Flatpack Festival directors recognised in influential list
The directors of Birmingham’s acclaimed Flatpack film festival are rubbing shoulders with the likes of Tilda Swinton and Tracy Emin in a list of 100 influential people in the creative and media sector.
This year’s Hospital Club 100, a snapshot of emerging and established UK talent, includes celebrities like Carey Mulligan, star of An Education, and Emily Blunt, who appeared in The Devil Wears Prada.
But also in the emerging film category were the co-directors of Birmingham’s 7 Inch Cinema and Flatpack Festival, Pip McKnight and Ian Francis.
Ms McKnight said she was proud to be representing the city in such illustrious company.
She added: “Being listed in this company is a complete shock to be honest, but it’s great to be recognised like this.
“These lists tend to be very London-centric, and we’re really happy to be flying the flag for Birmingham.”
Others in the 2010 Hospital 100 include Academy Award-winning actress Tilda Swinton, actor Matt Smith, music executive Simon Cowell and renowned artist Tracey Emin.
Starting life in 2003 as a short film night at the Rainbow pub in Digbeth, 7 Inch Cinema quickly developed a reputation for taking films to all manner of places in order to reach new audiences and create a sense of occasion.
In its early years the business was based in the couple’s attic in Balsall Heath, but the success of their annual film event the Flatpack Festival has seen the organisation grow in leaps and bounds.
This year’s Flatpack took over venues across Birmingham and attracted 6,000 admissions over five days, including a growing contingent of national and international visitors.
When they’re not working on the festival McKnight and Francis produce an eclectic range of events and projects throughout the year, including most recently an animation programme for The Public in West Bromwich and a Pebble Mill retrospective at the mac.
