Dispossession: The Great Social Housing Swindle + Q&A (dir: Paul Sng, 2017, cert PG)
Never has the issue of indifference to tenant’s interests been more pertinent and in Paul Sng’s thoughtful documentary the stigmatisation and cultural devaluing of social housing is explored in unsettling detail. Beginning with Thatcher’s populist ‘right to buy’ policy there has been a steady decline in available social properties and a catastrophic meltdown in the treatment of those who need to live in them. Following the screening there will be a Q&A discussion with director Paul Sng and social housing experts.
Mon 10 Jul 6pm at Lighthouse, Chubb Building, Fryer Street, Wolverhampton WV1 1HT £8.15 savoysystems.co.uk

Ben & Ara (dir: Nnegest Likké, 2015, cert N/A)
Poignant tale observing the realities that manifest themselves when love touches two people from polar opposite backgrounds. Love cares little for cultural niceties and the powerful clash between drifting student Ben, played by Joseph Baird who scripted the film, and devout muslim Ara (Constance Ejuma) when romance hits, is told with a touching lightness despite the social conflict their relationship unleashes. Is love ever enough? Screened as part of The Black International Film Festival.
Mon 10 Jul 7pm at mac, Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham B12 9QH £9 macbirmingham.co.uk

From Russia With Love with North Brewing Co (dir: Terence Young, 1968, cert 18)
The second James Bond film is a rollicking spy adventure with Hitchcockian hints and a debut hello to long time adversary the cat stroking Blofeld and his insidious SPECTRE organisation. Sean Connery is at his rugged wise cracking best with the action whizzing by at breakneck speed, this is quintessential Bond. A note. If you’re going to mess with the world’s premier secret agent make sure you know which wine to order with your fish, your life may depend on it. Screened as part of The Cans Film Festival in association with North Brewing Co, sample a Sputnik Pale Ale.
Thu 13 Jul 6.15pm at Electric, Station Street, Birmingham B5 4DY £9.50 www.theelectric.co.uk

Napoleon (dir: Abel Gance, 1927, cert PG)
Spend a day soaking in the beautiful early days of cinema;  an age where film was a breathtaking celluloid adventure and its intrepid explorers were yet to be shackled by studios still tentatively probing this new medium. Abel Gance’s magisterial and studiously epic five and half hour biopic of the expansionist French general is a stunning piece of art. Lucky punters get to enjoy the 4K digital restoration replete with an interval stocked with complimentary refreshments and, best of all, a sumptuous two course French themed meal including glass of wine. Have cinephile’s ever been this spoilt before?
Sat 15 Jul 12pm at mac, Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham B12 9QH £22.80 macbirmingham.co.uk

West Side Story (dir: Robert Wise & Jerome Robbins, 1961, cert PG)
The Jets and the Sharks clash violently and tragically on the streets of Manhattan in Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim’s musical reimagining of Romeo and Juliet. Beautifully choreographed and styled in stunning technicolor, the film won an astonishing ten Academy Awards including Best Picture. Ignore the clunky dialogue and marvel in cinema’s most technically inventive song and dance epic. Iconic.
Sun 16 Jul 2pm at mac, Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham B12 9QH £9 macbirmingham.co.uk

Offside (dir: Jafar Panahi, 2006, cert PG)
One of the greatest films about football without actually showing any on pitch action. An Iranian girl disguises herself as a boy in order to gain entry to a stadium to watch her country’s World Cup qualifying match with Bahrain, women aren’t allowed into football matches. What follows is a delightfully sweet and at times hilarious romp as our heroine tries to gain entry. Daringly filmed outside the actual Iran Bahrain game as it was taking place, Panahi had two endings planned dependent on the result. We’re not going to tell you, you’ll have to come and support another imaginative Birmingham Arthouse screening to find out.
Sun 16 Jul 6.30pm at Cafe Ort, 500-504 Moseley Rd, Birmingham B12 9AH £5 www.meetup.com