Flatpack Film Festival: Lives and sights of a volunteer

Coffee in hand, tickets ready, I caught the 8.35am train to New Street station ready to begin my first shift at Flatpack Film Festival. Finding the Parkside building of Birmingham City University, I discovered what was to be my home for the day – the Flatpack desk. “Hi, er… yeah, I’m here as a volunteer…” these awkward words kick started my amazing experience at the festival.

On my first shift, I had the opportunity to watch screenings of student short films called ‘The Bigger Picture Project‘. As a student interested in film-making, I was very intrigued to see what other students had created. I didn’t really know what to expect, but the films I watched had a lasting impression upon me for all the right reasons. They not only tackled a range of themes and issues in modern-day society, but were also comedic and emotive.

The astonishing quality of work produced by fellow students was simply inspirational.

Image: Flatpack Film Festival

One student film, focusing on the relationship between father and daughter, and the reversal of roles in caring for each other as the daughter grows up and her father falls ill, moved the audience – myself included – to tears. For me, a good film often has a strong emotional connection and this particular one achieved that. I was impressed by how much of an insight these short films could present into different cultures and communities.

‘The Bigger Picture Project’ made me value how so much can be communicated in short amounts of time. The astonishing quality of work produced by fellow students was simply inspirational.

The next day, I worked as part of the Colour Box team – a team dedicated to including children in the festival. Artist Tom Ellis from The Curious Oddities creates creatures using wire, papier-mâché layers, clay and liquid latex. The ‘Create a Creature’ workshop aimed primarily at children (though many adults got involved too!), consisted of choosing a miniature clay monster that Tom had pre-constructed and decorating it with the materials available, which included: fur, sticks and old pieces of broken jewellery to make nests, treasure chests, shields.

As everyday life continues in such a busy, modern city, there are places that are paused in time, slowly decaying, becoming lost and hidden in the shadows

The children would then make up a name and a story for their creature which Tom took and typed up into official certificates that he would send them in the post. I am a strong believer in nurturing the creative spirit in children as an expressive outlet, as their imaginations are less restricted than adults. But in the end, the event captured not only the children’s imaginations but their parents’ too!

Image: Flatpack Film Festival

On Sunday, I helped with the ‘Invisible Cinema Walking Tour’ with Ben Waddington, a treasure trove of film titbits. The ninety-minute tour around Birmingham was spent exploring cinemas which used to ‘be’, with the exception of The Electric cinema. My eyes were opened to the architecture around Birmingham that I had so often walked through without a second thought. It is really odd to think that as everyday life continues in such a busy, modern city, there are places that are paused in time, slowly decaying, becoming lost and hidden in the shadows.

Flatpack does not simply screen films, it celebrates art!

Asking people from the tour to describe their experiences at the more recently shut down and lost cinemas, I felt, gave a very personal touch to the event. Ben’s impressive knowledge on the history of cinema in Birmingham left us all in awe. The pictures that accompanied Ben’s tour can be found online at http://flatpackfestival.org.uk/2011/05/invisible-cinema-slideshow.

What sets Flatpack Film Festival apart is its variety: from art workshops for children, quirky and exciting screenings, exhibitions celebrating cinema to discussion panels involving reputed members of the industry. Flatpack does not simply screen films, it celebrates art!  My experiences at Flatpack opened my mind towards the art that is cinema, and the blood and sweat shed behind the industry – a treat for every film lover! 10/10 – would do it again.