The exhibition encourages audiences to explore and go beyond their imagination and question the illusion of reality, as they take in the diversity of storytelling from artists, filmmakers and creatives teams including Pierre-Alain Giraud, Stéphane Foenkinos, Tania de Montaigne, Darren Emerson, Karen Palmer, CyberRäuber, Steye Hallema, and more. See some of our highlights below:

Colored – UK premiere

6 to 22 October (closed 16 October) | Bargehouse | 32 minutes | Lead artist(s): Pierre-Alain Giraud, Stéphane Foenkinos, Tania de Montaigne

Inspired by Tania de Montaigne’s biographical essay, ‘Colored’ tells the poignant narrative of the remarkable journey of 15-year-old Claudette Colvin who challenged segregation laws in 1950s America. With holographic imagery and enveloping soundscapes to transport us back in time to a pivotal and clandestine chapter in US civil rights history, the courageous Colvin, a young Black girl, took a stand by refusing to yield her bus seat to a white passenger. As the story unfolds we find ourselves fully immersed in this transformative experience, from the confines of the bus to the solemn courtroom where Colvin faced her sentence. This compelling work thoughtfully sheds light on the pervasive issues of everyday prejudice and racism and is undoubtedly a must-see.

Big Picture Film Club starting the experience for ‘Colored’.

Murals – UK premiere

6 to 22 October (closed 16 October) | Bargehouse | 9 minutes | Lead artist(s): Alex Topaller, Daniel Shapiro, Artem Ivanenko

We followed a trail of Banksy’s artwork juxtaposed with imagery of the fallout from the war in Ukraine in ‘Murals’. By blending advanced 3D scanning techniques with a symphony of light and sound, the team skillfully documented the war-torn homes and architectural landmarks in Ukraine. They seamlessly incorporated CG scans of Banksy’s art into these scenes to emphasize the resilience of daily life amid devastation, carrying a powerful message that even in the face of destruction, hope persists, and a brighter future will emerge from the ruins.

Excerpt of Murals

Letters from Drancy — UK premiere

6 to 22 October (closed 16 October) | Bargehouse | 22 minutes | Lead artist(s): Darren Emerson.

An enthralling narrative of sorrow, yearning, and the unyielding strength of love, “Letters from Drancy” sensitively portrays life amidst the harrowing backdrop of the Holocaust. This VR documentary follows Marion Deichmann on her brave childhood odyssey across the borders of Northern Europe, recounting her heart-wrenching separation from her mother, her escape from persecution with the aid of the French Resistance, and her vivid recollections of the D-Day bombings. Marion’s tale embodies the themes of loss and longing but also radiates with the enduring power of love—a poignant testimony to the bravery of those who embraced humanity’s compassion in the face of relentless hatred.

Hanging postcards installation

Forager – UK premiere

6 to 22 October (closed 16 October) | Bargehouse | 8 minutes | Lead artist(s): Winslow Porter, Elie Zananiri

Unique volumetric time-lapse technology unveils a lesser-known world, brimming with wonder in some of nature’s most intriguing mysteries, delving deep into the enchanting realm of fungi. ‘Forager’ explores what is beneath the earth’s surface – a vast network of microscopic mycelium highways, spanning over a million miles that remains hidden from our view. This sensory documentary wonderfully engages our senses of sight, sound, touch, and scent to unveil the full life cycle of fungi, from the humble spores to the complex mycelium networks and the eventual stages of decay. 

BPFC’s Presh Williams experiencing the Forager virtual interaction installation

Consensus Gentium — winner of SXSW 2023 award for innovation XR experience 

6 to 22 October (closed 16 October) | Bargehouse | 25 minutes | Lead artist(s): Karen Palmer

“If everyone believes it, it must be true.” Right? 

Designed to ignite conversations about data privacy, racial equity, unconscious biases, and the profound influence of technology. ‘Consensus Gentium’ challenges storytelling at its core. With an interactive storytelling experience delving into the heart of critical issues such as race, technological bias, and social justice, your emotions respond to the smartphone film, which seamlessly incorporates cutting-edge facial detection and AI, immersing you in an interactive, thought-provoking journey. 

BPFC’s Presh Williams experiencing Consensus live

These and many more are running till 22nd October, for more info and how to book tickets visit BFI’s website.

Also Read: How Film Changed Me: On BFI Flare

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The country felt the impact of being culturally and societally left in the dark, isolated from the rest of the world, with Western culture banned during dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu’s rule. Chuck Norris Vs Communism tells the story of how the banned American films were smuggled into 1980’s Romania during a time when free speech and access to media was controlled by the government.

