Comments Off on Selection Panel Announced for Exeter Contemporary Open 2015
#ContemporaryOpen
Exeter Phoenix is pleased to announce the selection panel for Exeter Contemporary Open 2015. Joining Phoenix Gallery curator Matt Burrows will be artist Sean Edwards, artist, writer & curator Cedar Lewisohn and independent curator and gallerist Jennie Syson.
The deadline for entries will be Friday 12 June and the exhibition will open in early September at Exeter Phoenix.
Sean Edwards is an artist based in Abergavenny, Wales, who has exhibited extensively both in the UK and internationally. He is represented by Limoncello gallery (London) and Tanya Leighton gallery (Berlin). Recent exhibitions include MOSTYN, Llandudno; Limoncello, London and Zabludowicz Collection (all 2014)
Cedar Lewisohn is an artist, writer and curator, based in London. He curated the exhibition Rude Britannia at Tate Britain (2010) and is the author of publications on Street Art and Abstract Graffiti. Recent curatorial projects include The Canals Project and Punk & Sheep gallery, London and in 2014 he completed a year long residency at the Jan Van Eyck Academie, Netherlands.
Jennie Syson is an independent curator and gallerist based in Nottingham. She is the director of SYSON, a commercial contemporary art gallery in the city, and has an extensive background as a curator, producer and consultant on various public programmes, events and exhibitions, both in the UK and internationally.
Comments Off on 2015 Short Film Commissions Announced
Following a flood of applications for the Devon Short Film Commissions, Exeter Phoenix is pleased to announce the four selected bursary films for 2015. Submissions were requested from Devon filmmakers who have created an original idea for a short film between 5-12 mins long in any genre, from narrative shorts to documentary and animations.
Each of the selected filmmakers will receive support in creating their project over the coming year, and the opportunity to show their work at Two Short Nights Film Festival this autumn.
See below for 2015’s selected filmmakers and keep an eye on our website for developments.
Sunday
About the film:Sunday portrays twelve hours within twelve minutes, with each minute equalling one hour. These hours take place during one Sunday as we follow the daily routines of five characters, offering glimpses into their lives and personalities. There will be an emphasis upon the beauty and enjoyment of everyday life, focusing on how it is the ordinary moments of life that are in fact the best.
About the filmmaker: Hebe is in her second year at the University of Exeter studying English. As part of her degree she has spent a lot of time studying films and is looking forward to putting her learning into practice.
About the film: The near future. As the cost of education hits a crippling high, an aspiring drama student contemplates a unique method to pay off her debt.
About the film: Elvin has always strived to follow in his grandfather’s foot steps and have a business of his own where he makes and sells doors. In order to keep his business open he resorts to stealing doors in order to sell them back. Elvin comes to many different points in which fate could have lead him down a different path, but it is through the most unlikely decision that Elvin chooses were his fate lies.
About the filmmakers: Robert and Robert have been working together for the past 5 years and have recently started a production company, Halide. Together, they have made many short narrative pieces over the years but feel this one will be their biggest and most professional yet. It is their belief that film is not just a story, it can change the way people think and give people and experience they might never encounter, those are the films we want to be a part of and strive make.
Working the Farm (working title)
About the film: Nicola Bishop is a 24-year old dairy farmer. She is one of the youngest female farmers in the country, running the business that has been in her family for generations. This observational documentary follows her from the early morning milking shift, to the 2am cow calving call outs. But farming is just the day job and there is never a dull moment in the life of this young woman following her dream.
About the filmmakers: Will has been working in the moving image sector for the past ten years across a variety of broadcast programmes, online documentaries and corporate communications. He enjoys producing vivid imagery combined with good storytelling to get his message across. His passion is to work with people creatively to produce engaging and memorable work.
Andrea has worked as a journalist for eight years. Most recently for ITV News, she knows how to tell stories in an engaging and concise way. She has loads of experience live on location and also works producing online and social media content. She also turns her hand to PR and broadcast research.
