Art of Action Activity Across the Midlands

A round up and deep dive into the events, programming and activities coming up in the Midlands hosted by Film Hub Midlands members as part of the BFI UK-Wide season Art of Action

Art of Action UK-Wide Season

BFI Art of Action is a new BFI season celebrating the artistry of real action choreography that has kept audiences on the edge of their seats since the early days of Cinema. 

Presented by the BFI Film Audience Network (BFI FAN) using funds from the National Lottery, Art of Action will take place at cinema’s across the UK from October - December 2024.

Art of Action will spotlight the genre and illuminate the work of stunt performers and their struggle for recognition. Championing the new wave of action stars and filmmakers who are building upon the legacy of those who have fallen, crashed, smashed and picked themselves up before them.

Discover Art of Action activity across the Midlands

Film Hub Midlands shared the opportunity to apply for funding to present seasons, events and screenings with it's members and openly on its platforms to encourage new exhibitors to get involved.

Midlands exhibitors came up with some jaw-dropping, daring, and spine-tingling ideas to share behind-the-scenes insights into the world of action films and to present their selected screenings.

Support the community cinemas, venues, and festivals celebrating the artistry of real action choreography, as well as the historic roots and cross-cultural influences of action cinema, by attending local screenings, sharing the opportunities available, and engaging with their platforms.

We have included listings from our members who have received support from Film Hub Midlands in this blog however we would love to share as many screenings from across the Midlands and support independent cinemas hosting their own Art of Action seasons. If you have listings to share please send listings copy, a URL and image assets to Marketing and Communications Coordinator h.cook@broadway.org 

Be ready to get involved with the next UK-Wide programme and Become a member of Film Hub Midlands 

Find UK-WIDE events on the Art of Action website 

Midlands Arts Centre & Reclaim the Frame

MAC joins forces with Reclaim The Frame for a season of films centring on women of colour working in the action genre from the 1990s to the present, both behind the camera and on screen. In a genre historically not used to tell these stories the season aims to reclaim action for diverse and intersectional audiences.

CALL TO ACTION: Women of Colour On and Behind The Camera is a curated programme by Reclaim The Frame, a charity championing marginalised perspectives in cinema, connecting with audiences through community building and conversation. This season centres women of colour working in the action genre from the 90s to the present - both behind the camera: as writers and directors - and on screen: as actors and stunt performers.

Mockingbird Cinema - Women in Action

Mockingbird Cinema is hosting a season of women in action films, from indie to mainstream, and across sub-genres. Women in Action, will look to honour on-screen women and explore how they are represented in an otherwise male-dominated world. Looking at indie and mainstream titles, incorporating Blaxploitation and martial arts. The season will include:

• Six screenings including a screening of Kill Bill vol.1 (past) with wrap-around activity 
• A specially-commissioned zine featuring Midlands-based artists and writers re-contextualising the representation of women in action
• An introduction to sword work workshop

Mockingbird Cinema are working with Flatpack Projects for a screening of Martial Law celebrating the work of acclaimed stunt artist Cynthia Rothrock, which will also shine a light on the influence of martial arts in American movies. 

Screening a broad spectrum of female talent in action cinema Mockingbird cinema will share titles such as Run Lola Run and Foxy Brown and intend to create an engaging, fun, but also thought-provoking experience for audiences.

Mitchell Arts Centre - Cinema's First Action Hero

To celebrate cinema’s first action hero, Mitchell Arts Centre will present three enhanced screenings of Buster Keaton’s greatest films. The screenings will feature live musical accompaniment from talented pianist Stephen Horne.

Victoria Park Productions / FilmGage - Death Before Dishonour Season

Death Before Dishonour season explores the secret weapon of the VHS blockbuster and celebrates international female driven films.

This winter, take a trip to the heyday of international action films fully loaded with high adrenaline adventure and wall to wall action of the late 80s

Death Before Dishonour explores and celebrates international female stars within action cinema - front runners like Michelle Yeoh, Sigourney Weaver and modern trail blazers like Randa Rousey. 

Death Before Dishonour will highlight flashback classics and violent independent VHS essentials, where action was important to plot, motivation and featured jaw dropping stunts. Inviting you to explore the lost art of “VHS browsing”.

Enhancing select screenings Victoria Park Productions / Film Gage will partner with West Midlands stunt company - Samurai Sensei. 

Featuring a special documentary screening of The Last Action Heroes followed by a Q&A with Scott Atkins, West Midlands own international action film star. 

