From the festival press release:

A bicycle is without question the world’s most efficient personal transport system ever created , one that increasingly leads to new terrains of cultural enrichment as well as architectural regeneration. Clean your bike and cycle shoes, wash your favourite T-shirt, scrub the grease off your clothing and get yourself presentable for the 2nd London bicycle film festival, which will take place at Cochrane Theatre, Holborn on 7th, 8th and 9th September 2006. The films are hot and aimed not just at cycle enthusiasts but anyone who owns a bike with a sense of humour, who can appreciate a new trend when they see one or a bike’s eye view of international street culture.

Should be worth a visit to the Smoke for

Organized by Brendt Barbur from New York in collaboration with the Bikeoff research project at Central Saint Martins, and designers from Vexed Generation, a weekend feast of films about bikes has been scheduled to entertain different generations of casual cyclists as well as hard core enthusiasts.

There will be a few showings of old classics plus a few new ones. A full schedule and more information regarding the bicycle film festival visit www.bicyclefilmfestival.com or please contact Vexed Generation: Adam Thorpe or Joe Hunter ([email protected]) or call Bikeoff@CSM on +44 (0) 20 7514 7366

Some of the films showing that you may not have seen:

JOE KID ON A STINGRAY-THE HISTORY OF BMX (USA | 2005 | DV/ 90 min.)

Directed by Mark Eaton and John Swarr
Jesse James from “West Coast Choppers” narrates this film. It feature legends like Scot Breithaupt who started the first organized races in Long Beach in 1970, to Bob Haro, who pioneered BMX Freestyle riding, and created the first BMX freestyle bike, to Mat Hoffman, who’s personal sacrifices helped propel BMX stunt riding into the spotlight. Filmmaker Spike Jonze is featured as well. He was influential on the documentation of BMX through his photography and involvement in BMX magazines. These are some of the people who helped make BMX such a unique subculture. The directors have assembled a 30 year timeline packed with rare archival footage and interesting interviews to create a film which explores the history, trends, stars, and current direction of BMX stunt riding and racing.
www.joekidonastingray.com

PEDAL (USA | 2001 | DV/ 52 min.)

Directed by Peter Sutherland
Acclaimed NYC filmmaker and photographer, Sutherland is known for his work as Director of Photography on the skateboarding film “Stoked: The Rise and Fall of Gator” which played to audiences nationwide, as well as the photography book Autograf. Pedal is a fast-paced documentary film about surviving in the streets of New York City as a bicycle messenger. It features messengers from all walks of life as they battle traffic in a race to make their next delivery on time. It premiered in 2001 at the South by Southwest film festival and in New York at the Bicycle Film Festival, and later was acquired by the Sundance channel, where it aired until 2004. The Bicycle Film Festival re-screens Pedal in 2006 to celebrate the Powerhouse Books release of Sutherland’s new photo book, also titled ‘Pedal.’ The book features photos of messengers form around the world who came to New York in 2005 for the Messenger World Championships.
www.petersutherland.net

M.A.S.H. (USA | 2006 | DV/ 22 min.) PREVIEW

Directed by Mike Martin and Gabe Morford
Mike Martin is known for his fine art photography and his commercial photography for clients including Nice Collective, Adidas, Nike, and Microsoft. Morford is very well known in the Skateboarding world for his photography. “M.A.S.H.” takes a look at the style of fixed gear riding in San Francisco. This film is modeled after the style of the skate and surf videos and, with the talent of its directors, brings out the skills and beauty of these SF riders. “M.A.S.H.” will be a landmark in an already emerging subculture of urban riders.
michaelmartin.com

B.I.K.E.

(USA | 2006 | DV/ 89 min.) Directed by Jacob Septimus and Anthony Howard Jacob

Septimus has directed music videos for artists including Mos Def, KRS 1 and Rage Against the Machine. Anthony Howard is an award-winning director of fine art films recognized by audiences at festivals and media such as Art Forum. Howard began to make a film about New York’s chapter of the Black Label Bicycle Club and found himself vying to become a member of the group. Black Label is known for living a lifestyle centered on building bikes together, riding together, eating together, and sometimes living together. Black Label is more than just a bike club or a lifestyle, it is a life. The Film culminates at the Black Label’s BIKE KILL celebration where Howard and friends challenge the group that he, ultimately, could not join, to tall bike jousting.
www.bike-films.com