Now in its eighth year, the 2008 Bicycle Film Festival rolls into the Barbican, London from 1 to 4 October for the latest leg of its 16 city international tour. A carnival of films, music, seminars and events that bring together diverse aspects of global cycling culture, Bicycle Film Festival celebrates the numerous ways this beautiful machine is able to transport us; through the city, over the mountains and beyond. Or, as recent events in Beijing illustrate, to Olympic gold.

Founder and director Brendt Barbur says: “We are thrilled that Bicycle Film Festival has aided to catalyse one of the largest youth movements in the world. We hope to show everyone how huge and important bicycle culture is, and how many people live for bikes. The bicycle film festival has been credited with pushing bicycle culture forward throughout the world.”

2008 highlights at the Barbican include the highly anticipated UK premiere of Road to Roubaix, the UK premiere of Macaframa and a programme of Fun Bike Shorts including footage of the day orange DKNY bike took over New York in Orange Bikes Take Manhattan; and Matthew McGuiness, George Bliss and Matthew Modine talking about building a bike movement in Bicycle Stories. Urban Bike Shorts is a series of films that showcase the thrills and skills of city cycling worldwide, including Japanese streetriders in Bang-King 2007 and digital stop-motion animation in The Toolbox.

See www.barbican.org.uk/film or visit www.bicyclefilmfestival.com for full festival programme details. The Cinema Hotline number is 0845 120 7527.