Exeter Phoenix will be working with these filmmakers alongside our Two Short Nights Film Festival sponsors Colourburn to guide them through the filmmaking process and create some stunning work in 2015. The completed shorts will be premiered at the finale screening of Two Short Nights Film Festival on 27th November 2015 at Exeter Phoenix.
Follow the progress of the filmmakers via updates on the Exeter Phoenix Creative Hub website. Find out more about last year’s Two Short Nights Film Festival here.
Comments Off on Call For Entries: Exeter Contemporary Open 2015
Exeter Contemporary Open is an annual, open submission exhibition that presents work from some of the most exciting emerging and established artists from across the UK and beyond.
£1000 Overall Award | £500 Additional Award | £200 Audience Choice Award | Moving Image Award
Please note that this post is from 2015, see below for information on the 2016 call out
Lonely Skeleton In The Rain by Jack Burton, Black Fonda by Paul Merrick and Stripey Socks by Tom Pitt. Overall winners of Exeter Contemporary Open 2015
For information on 2016’s exhibition and application process visit
Comments Off on Exeter Monopoly Board to be Released
Exeter is to ‘pass go’ and soon its very own version of the Monopoly board game will be available in shops.
Members of the public voted in their thousands to secure the go ahead for the Monopoly: Exeter Edition which will arrive as the board game celebrates its 80th year. Runners up included Dorchester, Taunton, and Truro, but with an impressive 34% of the vote, Exeter won the poll.
With the Exeter Edition now in development, attention has turned to the question of which of the city’s landmark venues and locations will make it onto the board.
Once again, the decision is being put to the people, with suggestions invited via email to exeter@winningmoves.co.uk.
Want to see Exeter Phoenix take a spot? We do! So go on, put in a good word for us. The deadline for voting is Sun 29 Mar.
‘This could see Exeter Guildhall replace Whitehall, while the Phoenix or the Northcott Theatre could have London’s West End slot, Mayfair could be Exeter Cathedral – and Fleet Street could well be the Express and Echo. As well as property themed landmarks, many of the game’s Community Chest and Chance cards will be customised too’
EXPRESS AND ECHO
Alongside the vibrant mix of events, exhibitions and festivals that happen in our building, Exeter Phoenix is also home to the Creative Hub – a resource, meeting place and melting pot for creative practitioners and organisations, access equipment and facilities and pick up new skills.
Whether you’re already a filmmaker or visual artist, a performer, designer or musician, a curator, director or producer, or simply someone who wants to hang out with likeminded creative people and get involved in a project, the Creative Hub is a great way of keeping connected.
How to keep in the loop
Browse the website
As well as holding archives of past projects and commissions, we keep this site updated with news and new opportunities, and upcoming creative social events at Exeter Phoenix.
Sign up to receive Creative Hub newsletters
Monthly newsletters with opportunities, networking events and news from Exeter’s creative scene. Sign up to the Exeter Phoenix mailing list here and select ‘Creative Hub’ in your preferences. If you’re already on our mailing list, sign in hereto opt in to the Creative Hub.
We provide artists support at every step. Whether you’re just starting out or already an established practitioner, we offer commissions, tailored training, facilities and networking opportunities to help you learn new skills, test out ideas and develop your best work.
Every year we work on several projects with our wider community. These range from innovative collaborations with partner organisations, projects which engage with local or national scale initiatives, and activity which supports access and participation for groups beyond our traditional audiences.
In our building you’ll find several art galleries, a large auditorium with a balcony, a cinema and moving image screening space, as well as computer editing suites, artist studios, meeting rooms, a radio station, sound recording studios and a print workshop. All this is centred around a friendly café bar and terrace serving delicious locally-sourced food and drink.
We hire out a range of equipment and spaces at affordable rates and can adapt to meet your individual needs.
Each year Exeter Phoenix commissions new work from both filmmakers and visual artists as part of our commitment to supporting artists, nurturing great talent and enabling the production of new work.
Over 100 filmmakers and visual artists have received our support, many of whom have gone on to exhibit and screen their work nationally and internationally, winning awards including Cannes Short Film Corner, Virgin Media Shorts, Media Innovation Awards and First Light Awards.
