_european_film_noir

The Conformist is also being shown at various dates through March at three other London cinemas - The Barbican, The Renoir (part of the Curzon group) and The Everyman.

For dates and more information check out: www.bfi.org.uk/releases/conformist/

London After Dark - film season

An excellent film season is currently underway at the Birkbeck Cinema, which offers a unique look at London after dark throughout the ages. Films are being shown every Tuesday afternoon at 2.30pm until the 4th December. And best of all, the screenings are free.

Here's the press release:

"The London Screen Study Collection continues in its mission to promote awareness of London's film heritage with a new season. Catch free screenings until 4 December.

"The focus is 'the capital by night' - as portrayed by both native and visiting film-makers over a seventy year period. The films range from low-budget talkies, to recent film-making that makes use of CGI to alter aspects of London locations."

The Birkbeck Cinema (formerly known as The Screen on Gordon Square) is located at 43 Gordon Square, WC1H 0PD

Note that, although admission is free, due to the small size of the cinema (it seats 70) you should reserve a place in advance by contacting Angela English on a.english@bbk.ac.uk or (020) 7631 6181

This afternoon's film (23 October) is "Night and the City" from 1950 which offers an Expressionist view of London's sporting underworld.

Other upcoming films that sound particularly interesting include:

30 October - "Every Day Except Christmas" and "Nice Time"
Films from the 1950s Free Cinema movement that examine both the gritty and the glamorous sides of London life.

6 November - "Peeping Tom" (Michael Powell, 1960)
Seedy Fitrozia alleyways and attics in Powell's satire on the film business, which also explores the roots of voyeurism.

13 November - "Nighthawks" (Ron Peck, 1978)
Pioneering British independent film which aimed to portray metropolitan gay life from the inside for the first time.

For full film listings and details visit:
http://www.filmlondon.org.uk/news_details.asp?newsid=1233

The Birkbeck Cinema is part of Birkbeck University's Centre for Film and Visual Media. For more information on the centre and the work they undertake vist:
http://www.bbk.ac.uk/hafvm/research/centre_fvm