Flatpack Festival
Film for all the senses

Blank City

Thursday 15th March, 2012

Birmingham and Midland Institute | 18:15

Documentary exploring New York's “No Wave Cinema” and “Cinema of Transgression” movements.

Screening films from all over the world, Birmingham International Film Society (BIFS) have been an integral part of Birmingham’s independent and international film scene for the last four years. As part of Film Bug, they will be presenting Blank City, a 2010 documentary exploring the “No Wave Cinema” and “Cinema of Transgression” movements which emerged from New York in the late 1970s and early 80s. Danhier’s documentary paints a vivid portrait of the underground scene through interviews with its leading filmmakers including John Waters, Jim Jarmusch, Steve Buscemi, Amos Poe, Vivienne Dick, and John Lurie. Unlike the much-celebrated punk music scene, this era's thrilling and confrontational underground film movement has never before been documented. These directors crafted daring works that would go on to profoundly influence the development of independent film as we know it today. Featuring a cult New York underground soundtrack including Patti Smith, Television, Richard Hell & The Voidoids, Sonic Youth and many more.

‘The fabled downtown Manhattan avant-filmmaking scene of yore gets its due in this passionate chronicle of cinematic rebellion’ - Film Journal International

 

This screening is part of Film Bug, a festival within a festival which takes over venues across the Colmore district of the city centre from 14-16 March.

Dir: Celine Danhier

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