The Celluloid Closet

A whistle-stop tour through a century of queer representation on screen, The Celluloid Closet is as entertaining as it is essential.

Narrated with dry wit by Lily Tomlin, the film dives into Hollywood’s long, complicated history of coding, censoring and occasionally celebrating queer lives - from blink-and-you’ll-miss-it subtext to the rare moments of full-blown visibility.

Packed with film clips and sharp, insightful commentary from figures like Susan Sarandon, Whoopi Goldberg and Tony Curtis, it’s a documentary that manages to be both deeply informative and endlessly watchable.

Equal parts film history lesson and cultural reckoning, it reveals just how much has been hidden in plain sight and what that has meant for generations of audiences searching for themselves on screen.

This screening is part of an M4C research project led by Gina Matuska, exploring queerness, community and cinema in Birmingham. Alongside the film, a display of ephemera and interview extracts invites audiences to dig into local queer film histories and perhaps add a few stories of their own.

For more information or to discuss any access needs, feel free to email us at info@flatpackfestival.org.uk or call us on 0121 771 1509.

See the whole festival programme here: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/flatpack

What are Solidarity tickets?

We recognise that not everyone has equal access to live events and that the cost of entry is a barrier to some people. Solidarity tickets are free tickets available for anyone who needs it. If you're not sure whether that's you, refer to our guide below (thank you to Matchbox Cineclub for sharing this guide).

Solidarity tickets are for you if you agree with any of the following statements:

• I frequently stress about meeting basic needs (including food, clothing, housing and transportation) and don’t always achieve them.
• I have debt and it sometimes prohibits me from meeting my basic needs.
• I rent lower-end properties or have unstable housing.
• I sometimes can’t afford public or private transport. If I own a car/have access to a car, I am not always able to afford petrol.
• I am unemployed or underemployed.
• I qualify for government and/or voluntary assistance including: food banks and benefits.
• I have no access to savings.
• I have no or very limited expendable income (expendable income might mean you are able to buy tea or coffee at a shop, go to the cinema or a concert, buy new clothes, books and similar items each month etc.)
• I rarely buy new items because I am unable to afford them.
• I cannot afford a holiday or have the ability to take time off without financial burden.