Keep your eyes on Film Gage website for updates

Broadway Cinema - Fight Like A Girl 

Fight Like a Girl is a season that travels from the 1970s, with the genre’s first female action star, all the way through to the 2020s. The gems in Broadway's line-up span the genre, from the spectacle of wuxia to the dazzle of the heist movie, always concentrating on the women we love in action and the staggering on-screen stunts they perform.

Alongside a whopping lineup of films the season incorporates a workshop led by Monstrous Flesh’s Clelia McElroy, which will explore the history and evolution of women in action films, with a particular focus on stunt work and 'real action' heroes.

Join Broadway as they delve into the history of exploitation cinema with Pam Grier’s iconic role in Foxy Brown all the way to the spectacle of the Hong Kong martial arts films Michelle Yeoh cut her teeth on  – this season is dedicated to the gals who give us an ass-kicking.

 Programmed by Broadway Cinema’s Kate Wood and Emma Duncan

Derby Quad: Demolition Derby - The History Of Action Cinema

Supporting Demolition Derby - The History Of Action Cinema is Derby Quad's project to conduct a three-month deep dive into the history of action cinema. Through a series of screenings, introductions, AR, events and workshops, QUAD will cover many of the key action milestones.

QUAD Cinema Manager Adam Marsh says:

“We’re kicking off our Art of Action season with The Warriors, a great film that deserves to be seen on the big screen with a crowd. Then we go full blast with 90s action stars! Point Break is a favourite here and I’m really excited to see Desperado on the big screen. The fun will continue in December with some more action classics as well as that Christmas tradition, Die Hard.”

The three strands in Derby Quad’s Art of Action series are:

Women In Action

This strand will explore the contributions of women in action cinema. Derby Quad are screening Rene Cardona's The Panther Woman and The Batwoman, as well as films like Run Lola Run, The Long Kiss Goodnight and Point Break.  

Cue Big Explosions

This strand presents action movie spectacles of the 1980s and 1990s punctuating the programme with an all day action film marathon. The marathon will include Under Siege, Con Air, Hard Target and Desperado, covering big names of 90s action cinema like Nicholas Cage, Steven Seagal, Jean Claude Van Damme and Antonio Banderas. 

Action For Familes

The third strand is a run of discounted screenings for families, screening classics from the archive including The Goonies, Raiders Of The Lost Ark, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Get immersed in Art of Action with a special workshop "Be Your Own Action Star" - where participants can show their moves in a bespoke action movie trailer.

Keep your eyes out on Derby Quad's website and socials to find more events coming soon!

Mansfield Town Film Festival Presents: Art of Action (Past)

Mansfield Town Film Festival based at Mansfield Palace Theatre hosted an Art of Action season that delved into the evolution of stunt performance on screen, spanning silent era classics to contemporary epics. Through expert-led discussions and immersive screenings, audiences experienced iconic films that celebrated action cinema.

Scheduled across three Fridays in October (4th, 18th, and 25th) the Art of Action season provided an immersive journey through the evolution of stunt performance in film. Each screening session featured a curated selection of action films that highlighted significant milestones and innovations in the genre. The feature films were matched with short films carefully selected from Mansfield Town Film Festival.

At the heart of the "Art of Action" season at Mansfield Town Film Festival was John B Tannen, a respected figure in both stunt performance and local media in Mansfield. Hailing from Church Warsop, John has carved out a remarkable career spanning several decades as a member of the prestigious British Stunt Register. His filmography boasts an impressive array of credits, including roles in major productions such as "Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom," "The Batman," and "Maleficent: Mistress of Evil."

UK China Film Collab - Electric Shadows

UK China Film Collab in collaboration with De Montford University Leicester and Phoenix Cinema Leicester are screening Art of Action menu titles within their programme for Electric Shadows: Leicester Chinese Film Festival.

Including the iconic Police Story Trilogy directed by none other than Jackie Chan and screened in glorious 4K resolution.

Not to be missed is the critically acclaimed and highly awarded The Grandmaster directed by Wong Kar-wai whose artistic flare shines through.

"Boasting one of the most propulsive yet ethereal realizations of authentic martial arts onscreen, as well as a merging of physicality and philosophy not attained in Chinese cinema since King Hu's masterpieces, the hotly anticipated pic is sure to win new converts from the genre camp." - Variety

Phoenix Cinema - Art of Action

Alongside partnering with Electric Shadows, Phoenix Cinema are screening a selection of films from the Art of Action menu titles.

Think you can do better? Become a member and check out how to get involved in exhibition with Film Hub Midlands

Find UK-WIDE events on the Art of Action website 

Screening as part of Art of Action, a UK-wide film season supported by National Lottery and BFI Film Audience Network.