Cinephilia 30 Years On

Thirty years ago Taz Bashir, a trained accountant and film buff, decided to ditch his chosen career and open a video shop on the Alcester Road instead.

Cinephilia quickly became a focal point of the Moseley scene, employing numerous musicians and creatives and inspiring countless others with a mind-blowing range of VHS (later DVD) from anime and blaxploitation to French New Wave and video essays.

The shop lasted for thirteen years, firstly next to Kwik Save and then around the corner on Woodbridge Road, and memories of the place endure as a marker of a very different Moseley. This event is a unique opportunity to hear about how Cinephilia began and evolved from the people who made it, as we reflect on the role that neighbourhood video shops once played in shaping our dreams and our social lives.

Do you have any memories or photos of Cinephilia? If so, we'd love to hear from you.