Our wonderful city is quietly building a powerful reputation as a centre of cinematic excellence and innovation, such a plethora of choice for audiences and filmmakers alike. The jewel in the film can is Flatpack, there’s the UK’s oldest working cinema, oh and what about Stephen Spielberg popping down Digbeth way to shoot latest film Ready Player One. It gets even better this week as we welcome back The Birmingham Film Festival for a four day takeover of the salubriously chic Mockingbird. An incredible array of shorts; features and music videos, with many screenings complemented by discussion and Q&A’s, The BFF is a gold mine of established, new and emerging talent. We’re really looking forward to a big screen date with the garish blood fest of Slasher House 2 and a first look at the feature length Cannibals and Carpet Fitters, the original short was an absolute blast.

Thu 23 Nov to Mon 27 Nov at The Mockingbird, Custard Factory, Gibb Street, Birmingham, B9 4AA www.birminghamfilmfestival.com