Soul City Arts presents Sparkbrook Film Festival showcasing alternative narratives, classic storytelling and blockbuster entertainment. Housed in our reclaimed warehouse space in Sparkbrook, Birmingham, we invite audiences into an intimate experience sharing the love for local cinema. We aim to recreate the look, feel, and atmosphere of the cinemas from the past that were once present in and around Sparkbrook, like the Waldorf and Piccadilly that served large audiences from the local South Asian communities.
There is something in our programme for younger folks, parents, and elders alike, that include subtitles for foreign language films. So pick a film and bring your family along! We are asking you to dress for the occasion for certain films, as they would have in the times gone by! There will also be themed food and snacks available to purchase before and after the screening.
The festival will run from Friday 25th October to Sunday the 27th, featuring a range films over the course of the weekend, including shorts from independent filmmakers.
FRIDAY 25TH
AL-SHIFA- THE CRIMES THEY TRIED TO BURY
Al Shifa Hospital: The Crimes They Tried To Bury features no input from journalists, directors, or scriptwriters. Instead, is filled with exclusive survivor testimonies from the raid, which lasted from March 18 to early April. The film aims to document what’s happening through the voices of the people in Gaza.
DIE BEFORE YOU DIE
Adi is a successful vlogger whose channel is his life. He’s vain, superficial, and is more concerned with his subscribers than the happiness of his adoring daughter, Mia. Adi is approached by a fan, Lee, who offers him an idea for his next video. Lee proposes that he partake in a historic challenge, in which the participant is buried alive for 3 whole days.
SATURDAY 26TH
THE MESSAGE
An epic historical drama chronicling the life of the Prophet Mohammed, its score was nominated for an Academy Award in 1978 and the film has since taken on a legendary status. Known by many in the Muslim community, viewing it with the community on the big screen will be a night to remember!
ROCKY IV
Rocky IV is a highlight for Sparkbrook Film Festival. The Rocky franchise guarantees thrills and entertainment, but also provides hope to people from all beginnings as Stallone’s titular character continually attempts to overcome the weight of others’ expectations. We have fond memories of Rocky Balboa on our screens growing up in the 80s and 90s.
SUNDAY 27TH
AYNABAJI
Aynabaji is a Bangladeshi crime thriller film directed by Amitabh Reza Chowdhury. A struggling actor becomes a professional impostor, hired to impersonate people for financial gain, but as he delves deeper into his work he becomes embroiled in trouble that threatens to unravel his life.
KNIGHTS OF THE RAJ
The Knights of the Raj exhibition took place in 2017 and was curated by Mohammed Ali. This was the first Knights of the Raj exhibition at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery which then went onto the Museum of Food and Drink in Brooklyn, New York. This is a short film that explores the story of curry in Birmingham that accompanied the exhibition.