Human Traffic (film) + DJ Session

Tired of their mundane jobs, five friends set out on a drug-fuelled weekend in Cardiff, hopping from pubs, clubs and parties. A cult classic of the ‘Cool Cymru’ era, Human Traffic is a charming social commentary about 90s rave culture and the alienation of a generation. An unapologetic exploration of youthful hedonism and rebellion, this is the debut film by 25 year old Welsh writer/director Justin Kerrigan. Celebrating music that shaped the generation, featuring Orbital, Underworld and Primal Scream, the film is also packed with numerous cameo performances as well as a young Danny Dyer in his debut feature. Recently restored in 4k courtesy of the BFI.

Following the screening, Cinetopia will be hosting an interactive exhibition, exploring Scottish nightlife across different generations. Reminiscing on beloved venues of the past that have embedded themselves in culture. Attendees of all ages are invited to share stories and engage in dialogue about the art of a good night out.

We wrap the night with a DJ session packed with 90s bangers and tunes inspired by the film. 

Come for the film + DJ session, or just the DJ session. Ticket options available. Timeline of the evening below.

This event was curated by young programmer Rowan Sharp, and is part of Transmission: Youth Across Generations - a multi-event programme exploring how youth culture has shaped identity, belonging and collective memory in Britain from the 1980s to the present, developed as part of BFI FAN's Rip It Up season. Rowan Sharp is a theatre/filmmaker from the Highlands based in Glasgow.

From Rowan:

"Human Traffic is a truly charming film that celebrates messiness and hedonism, and does so in this strangely earnest and sympathetic way. It’s full of these deeply relatable characters that remind me of my pals, or those random strangers you end up in weird conversations with in the corner of a gaff (how I met quite a few of my aforementioned pals). Like many people my age, I wish I was around to experience rave/club culture in the 90s, of course from a music stand point but also the freedom that came with it. It's been an especially bleak year for the arts as commercial interests and conservative politics continue to threaten spaces that have played such an important part in Scotland's culture, community and social heritage. I can’t help but feel that my “self disciplined" generation is not entirely blameless. I’m curious as to what we can learn from other generations who found joy through escapism in times of difficulty."

Film information: dir. Justin Kerrigan | Wales/UK | 1999 | runtime: 99 mins | English | BBFC rating: 15

Cast: John Simm, Danny Dyer, Lorraine Pilkington

Timeline of the evening:

• 7pm - Welcome + intro
  
• 7.15pm - Film screening
• 9pm - Short break - audience members are invited to share stories and engage in dialogue about the art of a good night out.
• 9.30pm - DJ session - 90s bangers and Human Traffic-inspired tunes!

_____
This screening is part of Cinetopia’s TRANSMISSION: YOUTH ACROSS GENERATIONS programme - a multi-event programme exploring how youth culture has shaped identity, belonging and collective memory in Britain from the 1980s to the present. TRANSMISSION is part of Rip It Up, supported by Film Hub Scotland as part of the BFI Film Audience Network (FAN), made possible by the National Lottery. Cinetopia is a film events and exhibition company based in Edinburgh with a mission to connect the film industry, foster conversations, and produce engaging opportunities for audiences to experience cinema through various offerings such as film screenings, pop-up cinema, workshops, masterclasses, and networking events.