On Wednesday 14th May, the cinema is coming to the art gallery - or perhaps it is the other way around. The 'ICO Essentials: The Secret Masterpieces of Cinema - Dreams' is a screening of six seminal art-house works of the most influential short films ever made.

The theme of this series of films is 'Dreams' and the works collectively explore the ways in which the artists' film have influenced popular culture at large. George Clark, curator from the Independent Cinema Office (ICO) who has given permission for CineGuernsey to screen this series explains, "Behind every great feature film, the innovation probably came from an artists' film; the works we have chosen are films people talk about as influences but have rarely seen. The whole idea is to put them centre stage".

The choice of short films in the 'Dreams' series aims to illustrate the "imaginative potential of cinema using abstract imagery, animation and elliptical narrative; 'Un Chien Andalou'(1928) directored by Luis Bunuel and Salvidor Dali was the first film that really explored the unconscious and dreamlike narrative. Directors such as Terry Gilliam and David lynch are indebted to it".

Other films in the programme include Maya Deren's enigmatic 'Meshes of the Afternoon' (1943), a pioneering work by a female director. She explores her fractured personality by mixing the everyday and the surreal. She has been an inspirational figure being a filmmakers-filmmaker, rather than a household name". The Czech animator Jan Svankmajers 'Dimensions of Dialogue' (1982) is also being screened. "He is a key figure in dark and challenging adult animation, revolutionary in this time".

The Expressionist film 'Les Jeux des Anges' (1964) by the Polish director Walerian Borowzezyk creates a labyrinth of rooms through animation to evoke the horrors of WW2, and the film 'Asparagus' (1974-78) by the American director Susan Pitt is a psychedelic exploration into sex and creativity.

These films have not only influenced film culture but also visual art, music, fashion, advertising and design; we have all experienced these films through second-hand imitation, now it's the chance to see the real thing.

Pre-film dinner at Browns Restaurant at 7/7.30pm followed by screening at The Gallery 9pm

Tickets: £19 for 2 course dinner + film and glass of wine at the screening.

Call in at The Gallery, Mansell Street for tickets (cash or cheque only)

Pre-booking essential as tickets are limited.

Download the Browns Menu

More information at www.icoessentials.org.uk/programme/dreams