We are delighted to present the second iteration of ‘HORSES!’, a special event co-curated with artist, educator, and equestrian Linda Stupart and Flatpack Festival at Mockingbird Cinema. Comprising film screenings and conversations, ‘HORSES!’ explores representations of horses in relation to class, queerness, anti-colonial contexts and filmic materialities.
On Sunday 10 May, Mockingbird Cinema will be screening ‘Stepney Western’ (2025) by Harry Lawson, ‘Never Stop Riding’ (2017) by Iwantja Arts and ‘HORSES!’ (2026) by Linda Stupart.
These screenings will be followed by an in-conversation with Linda Stupart and Harry Lawson, and special guests Ella Daley and Griffinn Jameson, to explore particular horse and human relationships in the urban setting.
Screenings
2pmOpen accordion
‘Stepney Western’ (2025), Harry Lawson
‘Stepney Western’ is an experimental documentary made with a group of young inner city horse riders from Stepney Bank Stables in Newcastle. It is loosely centred on their ‘Alternative Provision’ programme – a unique alternative for teenagers who struggle in mainstream education settings.
2.40pmOpen accordion
‘Never Stop Riding’ (2017), Iwantja Arts
Alec Baker, Kunmanara (Peter) Mungkuri and Kunmanara (Jimmy) Pompey are senior artists and respected leaders from Indulkana community on the APY Lands, SA. As young men, they worked as Aboriginal stockmen and were renowned for their horse-riding abilities.
In 2017 Baker, Mungkuri and Pompey coordinated a men’s camp at a local cattle station, where they worked together with younger men, passing on their knowledge of horses, country and culture and ultimately producing a short film.
The resulting film is influenced by their ongoing love for cowboys, Westerns and country music – an Anangu spaghetti western: ‘Never Stop Riding’.
2.50pmOpen accordion
‘HORSES!’ (2026), Linda Stupart
‘HORSES!’ Is a new experimental 16mm film and performance event building on Stupart’s long-term research into horse-human relationship. The DIY film consists of found 16mm footage and 16mm documentation of the artist’s earlier performances with horses: images are destroyed; shifted and made malleable via embodied, dirty, imprecise and often abject interventions.
3.05pmOpen accordion
Break (10 minutes)
3.15pmOpen accordion
In conversation with Linda Stupart, Harry Lawson, Ella Daley and Griffinn Jameson.
Ella Daley attended Stepney Bank Stables in Newcastle between 2022 and 2024. She was a key participant in ‘Stepney Western’ (2025) and is currently in-production on a new short film, ‘Eighteen’, with Harry Lawson.
Griffinn Jameson is studying BA Photography at Arts University Plymouth, and was previously an equine assisted learning assistant lead.
About the Artists
Linda StupartOpen accordion
Dr Linda Stupart is an artist, writer, equestrian, and educator from Cape Town, South Africa currently living in Birmingham, UK.
Stupart’s recent work thinks through climate change, embodiment, abjection and the transgression of borders. Recently, they have performed as and on top of icebergs in the Arctic Circle (2019); immersed in the River Cole in Birmingham (2021 – 2023); balanced on a precarious log in the Danube (2024) and floating on top of a home-made raft on the Birmingham Grand Union Canal (2024).
Harry LawsonOpen accordion
Harry Lawson (b. 1994) is an artist and documentary filmmaker from Sunderland. He lives and works in Newcastle. His approach is deeply collaborative, prioritising long-term engagement with participants. Projects develop slowly, often over several years embedded within a community. Through film, installation and public art, Lawson’s work focuses on how communities are seen and how they see themselves.
He has been supported by BFI Doc Society, Arts Council England, and Wellcome Trust, and featured in publications such as The Guardian, Art Monthly, e-flux, British Journal of Photography, The Face, and The Quietus. Recent screenings and exhibitions include GSFF (Glasgow), NCA (Newcastle), BFMAF (Berwick), Chemist Gallery (London), Zumzeig (Barcelona) and Floating (Berlin).
Iwantja ArtsOpen accordion
Iwantja Arts is an Indigenous owned and governed Aboriginal art centre, located in the rocky, desert country of Indulkana Community on the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands in the remote north-west of South Australia. Iwantja Arts is named after the Iwantja Creek near where the Indulkana Community was founded, which is near the site of the Tjurki (owl) Tjukurpa.
The art centre was established in the early 1980s by founding artists and directors Alec Baker and Sadie Singer, and Iwantja Arts now supports the artistic careers of its 40+ predominantly Yankunytjatjara artist members, providing access to artistic and professional development. Iwantja Arts is renowned for its innovative and culturally rich projects with prestigious outcomes that celebrate Anangu cultural strength and artistic excellence.
Primarily a painting studio, Iwantja Arts also supports artists exploring innovative practices utilising experimental materials and processes, as well as a multimedia program supporting intergenerational collaborative film projects like ‘Never Stop Riding’ (2017) and ‘Kungka Kunpu’ (2019).
Access Information
All films will be captioned or subtitled and the in conversation will be live CART captioned.
Address: Mockingbird Cinema, Custard Factory, Gibb Street, B9 4AA.
Step-free access is available to both screens at Mockingbird Cinema. The atmosphere is relaxed and dimly lit.
Screen 1 has a nearby accessible toilet. Please note: Screen 2 does not have access to an accessible toilet. Seating is padded with good back support.
Assistance Dogs are welcome to sit with you. You can find out more about Mockingbird Cinema’s access information through this link: https://flatpackfestival.org.uk/festival-info/venues-and-access
