The Grand Hotel is to launch the 2017 Flatpack Festival, the city’s annual celebration of quirky film, workshops and installations.

Details of the opening night have been released as one of the teaser highlights of the 11th Flatpack, which will run from April 4 to 9, 2017.

It will be the public’s first chance for 15 years to see inside Colmore Row’s most imposing edifice since The Grand Hotel closed in 2002.

The Grade II* listed French Renaissance-style property was originally built in 1879 by Issac Horton, with the family-run company Hortons’ Estate Ltd still owning it today.

The ‘opening’ will be a fleeting opportunity, because The Grand is not expected take guests again until at least 2018, following an estimated £45 million plan to turn it into a world class five star hotel.

Grand Hotel's Grosvenor Suite
Grand Hotel's Grosvenor Suite

Flatpack will use the Grosvenor Suite to screen works by Spanish silent filmmaker Segundo de Chomón, with acclaimed multi-instrumentalist Stephen Horne playing along from 7.30pm-10pm on Tuesday, April 4.

The elaborately decorated room was once the centre of civil life in Birmingham playing host to royalty, politicians and stars of the stage and screen.

Famous people to have used the hotel in the past range from Charlie Chaplin to Winston Churchill, The Rolling Stones and Sir Ian McKellen.

Who was Segundo de Chomón?

Segundo de Chomón
Segundo de Chomón

Although de Chomón (1871-1929) was overshadowed by his early cinema contemporary Georges Méliès – featured in Martin Scorsese’s 2011 homage, Hugo – many critics believe the Spaniard’s work to be of equal merit.

Starting out in Barcelona and then based at Pathe in Paris from 1905, de Chomón tried everything from Gothic horror and trick-film to slapstick and travelogue.

Flatpack’s selection of his productions will include gigantic frogs, gravity-defying acrobats and an electric hotel, as well as some eye-popping experiments with stencil colour.

Tickets for the opening night are £10 and £12, available from Flatpack’s own website here

Video Loading

Where is The Grand Hotel?

43 Colmore Row, Birmingham, B3 2BS

Visit the website here

Half a dozen other Flatpack highlights for 2017

Optical Sound

Eraserhead, by David Lynch
Eraserhead, by David Lynch

A long weekend of musical documentaries, soundtracks and a-v performance, including Eraserhead live as part of another strand offering a feast of David Lynch.

The return of Eraserhead (Birmingham and Midland Institute, 9.30pm-11pm, Friday, April 7 (£8 / £10) includes soundscapes created by French synth duo Cercueil to give the film a new dimension.

You can also see the restored version of Mulholland Drive at Everyman Mailbox from 8pm on Wednesday April 5 (£7.50 / £9.50).

Mulholland Drive, a 2001 David Lynch film starring Naomi Watts and Laura Harring
Mulholland Drive, a 2001 David Lynch film starring Naomi Watts and Laura Harring

The Shared Individual

This is a pioneering example of augmented reality mixing film, theatre and performance.

It will be in the Shell Space at the BCU Parkside from noon on Thursday, April 6 til 7.40pm on Friday, April 7.

Gongoozling Day

This ‘ how to gaze at canals ’ event features the launch of Alys Fowler’s new book at the Ikon Gallery on Saturday, April 8.

Alys explored Birmingham’s canals on an inflatable kayak to try to find beauty where you least expect it.

Around China With a Movie Camera

Around China with a Movie Camera
Around China with a Movie Camera

A chance to explore 50 years of Chinese history via BFI films , including what is thought to be the oldest surviving film shot in China, unseen for 115 years.

Supported by the University of Birmingham’s China Institute and showing at the Old Rep Theatre , Station St from 8pm-9.30pm on Friday, April 7.

Documentary

Nottingham duo Sleaford Mods have been followed by Christine Franz, a regular attendee at 7 Inch Cinema events in the days before Flatpack.

Bunch of Kunst is her debut feature and can be seen in Screen 2 at The Electric Cinema from 8pm on Thursday, April 6 (£8 / £9.50).

Quentin Tarantino

Kill Bill Vol I will be screened at The Huan Gate, 151 Hurst Street in Chinatown during a food and film event on Thursday, April 6 from 6.30pm til 11.30pm (£18).

What is Flatpack?

Holorama
Holorama will be a feature of Flatpack 2017

Director Ian Francis says: “Flatpack is not just a festival – it’s also a state of mind. Actually, that’s overstating it, but it’s not confined to one time or place.

“The kind of work we put on depends upon the project, but recurring themes include animation, music, artists’ film, archive discoveries, offbeat shorts for kids and live cinema.

“We are firm believers in creating a sense of occasion, exploring the fertile territory where film bumps up against other artforms, and showing people things they might not otherwise have seen.”

Flatpack Projects is based at Unit 118, The Custard Factory , Gibb St, Digbeth, Birmingham B9 4AA.

Email: info@flatpackfestival.org.uk or tel 0121 771 1509.

Flatpack is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (no.1162754) and a member of Birmingham Festivals – website here

How to volunteer for Flatpack

Each volunteer must a) be aged 18 or over, b) be passionate about the arts / film, c) be willing to commit to a minimum of three shifts during the festival period and d) be able to attend the Volunteer Meeting on the evening of Tuesday, March 28.