A brand new film festival showcasing a wide range of powerful documentaries, talks and discussion panels is coming to Birmingham next month.

Weekend of Wednesdays, described as a festival dedicated to “cinematic activism”, will be screening documentaries and short film programmes highlighting social movements and people power, in September.

A part of the BFI Film Audiences Network‘s Uprising ’68 series of events, and supported by Film Hub Midlands, Weekend of Wednesdays will be hosted over two days at Impact Hub Birmingham.

With a focus on films exploring social activism, the festival will allow opportunity and space for open discussions, expert talks and ‘interventions’ to get audiences thinking and dissecting themes around social justice and actively making global change.

Paul Stringer | I Am Birmingham
A full-house at a previous Yellow Wednesdays screening attended by actor Antonio Aakeel during Refugee Week

Weekend of Wednesdays: A Festival of Cinematic Activism

The inspiring festival will open with a day full of social protest and uprising: Kicking off with acclaimed documentary The Black Power Mixtape, a beautiful documentary featuring commentary and music from some of the most notable artists and activists of the 60’s; followed by a discussion about Black Radicalism.

The opening day’s evening event is the not-to-be-missed Generation Revolution, a raw and encouraging unfiltered look at activists in the UK determined to change the social and political landscape.

Paul Stringer
Birmingham photographer Vanley Burke in discussion with audience members at a Yellow Wednesdays Uprising ’68 event

The second day will focus more on inspiring change for the future, with the cinematic masterpiece Tomorrow, an exploration of people around the world making small and positive changes in a bid to solve global problems.

The festival concludes with the latest film offering from internationally renowned artist and filmmaker Ai WeiWei, Human Flow, a potent documentary of the global refugee crisis.

Both days also have a short film programme, On Saturday, Rise Up! will be a programme packed with films of protest, including a rare documentary about the Black Panther Party in America. Sunday’s programme additionally features She Inspires, a short film selection dedicated to inspiring women doing incredible things.

Under The Milky Way
‘Tomorrow’ documents people around the globe making creative solutions to global problems
Amazon Studios / Participant Media
Artist and filmmaker Ai WeiWei (pictured left) explores the global refugee crisis in his latest film ‘Human Flow’
Story AB
‘The Black Power Mixtape’ explores the history of the Black Power movement in America

Weekend of Wednesdays will be sharing stories of social uprising and incredible feats of protest in the lead up to the festival too. To join in the discussion, you can debate and celebrate through twitter under the hashtag #WOWmoments.

Throughout the festival there are talks, discussion panels and plenty of conversations to get stuck into, so make sure to save the date!

Weekend of Wednesdays takes place on Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th September at the Impact Hub Birmingham, Oxford Street, B5 5NR. Find tickets and full details of the programme here: http://bit.ly/ywwow18. Follow for updates at @YellowWednesday.

(Visited 356 times, 1 visits today)