BIFA | First Impressions

The Mockingbird Cinema has been nominated for CINEMA OF THE YEAR by the British Independent Film Awards (BIFA). I love the Mockingbird; am an admirer of its programme, the quality of its projection, the kindness of its staff; of the way that it brings different types of film fandom together, builds community around one welcoming site in Digbeth but across diverse interests related to cinema throughout Birmingham and the Midlands.

In this podcast I talk to Lee Nabbs, Director and co-owner, to ask about the cinema’s history and its current operations. He tells me about the cinema’s connections to all the organisations that basically make up film culture in the Midlands, from festivals (Flatpack, Forward Film and Television Festival), to other cinemas (Midlands Arts Centre), filmmaking networks (Reel Brum), film clubs (Whatever Pays the Rent), events (The Secret Cinema Screenings at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens), patrons like Joe Lycett and Trevor Beattie, why he could have shown the PEAKY BLINDERS film forever, and much more.

At the end, when he reads to me what audience members said when they nominated the Mockingbird for Best Cinema, he’s visibly moved: ‘Like a second home’, ‘The happiest place’, ‘The beating heart of Digbeth’, ‘They fight for justice’.

His being moved moves me. Birmingham is under-served in relation to cinema, only three independent screens in the Second City, two of them at The Mockingbird. But it’s clear from talking to Lee that what’s lacking in numbers and finance is compensated for with lots of love, care, community, mutual support; that those involved in The Mockingbird care about cinema, about making it available in Birmingham and about supporting the making and showing of films locally.

A lovely and illuminating chat.

The podcast may be listened to here: