Birmingham Internation Film Society

About the Birmingham Internation Film Society

Birmingham International Film Society began in May 2008 to bring foreign language and independent cinema to Birmingham. Our aim is to exhibit the wide variety of films from around the world which will otherwise be passed over by the commercial operators in the city.


Screenings (with occasional guest speakers) take place on regular Tuesday or Thursday evenings at the Library Theatre, Birmingham Central Library’s own 200 capacity venue. This is an intimate space in the city centre, conveniently located next to the Central Library, with several restaurants and eating places close by. With proper tiered theatre seating and the advantage of a licensed bar it\'s an ideal venue for the discerning cinephile.

The Society has built partnerships and developed links with groups and organisations reflecting local communities and their interests including Amnesty International, Cuba Solidarity Campaign, Friends of the Earth, Palestine Solidarity Campaign and United Nigeria Welfare Association.

Affiliated to the British Federation of Film Societies, BIFS has worked alongside other film societies and festivals such as Africa in Motion, Flatpack Festival and Lewes Film Society to ensure that we bring our audiences the very best films. Titles such as Klass, La Trahison and Le Couperet have been acclaimed in their home countries but so far have failed to be seen (outside of a few London venues) in the rest of the UK.

BIFS has also given exclusive screenings to a number of world cinema releases including:

  • South Africa’s underground hit SMS Sugar Man, the world’s first feature shot using mobile phones
  • The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, acclaimed Japanese anime feature
  • Freedom in Chains and documentary This is Nollywood as part of our Nollywood night celebrating Nigerian Independence Day
  • Romanian portmanteau Tales from the Golden Age, written and co-directed by Cannes winner Cristian Mungiu
  • Burma VJ, a potent documentary about the monk\'s protests in September 2007


Other special event screenings have included:

  • A Spanish science fiction night featuring Fermat’s Room and Timecrimes
  • A season of Cuban films including the Birmingham premiere of Tomás Gutiérrez Alea\'s The Twelve Chairs
  • American film archivist and historian Dennis Nyback brought us a selection of short films (on 16mm) by legendary Polish stop motion animator Wladyslaw Starewicz
  • A Brazilian cinema night featuring the stirring documentary Favela Rising and the acclaimed Birdwatchers about the plight of the indigenous Guarani peoples of Brazil
  • A special in-person event with Ian Hawkins, director of acclaimed micro-budget documentary My DDR T-Shirt


The BIFS programming team regularly attend cinema conferences, film festivals and special screening events to keep informed on the latest and forthcoming releases. Members of our team have travelled to the Viva! Spanish Film Festival in Manchester and even as far as West Africa for the Pan-African FESPACO.

The Society values the feedback and input of our audience, and aims to reflect their suggestions in our programme.

Coming Soon

  1. 18:00 Thu 11th March

    To Shoot an Elephant (15)
    Dir: Alberto Arce, Mohammad Rujailah
    Palestine 2008 1hr 52mins

    An eye witness account from The Gaza Strip during Operation Cast Lead. Despite the Israeli ban on foreign correspondents, a group of international volunteers… More

  2. 20:30 Thu 11th March

    Johnny Mad Dog (15)
    Dir: Jean–Stephane Sauvaire
    France/Belgium/ Liberia 2008 1 hr 37 mins French with subtitles

    One of the best films of the year

    — Mail on Sunday

    Based on the novel by acclaimed Congolese writer Emmanuel Dongala, this impressive first feature from Belgian director Sauvaire garnered three awards… More

  3. 18:00 Tue 16th March

    Tulpan (12)
    Dir: Sergei Dvortsevoy
    Kazakhstan 2008 1hr 40mins Kazakh/Russian with subtitles

    If you live in a place where this film is playing, it is the best film in town

    — Roger Ebert

    Asa is young man recently discharged from serving in the Russian army. Now living in the Hunger Steppes with his sister and brother-in-law in a remote… More

  4. 20:00 Tue 16th March

    The Sea Wall (12A)
    Dir: Rithy Panh
    France/Cambodia 2008 1hr 55mins French with subtitles

    Affectionate and sumptuously shot…Huppert is simply stunning

    — Little White Lies

    Cambodia, 1930s: A French colonial widow is in despair - the sea wall protecting her farmland has collapsed. Suffering floods, she seeks financial aid… More

  5. 19:00 Wed 24th March

    House (15)
    Dir: Nobuhiko Obayashi
    Japan 1977 1hr 28mins Japanese with subtitles

    House is nothing short of nuts

    — Total Sci-Fi

    Teenage Oshare (or \'Gorgeous\' to her friends) takes a group of her school pals to her Auntie\'s house for summer break, as her father has a new partner.… More

  6. 21:00 Wed 24th March

    Until the Light Takes Us (15)
    Dir: Aaron Aites, Audrey Ewell
    USA 2008 1hr 33mins

    Riveting and darkly compelling

    — Reel Movie Critic

    In the early Nineties, a small group of Norwegian black metal musicians would commit a slew of crimes including arson and murder. This documentary delves… More