JANUARY 26th – 29th 2017

Fully inclusive / BSL Interpretation / Entry by donation – tickets on the door / Bar by Old Tree Brewery.

BLACKBIRDS FILM FESTIVAL shares film, live performance, workshops, music, stories, conversations and global connections. Blackbirds goes beyond boundaries and borders to reconnect with ourselves, each other and the earth, asking the ongoing question,
“What is true diversity?” This year Blackbirds welcomes a diverse range of local and international artists and film-makers to share their stories .

PROGRAMME
( all events are BSL interpreted )

THURSDAY 6-9pm:
‘BELONGING’
Films, live performance and discussion
with artists/activists from a diverse range of backgrounds: Alinah Azadeh (artist), Daniel Griffiths, Lianne Campbell (http://www.liannecampbell.com/), Nicki Heywood and Persia West.
“What do we mean when we talk about ‘social and environmental change’, and what that could mean for different people and perspectives?” https://www.facebook.com/events/249362942163700/

FRIDAY 12-4pm:
‘BLANKET WITHOUT BORDERS’
Sewing for Solidarity
Embroidery/ sewing workshop – drop in. Hosted by The Sussex Circle art & textile group. Make your own square for the ‘ Blanket Without Borders’, which will be on display in the gallery window during Blackbirds Film Festival. All materials provided.

FRIDAY 6-10pm:
‘BLACKBIRDS GOES GLOBAL – MALAWI’
A digital exchange of short films with ‘Storybook’ – activist film makers in Malawi, who are also running a Blackbirds Film Festival this weekend. We will share perspectives and reflections in an experimental, international collaboration.
With Dr. Jayney Ellis, a medical doctor in Malawi, and Tony Kalume musician , poet and Swahili interpreter .
‘SOCIAL CHANGE – GANI NAYLOR’
Presentation of films & projects by documentary maker Gani Naylor (http://www.ganinaylor.com/)
‘BIOCHAR – Tom & Old Tree’
Presentation on biochar & permaculture

‘ MUSIC ‘ – Mike Potter ( Harry’s Tricks ) and Blackbirds DJs.

SATURDAY 11am-1pm
‘STORY TIME FOR KIDS’
with local author/ illustrator Shanni Collins with musical accompaniment by Swing Zazou’s Keith Ellis.
Shanni is the creator of ‘ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE’ – a book that celebrates love and diversity in families of all shapes and sizes. She will read verses from her book which is filled with humour and beautifull illustrations. (https://www.facebook.com/A11y0uNeed15LOVE/)
‘SIGN LANGUAGE FOR CHILDREN’
Fun sign language workshop for children (and big children!) by Blackbirds Deaf artists
‘KIDS FILMS’
Visual Film Screening for Deaf and hearing children (tbc)

SATURDAY 2pm:
‘GUEST ARTIST’
DEAF DIRECTOR AND ACTOR – DAVID ELLINGTON
David will show 2 films ‘ Lost Spaces’ and ‘ Lost Community’. Followed by an interview and Q&A with BSL interpretation. (http://vs1.org/)

SATURDAY 4pm:
‘DEAF CEILIDH’
Social, dance & music by Blackbirds musicians, with bar by Old Tree Brewery.

SATURDAY 6pm – 10pm
‘ SATURDAY NIGHT SHORTS ‘
– an international selection of short films and meeting the film makers – from Nicola Peel (http://www.eyesofgaia.com/), Ben Thompsett, Esme Waldron, Matthew Hellet Carousel, the Projekt Kännbart, and award-winning German film maker Klaas Diersmann (www. klaasdiersmann.com) screening his film CALM.
Bar by Old Tree Brewery & music from Blackbirds DJs.

SUNDAY 11am:
‘MORNING MEDITATION ADVENTURE’
Warm up body and mind with The Dream Factory and a screening of the feature length documentary ‘A MINDFUL CHOICE’ (http://www.choicethefilm.com/en/trailer), which shows a range of diverse stories that demonstrate that peace is possible for different individuals and communities.
Q&A with Daniel and Lex.
(thedreamfactory.net)

12.30-2pm:
‘NICOLA PEEL: Presentation & slide show’
Nicola presents her work to save the Amazon from fossil fuel corporations & implementing grassroots permaculture projects.

SUNDAY 2pm:
‘WE THE UNCIVILISED’
Feature-length film from local film makers Lily and Pete Sequoia, documenting their extraordinary and intimate journey that seeks to challenge the ‘civilised’ story of separation, followed by a
‘CULTURAL EMERGENCE WORKSHOP’
from permaculture visionaries Lex Titterington and Keith Ellis. Cultural Emergence advocates a framework to create maximum positive change inspired by indigenous systems and cohesion with the natural world. (movingsoundsorg/CE)

SUNDAY 5pm:
‘DUMMY JIM’
Feature film and the first screening in Brighton of Dummy Jim (dir. Matt Hulse, 2013), a “very beautiful and utterly bonkers” (The List, 2013) personal interpretation of Deaf cyclist James Duthie’s extraordinary journey cycling to the Arctic Circle in 1955.

With refreshments from botanical geniuses Old Tree throughout.
Supported by Depot cinema and cafe/restaurant (http://www.lewesdepot.org/) & Legacy Films (www.legacyfilm.org.uk)

Lead Interpreter Fran Coates

A Very Warm Welcome Awaits!!