Neighbourhood Cotch Club

Neighbourhood Cotch Club is a cosy space for intimate film screenings, based on a barge on the Birmingham canal. Join us as we transform The Floating Front Room in South Loop Park after hours every Wednesday, using a pop-up screen and projector from our neighbour Stassi Chilas.

Following ad hoc screenings across Ladywood since 2021, this summer Neighbourhood Cotch Club makes a return to highlight films around themes of community, both near and far, showcasing short to medium length films followed by a discussion or Q&A.

The role of 'cotch' (to rest, or lean for support) aimed to create a space where people of different ages and backgrounds were comfortable enough to speak their mind and share their realest thoughts, aiming for a decolonial lens on themes of regenerative futures and economics, reasoning across a wide range of intersections including the role of class, perceptions / biases, and the climate crisis together.

Please ensure to book your place as space is limited on the barge.

Light bites and refreshments will be provided.

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TIMINGS

5pm — Arrivals & Welcome

On arrival there will be some light bites and refreshments to ground ourselves.

5.30pm — Introduction to Film

We will start the evening together over some housekeeping and introduction of the film.

5.45pm — Film(s) Screening

We will gather on the barge for a cosy screening of the films.

6.45 — Post Film Discssion

Post Film Discussion alongside filmmakers and/or neighbours.

7.30pm — Close

Neighbourhood Cotch Club to come to an end and we pack away, 'til next time!

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SEPTEMBER CALENDAR

TUESDAY 9th September

40 Times Out of 50: A Birmingham Hip Hop Story

A short film directed by Juice Aleem, exploring the 40+ years of Hip-Hop culture in Birmingham. With interviews and archive footage the film tells the story of Hip-Hop' many starts in the second city.Following the film there will be a Q&A session with Juice Aleem.

Directed by Juice Aleem

Runtime: 40 mins

Rating: PG advised: mention of drug use and use offensive language

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Tuesday 23rd September

Curated by Falasteen on Film

Details to Follow :)

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ACCESS & FACILITIES

— The Floating Front Room is a dark green canal boat moored canalside at South Loop Park, Rotton Park Street, Birmingham, B16 0AB.

— Unfortunately The Floating Front Room is not wheelchair accessible, with steep stepped access down into the barge.

— All paths leading to The Floating Front Room through South Loop Park are paved and flat.

— Unfortunately we currently do not have any toilet facilities available, so please do factor this in when planning your visit.

— There is very limited seating on The Floating Front Room with the space being very cosy. If at any point you would like to step outside for some fresh air and extra space, please do so.

— There is no formal seating outside, but there are benches and blankets available should you wish to relax in South Loop Park ahead of the film screening.

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ABOUT NEIGHBOURHOOD COTCH CLUB

Paying homage to Yellow Wednesdays at Impact Hub Birmingham where we gathered for film screening and discussion, Neighbourhood Cotch Club came to shape in 2021 with the screening of Can I Live? by Fehinti Balogun and Complicite. Since then, it has popped up in local venues such as Birmingham Settlement's Nature & Wellbeing Centre, Midland Sailing Club, YARD and the former tubeworks building as part of the Neighbourhood Public Square site, as well as further afield at Lethaby Gallery (Central Saint Martins) and The Building Centre in London.

Neighbourhood Cotch Club explores the role of film as an entry point for discussing ideas which can lead into action; recognising that we needed to create space for this, designing to centre marginalised voices and perspectives that often go unheard in dominant neighbourhood dialogues.

As a play on Neighbourhood Watch, we encourage neighbours from near and far to join us in the act of watching, observing and recognising the changes that we all want to see, support and generate in our neighbourhood, whilst resisting the narratives of survelience and mistrust for each other in our shared spaces, as part of reimagining our relationship to land, materials and each other.

This format was originally born out of the Neighbourhood Doughnut demonstrator of work, which you can learn more about at: bit.ly/NeighbourhoodDoughnut

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