University News Last updated 24 May 2012
A documentary film about the hidden world of cinema, produced by a filmmaker and academic at Birmingham City University, is set to be shown at this year’s London International Documentary Festival.
Valentina Ippolito is a Lecturer in Film Production and Technology, a course taught within the School of Digital Media Technology, and part of the University’s Creative Skillset Media Academy. She recounts the cinematic experiences of projectionist Graham Lee in the film, titled ‘Voiceless Reel.’ The film encapsulates Graham’s passion for the cinema as he talks about its history and how changes in technology have affected the ways in which audiences receive, consume and engage with film. The film also features hypnotic shots of rotating reels as part of Graham’s working day as a 3D cinema projectionist at the Giant Screen cinema at Millennium Point in Birmingham, home to the University’s faculty of Technology, Engineering and the Environment.
Produced, directed and edited by Valentina, ‘Voiceless Reel’ forms part of a series of films about careers that enhance social experience yet are delivered by people with whom the audience has no direct social engagement. Valentina said: “I’m really glad that my short documentary is being shown at the LIDF 2012 in the UK shorts strand; it’s a great opportunity for filmmakers to share their work internationally. All of the films selected tell powerful stories about the world that we live in.”
The London International Documentary Festival is the UK’s largest independent documentary festival which creates an environment for interaction amongst filmmakers dealing with cultural, social and political issues in their work. It takes place from 24 May - 2 June at venues across London, including the Portobello Pop Up cinema, where ‘Voiceless Reel’ will be shown on Sunday 27 May. For more information and to buy tickets for the festival, visit www.lidf.co.uk.