Arrival (dir: Denis Villeneuve, 2016, cert 12A)
That rarest of things a grown up sci-fi film that nurtures and encourages thought and imagination, with a compelling narrative and intelligently implemented CGI effects. In short, a film that respects its audience. What if the future of humanity rested on the interpretation of a word or phrase? A fascinating examination of language, speech and ideas. Amy Adams is exceptional as linguist Louise Banks and her non-nomination for an Academy Award is astonishing. Be warned your head, mind and probably whole consciousness may be spinning by the end.
Tue 5 Sep 7.30pm at Birmingham LGBT, 38-40 Holloway Circus, Birmingham B1 1EQ Free www.journeyfilmclub.co.uk

Flatpack Floating Cinema Shorts
As part of Birmingham Heritage week Flatpack have arranged a series of short films curated by Media Archive for Central England showing films of Ladywood from the 1950s–1980s aboard the lovely Ikon Gallery barge moored at Brewmaster Bridge. No need to book just climb aboard the floating cinema and take a step back in time.
Sat 9 sep to Sun 10 Sep at Brewmaster Bridge, Brindleyplace, Birmingham B1 2JB Free ikon-gallery.org

Starman (dir: John Carpenter, 1984, cert PG)
Carpenter surprised many when he traduced expectations and moved away from horror and action to the sweet sci-fi romance of Starman. The inter species love affair is gently and wryly told as Jeff Bridges’ alien negotiates a traditional fish out of water tale with plenty of timely cultural critique along the way. Oh and impregnates earthling Jenny (Karen Allen). A prescient screening considering this year is the 40th anniversary of the golden record that was launched into space aboard the Voyager spacecraft in 1977 to communicate with aliens, Starman intercepts this bringing him to Earth. On the big screen in the environs of beautiful Stirchley Park for none of your English pounds, all thanks to Flatpack. Cheers guys.
Sat 9 Sep 7.45pm at Stirchley Park, Ribblesdale Road Birmingham, B30 2YQ Free flatpackfestival.org.uk

The Cremator (dir: Juraj Herz, 1969, cert 15)
Dust off your senses and get ready to surf The Czech New wave; Czechoslovak Film Nights are back, after a brief hiatus, with one of the finest examples of that most eclectic and artistically fruitful of genres. The Cremator is by turns obsessive, surreal and frightening whilst being always lightly dusted with a peculiarly Czech sense of humour. It possesses a dark otherworldliness that at times feels like we’re not watching humans at all, but shadowy approximations of them as the Nazi ideas hulking at the borders of pre war Czechoslovakia seep into the narrative distilled through the prism of the creaking Communist state under which the film was made. Is it any wonder Karel Kopfrkingl’s mania unfolds. Stark, unique and unsettling The Cremator is exquisitely realised cinema.
Sat 9 Sep 8pm at The Gunmakers Arms, Bath Street, Birmingham B4 6HG Free www.facebook.com