New Cross & Deptford Free Film Festival

From Friday 27 April to Sunday 6 May the New Cross and Deptford Free Film Festival  will be screening films in some very unusual places including two parks, an adventure playground, the walls of the tiny white-tiled prison cells at Deptford Old Police Station and from a 40ft lorry turned mobile cinema. Events include bike-powered open-air family screenings, film-based discussions on topics of local/global concern, and screenings of local filmmakers' work. The New Cross and Deptford Free Film Festival is organised and run entirely by volunteers with guidance and support from the Peckham and Nunhead Free Film Festivals group. Highlights include:

- Bike-powered cinema courtesy of the amazing Electric Pedals. Come along and help power the film. Everyone welcome to have a go. Bring a bike to join the fun. The film won't run without YOU!

 -Freedom Cells. A weekend of films by human rights filmmakers and artists. Old Deptford Police Station

- NO DVD. If you have old home movies stashed away in attics or cupboards then we’d love you to bring them along. Submissions must be on either VHS or Super8 and a maximum of 10 minutes in length. Films shot locally will be particularly welcome. New Cross Library, New Cross Road SE14 6AS.

- Attack the Cross. An all night celebration of aliens and bass music in the heart of New Cross! Release Nightclub, 23 Lewisham Way SE14 6PP.

The full festival programme is at http://www.freefilmfestivals.org/. Events are free, but obviously it's going to cost the organisers to put it on so please make a donation at http://www.sponsume.com/project/new-cross-deptford-free-film-festival

Cinetopia Events

As part of the festival, local purveyors of cinema culture Cinetopia are putting on three events:

Film in the Garden, Sandbourne Rd Community Garden, SE4 2NS. Sun 29 Apr, start 7.00pm ends 10.00pm. For one night only, Cinetopia will transform the garden into a magical outdoor cinema. Bring a picnic, dress as your favourite character from Alice in Wonderland and join us for a Mad Hatters Tea Party, followed by a screening of Tim Burton's Alice In Wonderland. There will be some simple seating but guests are advised to bring picnic rugs, folding chairs and warm clothes. Maximum capacity 50. Entrance is first come first serve. No toilet facilities.

The Lost Cinema of Deptford at Big Red Pizzeria (next to Birds Nest Pub), Deptford Church Street, SE8 4RZ. Mon 30 Apr, start 7.30 end 9.30.100 years of the moving image in New Cross and Deptford  - Whe was Deptford's first picture palace? What was the scene of South East London's WW1 cinema disaster? Which local nightspot was once a major cinema and palais de danse? Which angry young man flick features Deptford market? What about 'last tango in New Cross'? An illustrated talk by local historian Neil Gordon-Orr with clips, and  images. Maximum capacity 35. Entrance is first come first serve.

Craters and Mirrors at The Hill Station Cafe, Kitto Road SE14. Thur 3 May. 8.00 - 10.00, featuring two films: 

- Some Foreign Field: The Lochnagar Crater On the first of July 1916 a powerful explosion beneath the German trenches resulted in a massive crater. It was the first day of the Battle of the Somme. Sixty years later the crater was bought by an Englishman. This new short film by John Whitfield tells its story.

- Sound Mirrors explores the monumental remnants of a dead-end technology and the people who visit them. The three concrete 'listening ears' at Denge near Dungeness in Kent are the best known of the various early warning acoustic mirrors built along Britains coast. This is the first film produced by director/ photographer Morgan O'Donovan with architect Stephen Beasley. Filmed August 2009.

Further details from cinetopia@hotmail.co.uk