How to make your own birthday film festival
Last month it was my birthday (thank you; and, yes I had a good time) and I’d to share with you an idea that made it memorable and enabled me to get in touch with friends and family.
I’ve put together monthly short film nights in the past but I’ve always wanted to curate a mini film festival for my birthday. However, like all of us, I was facing spending the day without spending time with friends and family. But it dawned on me this could be possible with the power of social media, webcams, and, in the process, spread out the birthday joy over the month.
Here’s what I did:
Without overthinking about it (harder than it seems) I noted down memorable films from different stages of my life. It could have been due to the film itself and/or what happened from watching it (e.g. inspiration for our daughter’s name, how I devised a radio play about miscarriage, being on a date as a teenager, the film that had me in a flood of tears on a night flight to New York, etc.)
I then invited friends and family to pick a film from the list to watch and then we would organise a time to chat about it. I asked them to choose a film they’ve never seen but always wanted to; or one that had fond memories of, and/or they wanted to know why I had picked it.
I didn’t expect a huge response but was pleasantly surprised how many mates took up the offer. I managed approximately four films a week and spread it from the start of February until my birthday.
It was great catching up with so many friends and family and watching films I hadn’t seen in a long time was fun. Many of them still stood up and even the ones that are now dated were good to see again due to the memories I had and for the great chat and laughter they initiated.
I’ll think I do next year, maybe using the films I didn’t get to watch or I might find a different theme. Get in touch if you’d like to take part next time (and we know each other!)
I’d recommend starting your own mini birthday film festival!
Here’s the list. The year is when they were released not when I watched them. They range from cheerleader musicals, classic thrillers, Pixar animation, classic Hollywood action, James Bond, heartfelt comedies, auteur cinema, and 80s teen comedy.
Young Rob
E.T. (1982)
The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)
Cocoon: The Return (1988)
Explorers (1985)
Batman (1989)
Teenage Rob
Weird Science (1985)
Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
Boys in the Hood (1991)
Se7en (1995)
Scream (1997)
Escape from Alcatraz (1979)
The Hand That Rocks the Cradle (1992)
College Rob
Psycho (1960)
Smoke (1995)
Natural Born Killers (1994)
Pulp Fiction (1994)
University Rob
Before Sunrise (1995)
Knife in the Water (1962)
Wings of Desire (1987)
Do The Right Thing (1989)
Rushmore (1998)
Wonder Boys (2000)
The Wedding Singer (1998)
Bring It On (2000)
20s Rob
Superbad (2007)
Almost Famous (2000)
Cloverfield (2008)
Elizabethtown (2005)
Monsters Inc. (2001)
30s Rob
While We’re Young (2014)
Boyhood (2014)
20th Century Women (2016)
Beginners (2011)
40s Rob
Manchester by the Sea (2016)
Eighth Grade (2018)
Lady Bird (2018)
Marriage Story (2019)
