Birmingham Film and Television Festival
November 15 - 24

Renowned digital cinematographer Anthony Dod Mantle and speakers from Mill Film, Aardman Animation and World Productions will be contributing to this weekend's combination of foresight and talent. This year's 16th annual event includes Digital Babylon, a showcase for fresh, innovative works that implement blossoming technologies in fields varying from standard low-budget filmmaking through to steps forward in visual effects and CGI Animation. Mike Figgis' embrace of digital video with his groundbreaking festival hit Time Code, has earned him the right to act as patron for the event.

Birmingham's hugely popular Screen Extreme mini section is back with its macabre and often vulgar selection of tasteless treats. 2000's list of depravity of peculiarity includes John Water's brash new take on the Hollywood versus Indie war, Cecil B Demented. Also, the fascinating and utterly disturbing "Ring" series, whilst movie vampires emerge to party the night away in the subterranean "Fangs" night.

Fans of the vast Asian film industry will be treated to a tribute to and master class with Mani Rathnam on Saturday the 25th at 1:30pm. The unconventional Indian director will discuss his approach to directing, and the relationship between director and composer. Rathnam is a maverick within the Indian studio system: he writes, directs and produces all of his films, but his strength is his ability to combine commercial cinema with political analysis and the musical genre. He cleverly blends topical issues, mainstream narrative and prestigious casting to ensure his films have universal appeal. Rathnam is India's foremost film music composer whose music stretches over many genres, he has worked with Rathnam for many years and is the focus of this year's Sound on the Screen programme strand. He will lead a music workshop for British-based musicians and music students and the participants will work with him to interpret a range of his compositions.

International Showcase will offer both press and foreign language film enthusiasts the chance to see the best of forthcoming world cinema releases, often months before they hit our screens, as well as the chance to see one-off UK screenings of special imports.

The highlight of the festival for all British TV buffs, indeed anyone over the age of 18 with an appetite for scandalous political satire must surely be An Audience with Roger Law and Spitting Image. The foul puppet maestro's relive the anarchic heyday of British TV satire in the 1980's. Meanwhile, Burdzeye visits the Festival courtesy of BLOW UP! plus daily screenings of short films of all genres.

Much of the festival's recent success is due to the dedication and inspiration of its director, Sarah McKenzie who is leaving the festival after 6 years. After signing a 6 month contract in 1994, she has stayed on and pushed the festival forward with innovative programming and canny sponsorship deals.

Tom Fogg