‘Working with Exeter Phoenix you are introduced through workshops to a positive and supportive network of artists who are in the same boat. A particularly important and motivating part of the process is that you get an actual venue to showcase your work at the end and the chance to share in an experience following months of hard work’.
– Richard Gosling directed Baby Bird – the winning Best Short Film Commission 2014.
Current Commissions and Past Commissions
Find out more about our current commissions schemes and our previously commissioned projects by following the links below.
Comments Off on Exeter Phoenix Granted Funding for New Cinema and Building Developments
Exeter Phoenix is delighted to announce that it has been successful in a bid to Arts Council England for £320,000 to increase its facilities.
The project, which will be match-funded, will enable an expanded film programme that will take place in a new cinema, offering more opportunities for local filmmakers and artists to show their work. Capitalising on the success of recent film festivals such as Scandiland – a season of Scandinavian cinema – Exeter Phoenix will produce more unique festivals that combine music, art, film and food, making a trip to Exeter’s only independent cinema, something truly special.
Audiences will be able to see more high-profile bands and comedians play in Exeter due to increased capacity when a new balcony and an extra 94 seats is installed in the auditorium. A new bar and hospitality area on the first floor will enable visitors to enjoy drinks with a view whilst increased work space will mean more creative companies can work from Exeter Phoenix’s site. The money will also allow the addition of green measures such as solar power generation and insulation.
Derek Philips, Chair of the Board at Exeter Phoenix, said: ‘We are delighted that we can now make these additions to the building which will enable this city’s creative hub to generate new business, develop more artists and create more opportunities for South West audiences.’
Exeter Phoenix, along with four other arts organisations in the region will receive the money from the Arts Council’s Small Scale Capital Funding Programme for developing the sustainability and resilience of buildings. Phil Gibby, Area Director, South West, Arts Council England, said: ‘We’re delighted to be supporting these five organisations through our small scale Capital programme. The grants will have a real impact on the future resilience of the organisations, consolidating and improving their existing spaces and resources, making them more innovative businesses and ensuring higher quality and more adventurous art and culture for audiences.
Architects Eduardo Hoyos has been appointed and work is scheduled to commence this spring.
To celebrate Vibraphonic Festival 2015, we’ll be screening some of our favourite movies about music.
Tickets just £5 per film or £8 for a double bill.
Booking a double bill online: add tickets for both films to your basket and a discount will automatically be deducted upon checkout.
Mon 16 Mar
20,000 Days On Earth (12)
6pm
The writer and musician Nick Cave marks his 20,000th day on Earth. Featuring cameo appearances from Kylie Minogue and Ray Winstone, this part-fictionalised documentary flits between neo-noir pastiche and ripe psychological melodrama, revealing intimate moments, musical performance and Cave’s reflections of his world.
Featuring André Benjamin (Outkast) as Jimi Hendrix, this engaging portrait of a musical legend portrays the early stages of Hendrix’s career, as well as broader issues of class and race in the 1960s.
An uplifting drama set within the Northern Soul musical phenomenon of the 60s and 70s which underscores the role of music as escapism from everyday working class life. An upbeat, irresistibly cool soundtrack accompanies this celebration of youth culture.
Guaranteed to get your feet tapping, this biopic of soul and funk superstar James Brown’s rise to fame features one of the year’s most outstanding performances from its lead Chadwick Boseman and is characteristically accompanied by a thrilling soundtrack.
Starting on the Mon 12 Jan with the international German smash-hit Run Lola Run, audiences can go on a nostalgia trip to revisit old favourites, or have the thrill of discovering these films for the very first time. Audiences will take part in post-screening discussions and Q and A sessions about the themes, technical and stylistic elements that go into the making of these films so culturally significant. To follow, February’s cult critique film is The Matrix, and March sees This is Spinal Tap back on our screens and ready for debate.
Run Lola Run (15)
Mon 12 Jan | 7.30pm | £5
Run Lola Run made waves in international cinema with its innovative use of multiple narratives. Set in Germany, the film cycles through alternative versions of the 20 minutes Lola has to find and deliver 100,000 Deutschmarks to her boyfriend before he holds up a supermarket.
