There are some rare and fabulous films coming up over the next few days and weeks. LAURA AGER gives you the lowdown…
SMITHEREENS | Tonight at The Reliance, North Street, Leeds (7.30 p.m.)
Presented as an experimental VHS screening for that 80’s post-punk vibe, Smithereens is the no-budget first feature of Susan Seidelman, who would go on to make Desperately Seeking Susan with Madonna. It captures the early-’80s Manhattan scene, with its city loftspace squats, fire escapes, glitter boots and distinctive new wave music culture. It is a remarkable time capsule of New York history, with a terrific soundtrack to match. Smithereens was picked for Cannes when it was first released in 1982.
Indietracks | Friday 21st April at Heart Centre, Headingley (meeting at 6.00 p.m. / screening at 8.00 p.m.)
The evening begins with a meeting of Scalarama, an annual festival of independent cinema that takes place for the whole month of September. People from across the city come together to put all kinds of films on in venues of all shapes and sizes. Find out about some of the basics of organising and marketing a film screening. A short presentation by Wendy Cook from Hyde Park Picture House will give some advice what to do to turn a screening into an event that will engage the audience and get your film noticed. There will be short film screenings using various different formats from Film Fringe who will explain their approach to organising screenings in pop-up venues. There will be plenty of opportunity to ask questions, share screening tips, have coffee and cake, glass of wine.
The evening closes with a special screening of ‘Indietracks’, a short documentary film directed by Jeanie Finlay about the quirky festival that brings together an unlikely mix of indie pop artists including Tigercats, The Tuts, Jen Schande, Emma Kupa, Owl & Mouse and Steam Railways.
This is a pay as you feel event.
We Are Many | Thursday 27th April at Left Bank Leeds
We previewed this a few weeks ago on Culture Vulture. Global anti-war protest documentary We Are Many is screened at Left Bank as part of the disrUPt project at Leeds Beckett University.
If you come down early and bring (or make) a protest banner, then you will be able to see the film for free. The Commoners Choir will also be in attendance.
See you in the (pop-up) cinema!