Solar Walk

The UK premiere of Hungarian animator Réka Bucsi's 45 minute mind-melting film exploring the cosmos with a live score performed by 17-piece jazz big band. Preceding the film will be Réka's exquisite multi-award-winning short, Love.

Réka has been making waves on the festival circuit since 2014 short Symphony No. 42, picking up awards far and wide for her surreal, beguiling animated films.

Her most recent project Solar Walk has two different versions: a short 20 minute film (which screens in our short film competition programme Little Wonders and a 45 minute version designed to be accompanied live by a 17-piece big band. We’re totally thrilled to be presenting the latter for the first time in the UK.

Taking us on a journey through the solar system, Bucsi paints a picture of space as you’ve never seen it before - it’s fair to say there are some strange goings-on. With a brilliant contemporary jazz score written by esteemed Danish composer Niels Marthinsen and singer Susi Hyldgaard, this is an audiovisual experience you shall not forget. Susi will be joined by members of Birmingham Conservatoire and the piece will be conducted by Nikolai Bøgelund from the Aarhus Jazz Orchestra in Denmark.

Huge thanks go to The Animation Workshop in Viborg, the Danish Embassy and Birmingham Conservatoire for making this premiere possible.

Please note that doors will open at 20:00 for an 20:30 start.