In conjunction with Byker’s Recyke y’ Bike project the Star and Shadow Cinema celebrates a weekend of Bicycle films and activities. Starting with a Critical Mass Bike ride in the centre of Newcastle on Friday evening, the Cinema will celebrate classics of the cinema with films from around the world starring bicycles on Friday and Saturday. On Saturday morning we will also have an enlightening bike maintenance training session. Free parking for bicycles within the cinema!

Newcastle's First Bicycle Film Festival

Friday 30 Nov Programme

(For Saturday programme click here)

6.00pm Meet at St Thomas' opposite the Haymarket and cycle over to the Star + Shadow en masse via Sandyford Road and Portland Road.

7.30pm FILM: We Are Traffic We Are Traffic! (Dir Ted White 1980, USA, 7 mins)

This film chronicles the history and development of the "Critical Mass" bicycle movement-- one of the most spirited and dynamic social/political movements of the apathetic 90's. In over 200 cities in 14 different countries, Critical Mass has now become a monthly ritual of reclaiming the streets by bicycle activists riding en masse. We Are Traffic! tracks this leaderless, grassroots movement from its beginnings in San Francisco in 1992 to its spread across the globe. With a radical direct-action approach the participants of Critical Mass are celebrating the bicycle and in turn taking on perhaps the century's most sacred cow: the automobile.

9.00pm FILM: Jour de Fete Jour de Fête (Dir Jacques Tati 1949, France, in French with English susbtitles, 79 mins)

This film is a rarely seen classic comedy from Jacques Tati, and tells the story of an inept and easily-distracted French postal carrier who frequently interrupts his duties to converse with the local inhabitants, as well as inspect the traveling fair that has come to town. Influenced by too much wine and a newsreel on the rapidity of the American postal service, he goes to hilarious lengths to speed his mail deliveries aboard his bicycle.

This film has gained cult status among the whole of the French population, reconciling 9 to 117 year-olds, Southerners with Parisians, and University teachers with their mechanics. Funny, touching and unique: this is a must see. 

Festival all inclusive ticket is £10.00, excluding bike maintenance class; films on Fri night will be £4/£3 (conc) for both; Films on Saturday will be £5/£4 for the whole afternoon, or £4/£3  for the first two or the Flying Sctotsman.

You must be a member of the Star and Shadow cinema to be able to attend - this costs £1 for a year.