The Birmingham Indian Film Festival continues until Sunday with a raft of wonderful cinema at various venues across the city, many presentations including director Q&A’s. Check out the excellent BIFF website here for the full rundown, our picks of a stunning week are Village Rockstars and Eaten By Lions both previewed below.

Village Rockstars (dir: Rima Das, 2017, cert U) + Director Q&A
A delightful coming of age story that recalls John Carney’s excellent Dublin based musical awakening Sing Street.  Ten year old Dhunu, played with such plucky abandon by Bhanita Das she won India’s Best Child Artist award for her role, is inspired to form a band overcoming ridicule, poverty and scorn. Never veering into sentimentality Rima Das’ film is inspiring in its evocation of childish fortitude. Screened as part of the Birmingham Indian Film Festival the screening will be followed by a Q&A with Rima Das herself.
Thu 28 Jun 7pm at mac, Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham B12 9QH £9 macbirmingham.co.uk

Eaten By Lions (dir: Jason Wingard, 2018, cert 12A) + Director Q&A
This sunny road trip from Bradford to Blackpool is an hilarious adaptation of Wingard’s own short film, Going to Mecca. Following the unfortunate demise of their mother and one father, the film’s title is a clue, half brother’s Pete and Omar head to England’s seaside capital in search of Omar’s estranged father. It’s gloriously silly and uniquely English fun littered with wonderful cameos including Johnny Vegas, Kevin Eldon and Asim Chaudhry. Screened as part of the Birmingham Indian Film Festival the screening will be followed by a Q&A with Wingard.
Fri 29 Jun 6pm at mac, Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham B12 9QH £9 macbirmingham.co.uk

Check out our other film picks here.