Black Britain on Film

A specially curated archive compilation looking at the black experience in Birmingham

A specially curated archive compilation looking at the black experience in Birmingham. Drawing on a superb collection of original 16mm film shot by ATV and Central Television from the 1960s to 1980s that is cared for by the Media Archive for Central England at the University of Lincoln. From a Rasta reasoning in Handsworth to the packed dance floor of the legendary Hummingbird club. From railway workers coping with the big freeze of 1962 to the pirate radio scene and the city’s vibrant black cultural heritage.

The film includes material originally shot for the nightly news programme ATV Today as well as the long running arts programme Here and Now and aims to delve deep into the archive to showcase long forgotten material often unseen since its original broadcast. Using the British Film Institute’s Black Britain on Film project as a launching pad this film looks beyond the obvious to uncover a vivid history shot during an often turbulent and never to be forgotten era in the history of the city of Birmingham.

Followed by a discussion hosted by Kehinde Andrews (Birmingham City University).