News

January 19, 2016 Hong Kong: consulates, venues and collaborations As the first port of call and a place of recent collaboration and partnership, I wasn’t expecting to unfold such great opportunities in Hong Kong. Had some great meetings that really contributed to the development of Both Sides Now for 2016, and interesting information on venues/activity, including an educational exchange programme, a residency and super...
March 27, 2015 Kisses, picnics and film at Art Basel I don’t remember seeing much artists’ moving image at the art fairs during Art Basel Hong Kong, which struck me as a little strange, but I always feel strange at commercial art fairs. The shocking lighting, the mixture of appalling art work with some classic pieces that look like they should be in a museum....
October 31, 2014 Washington DC, Hillyer Art Space, the capital Hillyer Art Space, 15/05/14 This is my first time in DC and I’m surprised by how much I like it, the low rise buildings and handsome architecture, combined with the unavoidable sense of intrigue, make it feel warm and dynamic at the same time. Hillyer Art Space is centrally located at Dupont Circle, it sits...
October 11, 2014 New York, Spectacle Theater, Brooklyn Spectacle Theater, 13/05/14 This is my first time in Brooklyn, and I’m struck by certain similarities it has to Brighton, at least the Williamsburg part that I’m in. Independent bars and stores, cute coffee shops with tech heads working away, and the ‘local’ feeling of a town. It’s very heart-warming after the swarms of Manhattan....
May 26, 2014 LA, Echo Park Film Center, Tom of Finland Echo Park Film Center, 08/05/14 Echo Park Film Center is jewel of a place, the walls are lined with film canisters, DVDs and information about films and processing films. When I arrive the education coordinator for Echo Park is hand processing some film in readiness for a youth session on film processing. I like this...
May 8, 2014 Tucson, Exploded View Gallery, desert Here I was expecting Tucson to be a hard sell, and the type of town I would feel most alien too. But no, if anything, I felt most comfortable here. Tucsonians are generous, beautiful, creative and friendly people. If you want to feel welcome, come here. Reception of the Selected 3 programme at Exploded View...
May 7, 2014 Phoenix, No Festival Required, old and new Cloudy LA skies are welcome today following the brilliant, burning desert skies of Phoenix and Tucson for the past week. I even, perversely, imagined British winter chill for a moment in the deep heating sun. Just for a moment. Model audiences. If you want model artists’ film audiences go to Tucson’s Exploded View Gallery and also...
April 29, 2014 San Francisco, Artists’ Television Access, gentrification Artists’ Television Access – or ATA is it’s better known – is based in the Mission District of San Francisco, a popular area that is seeing a lot of regeneration and gentrification. The development of the area, the increase in new bars, and the loss of the old neighbourhood comes up frequently in conversations with...
April 25, 2014 Seattle, traditional audiences and artists’ film… Sophie Beresford stretches half-naked on screen to seemingly consider the next act in her film ‘Making Adidas Mermaid’, one of over 50 similar films she made in one day. Adding to the soundtrack is a deep sigh from the back of the theatre, along with a few chuckles. I’m in the company of a traditional...
April 24, 2014 Moving image, Northwest Film Center, Portland Portland was a joy. The guys at Northwest Film Center are such a wonderfully friendly and generous group of professionals. I really enjoyed the experience of working with them. Before the screening I had coffee with Morgen Ruff, one of the Northwest Film Center team, and we spoke about the moving image infrastructure and artists...
April 17, 2013 Coming to America – touring artists’ film in the US I didn’t expect organising this tour of Selected round the States to be as manageable as it has been. Not that it was simple, and a lot of time and effort had to be put in doing research, and talking to contacts – a big thanks to filmmaker Ben Russell, Heather Corcoran at Rhizome, and Clinton...