Irina was a film translator for Romanian State Television, a censorship committee that decided what to broadcast, translating their communist ideologies. The role was never suited to her, so when a colleague asked if she could translate films for a friend, she leapt at the opportunity, risking her freedom by single-handedly dubbing every line of every character in over 3000+ bootlegged movies.

There was a desire to learn about a forbidden society and underground film clubs soon became popular. Watching these films became a matter of survival, and classics such as Rocky and Dirty Dancing eventually became tools for imagination, growth and development.

Truly a remarkable woman whose contribution to film has impacted history and the world over, her iconic voice became a symbol of hope and freedom. The revolutionary role of movie-smuggling helped liberate the people of Romania, and at this year’s SXSW, Irina will be discussing how the same could be done for the people of North Korea.

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This summer Big Picture attended the New York Asian Film Festival for the premiere of Love And Other Cults.

It was so great to see so many different people come together to enjoy and support the art of film. Exhibiting a variety of films that explored controversial and complex human emotions, the New York Asian Film Festival showcased talent from China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and across South East Asia.

Unlike any film I’d experienced before, independent Japanese writer-director Eiji Uchida’s “Love and Other Cults” tells the twisted story of marginalised youth in Japan and their quest to define themselves whilst avoiding the obscure pitfalls of drugs, religion, relationships.

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Big Picture Film Club took a trip to one of the most talked about art exhibitions this summer: Daydreaming With Stanley Kubrick, held at London’s Somerset House. The exhibition featured a variety of paintings, installations, videos, and sculptures inspired by the late cinematic genius Stanley Kubrick. Much like Quentin Tarantino, George Lucas & Ridley Scott after him, Stanley Kubrick’s impressive body of work has given him a cult-like following, particularly after his death in 1999.

Curator, James Lavelle, has done an excellent job in putting together this mix-media exhibition. The 45 works on display flow effortlessly together and make for a seamless and captivating experience. While there were many great pieces of work on display, in no particular order here are some of our favourites from the exhibition:

1) Life, by Dexter Navy

This piece was distinct, in that it references current social commentary of civil unrest, as opposed to directly taking from Kubrick’s films. However, the intricate use of colour in this piece was inspired by the work of Kubrick.

2) Various Works, by Philip Castle

Airbrush artist, Castle, who designed the original poster’s for Kubrick’s A Clockwork Orange & Full Metal Jacket, gave the iconic posters a contemporary redesign, and showcasing a never used alternative design for Full Metal Jacket.

3) Camera A, Scene 136, Take 1, by Thomas Bangalter

Bangalter, one half of electronic duo Daft Punk, exemplifies what Kubric’s work is about with his simple, yet powerful video piece. The slow-mo clip features a person walking calmly through a pitch darkness engulfed in flames – the fire providing the only source of light, illuminating the ground below.

4) In Consolus – Full of Hope and Full of Fear, by James Lavelle & John Isaacs ft Azzi Glasser

Immediately the senses are treated to an overload of sight, sound and smell. The clearly recognisable, Lolita inspired giant teddy bears gives a sense of fun and playfulness whilst the darkness of the room and the juxtaposed neon love sign hints at sinister undertones. Empty pantry boxes reference The Shining, 2001: A Space Odyssey inspired scent from perfume designer Glasser fills the room, whilst the soundtrack comes courtesy of: Detroit techno pioneer Carl Craig, Italian dance ensemble Planet Funk – Domenico “GG” Canu and Marco Barani, spoken word artist and designer Michele Lamy, and UNKLE collaborator Elliott Power.

6) Das Problem der Befahrung des Weltraums, by Norbet Shoerner

Norbet created a 360° virtual reality recreation of the Discovery One space. Breath taking in its redesign, fans of 2001: A Space Odyssey will feel as if they have been dropped right into the movie. Definitely one of the key highlights of the exhibition!

7) History Painting, by Marc Quinn

Quinn draws from media reportage of social unrest, amplifying the sense of violence and unease with the contrasting use of colour.

8) The Shining Carpet, by Adam Broomberg and Oliver Chanarin

Immediately recognisable, no Kubrick exhibition would be complete without the iconic print carpet from the Overlook Hotel. The print continues to inspire artists of all mediums.

9) Clockwork Britain, by Paul Insect

Famous for his street art, Insect alludes to violence and the alienated youth in A Clockwork Orange by fusing 60s pop art and contemporary street art with the use of bold colours and the Union Jack motif.

10) Metanoia, by Polly Morgan

Morgan explicitly exhibits the implicit sexual imagery we see from Alex and his Droogs in A Clockwork Orange. The downward pointing triangle is traditionally referred to as the chalice, symbolising the flow of water, the grace of heaven, and the womb – an ancient symbol of female divinity. Seeing this stuffed uncomfortably with a serpent, provokes very real feelings of disturbance just as when we watched those awful scenes in the film itself.

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