British Animation Awards
For three nights the British Animation Awards are giving the public the chance to vote for their favourite animated short from the past two years. A different hour long programme screens each night nationally and luckily for us the Mockingbird, along with Dice Productions and Flatpack, have brought it along to the Custard Factory. The breadth and scope of material being screened is breathtaking, check out the full line up here,  but we’re particularly looking forward to catching up with the inspiring simplicity of Diyala Muir’s The Day After the Party, Sparks in Edith Piaf (Said it Better Than Me) and the joyously insane meditation on bursting from Ben Wheele Bump Classique.
Mon 5 Feb to Wed 7 Feb at The Mockingbird, The Custard Factory, Gibb St, Birmingham B9 4AA £3 veezi.com

Any Day Now (dir: Travis Fine, 2012, cert 15)
Alan Cumming stars in Travis Fine’s withering attack on institutionalised homophobia, it’s seventies New York and sometime drag queen Rudy (Cumming), with his partner Paul (Garret Dillahunt), is attempting to adopt an abandoned Down’s Syndrome boy. The state of course would rather the child, that nobody else wants, be institutionalised than exposed to homosexuality. It’s a powerful story told with a delicate touch that never dips into maudlin sentimentality, unfortunately the issues raised have an uncomfortable contemporary resonance.
Tue 6 Feb 7.30pm at Birmingham LGBT, 38-40 Holloway Circus, Birmingham B1 1EQ www.journeyfilmclub.co.uk

The Last Confession of Alexander Pearce (dir: Michael James Rowland, 2008, cert 15)
You wait years for an Irish Cannibal film to hit the big screen and then you get two in a few weeks, what are the chances? Following on from last month’s screening of Van Diemen’s Land, that also featured the infamous escaped convict and people eater Alexander Pearce, comes Michael James Rowland’s portrayal. Ciaran McMenamin as the titular (anti) hero manages to humanise Pearce despite the horror, with the brutality of the British Empire being the real monster. Pearce was originally sentenced for stealing some shoes. Part of a series of collaborative screenings between Flatpack and Ikon to complement the current exhibitions of nineteenth century convict artist, the Birmingham born Thomas Bock, and artist in residence at HMP Grendon, Edmund Clark.
Wed 7 Feb 6pm  at The Ikon Gallery, 1 Oozells Square, Brindleyplace, Birmingham B1 2HS Free ikon-gallery.org

Tokyo Ghoul (dir: Kentarō Hagiwara, 2017, cert 15)
Hagiwara’s kinetic adaptation of the moody Tokyo Ghoul manga series from Sui Ishida is not without its flaws but it was never going to be easy to translate the gloomy paranoia of the source to the big screen. It’s still a breathless spectacle, drowning in gore as our hero, the slightly nerdy Ken, develops a taste for human flesh. Hold on to your Kagunes and maybe just squint a bit at some of the more questionable CGI scenes.
Thu 8 Feb 8.45pm at The Mockingbird, The Custard Factory, Gibb St, Birmingham B9 4AA £8 veezi.com

Walk With Me (dir: Max Pugh,Marc J. Francis, 2017, cert PG)
Undergo a zen like awakening with the monks of Plum village in the south west of France led by the engaging Thich Nhat Hanh. The filmmakers were given unprecedented access into the contemplative life of the Buddhist’s and what follows is a compelling journey into the art of mindfulness, filmed over three years it’s hard to not come away from the experience without a degree of stern self-reflection.
Sat 10 Feb 2pm & Mon 12 Feb 2pm at the mac, Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham B12 9QH £9 macbirmingham.co.uk

Modern Times (dir: Charlie Chaplin, 1936, cert U)
Chaplin’s skewering of industrialisation is as sharp today as it was on release during the economic and social upheaval of the thirties. Often referred to as the last silent film (there is some spoken dialogue) it is a fitting tribute to the Little Tramp character who was never seen again, just no place for such innocence in the modern world. A masterpiece of cinema, Chaplin’s subtle marriage of slapstick shenanigans with cute political observation is seamless and has never been done better.
Sat 10 Feb 3.15pm at The Electric, Station Street, Birmingham B5 4DY £10.50 www.theelectric.co.uk

Breakfast at Tiffany’s (dir: Blake Edwards, 1961, cert PG)
Audrey Hepburn and that little black dress in one of the most enduring and iconic images of the twentieth century. As Holly Golightly, Hepburn divided audiences between perceiving her as an empowering female figure or simply as a little girl lost in the big city. Sweet and much slighter than Truman Capote’s original source novel, Capote hated Hepburn’s performance, the film is endearing, charming and comes with the warm fuzzy glow all the best romantic comedies engender. As it’s nearly Valentine’s day the mac are laying on a classic afternoon tea following the screening.
Sun 11 Feb 2pm at the mac, Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham B12 9QH £9 macbirmingham.co.uk

Check out our guide to the best films and events screening during Valentine’s week here.