Flatpack Festival returns in May

With 60 in-person events planned, Flatpack Festival is returning in 2022 by announcing an upbeat international festival with a strong new comedy focus.

In addition, there’s a bold new programme of BAFTA-qualifying short films and audacious live performances. This is Flatpack’s 16th year of popping up in special places and spaces across Birmingham to delight and surprise audiences. 

Based in Digbeth, Flatpack Festival is known for its eclectic programming of live performances alongside archive, shorts and feature films. This year they return with a diverse series of events over six days including a punk puppet show, a premiere short film from comedian Joe Lycett and a 1930 Billy Wilder penned German silent classic with a brand new commissioned live score. 

The 2022 Flatpack programme has a new focus that celebrates comedy. The funniest films from all over the world will be shown alongside live performances, discussions and special guest appearances. The programme will include family-friendly film and live events with workshops for young people and children.

Flatpack’s programme is a unique combination of film and moving image with music and performance in special live events. Audiences are treated to brand-new live scores, genre-defying performances and audio-visual treats with artists including Anna Vasof (Amazon Woman), Alistair Green, Ichi and Jörg Piringer and Haiku Salut with Meg Morley.

Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands said “One of the consequences of the pandemic has been that so much of our region’s creative energy has been pent up – restricted to online formats and limited in-person capacity. It is therefore brilliant news that Flatpack Festival will be returning at full strength this May. It is an important festival for the West Midlands and, combined with the Commonwealth Games inspired Wonderland exhibition, is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the role our region plays in the story of the moving image”.

Flatpack’s BAFTA-qualifying short film programme also returns with a diverse, ambitious and bold selection of films with something for everyone.

Sam Groves, Head of Programme, Flatpack said: "One of the best things about the festival is the wonderful array of short films on offer - it truly is a joy putting these programmes together, reflecting the very best in contemporary global short-form filmmaking. We encourage you to take a chance and book in to see something unusual and different"

2022 is also the year of the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and Flatpack are working with Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery on a new exhibition on film for the Birmingham 2022 Festival. Wonderland voyages through 125 years of movie-going, from early fairground bioscopes to 1930s super cinemas with photographs, memorabilia and historic objects.

Ian Francis, Director of Flatpack Festival said: “Flatpack has been on a zigzag journey through indoor, outdoor, online and home-delivered activity over the past two years, and it's great to be gearing up for another physical festival”.

Flatpack Festival will be in venues throughout Birmingham from 17 to 22 May this year. Tickets go on sale in March. To sign up for the newsletter visit: https://flatpackfestival.org.uk/flatpack-2022

Flatpack Festival

17 - 22 May 2022

Various venues throughout Birmingham

More information and booking link: https://flatpackfestival.org.uk/flatpack-2022