Unmissable adventures in celluloid await at the tenth Flatpack Film festival. Born in a Digbeth pub and a Balsall Heath attic, Flatpack’s ‘boundary-defying’ cinematic fun and games now takes over numerous venues across the city from art galleries to tearooms, bars to theatres and nightclubs to cinemas. This year’s epic collection of must-see screenings, events, workshops, talks and exhibitions reaches new heights to celebrate its 10th year. Themes span and push boundaries with everything from fashion to kids, animation to science fiction. Shorts and films are as wide-reaching including films about 80’s hip hop, Cambodian rock n roll and an Oregan punk band besieged by neo-nazis. This festival really does have it all…

Our edit:

Action Space: On Fri/Sat/Sun the Action Space inflatable will set up home in Victoria Square, right outside the Council House. All events and screenings are free to enter – just turn up on the day.
Fri 22 – Sun 24 April, Victoria Square, Birmingham, B1 1BD See: www.flatpackfestival.org.uk

Sympathy For the Devil: Birmingham raised director Neil Edwards presents his 2015 film based on an alternative church started by two Scientologists in the ’60s. Footage of interviews including George Clinton and John Waters is woven together with animated inserts and music by Funkadelic and Nicholas Bullen.
Sun 24 April, 5.45pm – 8:00pm, Electric Cinema, 47-49 Station St, Birmingham B5 4DY. £8.50/6.50

Hans Eijkelboom: The Street and Modern Life: Photographic exhibition exploring appearance, clothing and social identity/globalisation. Catch the artists In conversation: Weds Apr 20, 4pm – 5pm.
Wed Apr 20 – Sun Apr 24th at BM&AG – Gas Hall, Chamberlain Square, Birmingham B3 3DH. Open daily. Free

Mustang: A film about adolescent sexuality and the patriarchal gaxe that combines beautiful imagery with interwining musical score. Lyrical and magical film-making combing French, German and Turkish talent.
Wed Apr 20, 6.15pm – 8pm at mac, Birmingham, Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham, B12 9QH. Tel: 0121 446 3232  

Miles Ahead: “I was born. Moved to New York, met some cats, made some music. Did some dope, made some more music, then you came to my house.” Don Cheadle and Ewan McGregor star in this Miles Davis Biopic.This special preview is presented by curation collective Come The Revolution, and will be followed by a short set from alto-saxophonist, MC and confirmed Miles-ophile Soweto Kinch.
Thu Apr 21, 7pm – 10pm at mac birmingham, Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham, B12 9QH. £8.50/£6.50

Crumbs: Post-apocalyptic, surrealist science-fiction romance from Ethiopia that is charming and funny following a diminutive superman-hero armed with Michael Jackson merchandise on a journey that takes him across the Ethiopian landscape where he encounters all sorts of characters including a witch, Santa Claus and some second-generation Nazis.
Thu Apr 21st, 9pm – 10.30pm. The Electric Cinema, 47-49 Station St, Birmingham B5 4DY. £8.50/£6.50

Lost in Sound: United by a preoccupation with music and sound, this programme of shorts opens with Alan Warburton’s wonderful neon-light extravaganza Bach: The Well Tempered Clavier, in which thousands of fluorescent strip lights are synchronised with one of Bach’s studies for piano. Also showing as part of Dan Flavin event Saturday at Ikon, see our feature: here
Fri Apr 22, 5pm – 6pm and Sun Apr 24, 1pm -2pm, Birmingham and Midland Institute – John Lee Theatre,9 Margaret Street Birmingham, B3 3BS. £5/£4

Don’t think I’ve forgotten: Cambodia’s Lost Rock & Roll: Before the Vietnam War and Khmer Rouge’s devastation of the country and it’s creative soul, cultural Cambodia was a hotbed of rock & roll talent fed by Western pop and Hindi film scores but also developing its own infectious sound.
Fri Apr 22, 6.45pm – 8.30pm, Birmingham and Midland Institute – John Lee Theatre,9 Margaret Street Birmingham, B3 3BS. £6.50/£5

Tickets for all events and bundles are available here: www.flatpackfestival.org.uk

Tue 19 Apr – Sun 24 Apr, Various venues and costs. See more:www.flatpackfestival.org.uk

Flatpack 2016 teaser from 7inch cinema on Vimeo.