Arriving at the University of Birmingham as a film fanatic you’ll be thrilled to know there are plenty of places to look out for as you’re exploring the city! Here, film screenings and events are happening constantly, whether you like action-packed blockbusters or niche indie movies.
One such place is the Mockingbird Cinema in the Custard Factory which can be found just off the High Street of Digbeth. With both a cinema and bar, they screen a variety of films and it establishes itself as one of the key pillars of Birmingham’s film scene. They host special events including a Late-Night Mystery Movie Club, outdoor screenings and offer a 10% student discount.
[Mockingbird] establishes itself as one of the key pillars of Birmingham’s film scene
Next, Hare and Hounds in Kings Heath is another great spot doubling as a music venue and hosting events like the 90 Minute Movie Club. It’s accessible from Selly Oak from any public transport and is fantastic if you have interests overlapping in film and music.
A third essential place to try out as a student in Birmingham is the Midlands Arts Centre (MAC) which can be found in Cannon Hill Park. Just a short bus ride from Bristol Road, the MAC hosts cinema screenings. Local film events also take place in the centre such as Film Stories Live, the upcoming Birmingham Anime Film Festival and screenings of National Theatre Live performances. While a lot of their events are paid, they offer free events which can be found on their website.
Last but not least, the University of Birmingham offers many opportunities for movie-lovers in the student societies such as Bad film, FilmSoc, Writers’ Bloc, UoB Filmmaking, and Sitcom Society. So, whether you like to watch, write or make films; there is something for everyone. There is also the B-Film research network (run by the UoB Film and Creative Writing department) that hosts a podcast and does screenings focusing specifically on queer cinema.
Overall, Birmingham offers a plethora of different ways to enjoy engaging with film and TV in between your studies; no matter what your interests are or your viewing preference.
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