Share your thoughts after the screening in a post-show discussion about the film. Don’t worry if you’re not a film buff, it’s open to everyone. If you don’t want to speak up, there will be a chance to submit written questions anonymously.
Joining the discussion will be freelance film writers Chris Hallam and Jordan Brown and film lecturer Sally Hughes. Together we’ll get under the skin of this cult classic, debating themes of realism, multiplicity, fragmented timeframes, narrative and character development and the impact on the spectator.
From Exeter Phoenix, let us lead you to an alternate reality in a secret location to re-live this monumental film.
Employing revolutionary bullet time editing with motion capture techniques and melting minds with a reality bending narrative, The Matrix soon became a sci-fi-action essential. ‘Take the red pill’ to join Neo and the team on a quest to a hidden location for a one-off screening of the Wachowski brothers’ deliciously inventive film.
A post screening debate will unfold recognising themes of reality, consciousness, societal structures and the impact of the technology on the sci-fi genre. Remember, ‘there is no spoon’. More info to come.
Follow the Exeter Phoenix team to a hidden location to experience this comedy mockumentary as you have never seen it before.
An iconic rock mockumentary that follows the fictional British metal band Spinal Tap. With a healthy dose of parodic humour, the film follows the band as they struggle to get back on the charts, presenting the complicated history of these rock musicians through interviews and behind the scenes moments, highlighting the stereotypical moments of tours, performances and the promotors and groupies that surround them.
Post-screening discussion: Ramp the debate up to 11, picking apart the genre of ‘rockumentary’, concepts of the real, rock ‘n’ roll lifestyles
and the appreciation of the legends that were Spinal Tap.
Comments Off on More than your average trip to the cinema
With new immersive cinema experiences, special post-screening events, plus discussions and Q&As, you can now get more out of your Monday night trip to the cinema than ever before.
With tickets priced at just £5 across the board, films range from Polish and Russian masterpieces, acclaimed animation, tense ecological thrillers, intriguing documentaries, gripping social dramas and the most talked about films of 2014. In short, there is truly something for everyone.
Drawing on the immense popularity of ‘Secret Cinema’, audiences at Exeter Phoenix will also be able to enjoy the magic that comes from an enhanced cinema experience. With hidden screening locations and post-screening talks all included in the ticket price, as well as special £12 meal and film combinations applied to certain films, we’re taking film in Exeter up a gear.
Browse our Jan – Mar film programme HERE (and don’t forget to look out for special film events with the icons below)
Comments Off on Proposals invited for 2015 Devon Short Film Commission
Applications for the Exeter Phoenix short film commissions are now open.
Exeter Phoenix Digital has been commissioning short film projects for 12 years. In this time nearly 80 Short Films have been funded and/or supported and developed.
Exeter Phoenix Digital aims to support and nurture emerging film talent by:
Providing opportunities to create and develop ideas and skills
Offering training in Camera Skills, Script development, sound recording and other aspects of digital filmmaking
Generating new networks and connections
Offering advice and support to the filmmaking community.
The 2015 DEVON Short film Commission will be an award of £500. There will be four DEVON Short Film Commissions awarded.
Deadline extended due to high demand, new deadline – Mon 23 Feb
Comments Off on Proposals invited for 2015 Artists Moving Image Commission
Proposals are invited, from South West based artists, for the creation of a new moving image based artwork for screen, installation or online display.
Exeter Phoenix will provide a single £1000 fee towards production costs for developing and realising the selected project, and as an artists fee.
Exeter Phoenix has been commissioning new work, primarily in film, performance and visual art for over 12 years in which time hundreds of creative projects have been funded.
We are looking for original and engaging ideas that could be experimental, conceptual, narrative or abstract. It could be a development of an existing moving image practice or a new direction for you as an artist, stepping out of your usual discipline. The work could originate in any format including video, digital animation, or film but will probably result in a digital presentation format.
Above all we are looking for a sense of potential that can be realized with our support.
Deadline extended due to high demand, new deadline – Mon 23 Feb
Comments Off on Two Short Nights Winners Announced
‘We are proud to be supporting such impressive local filmmaking talent.’ DAMO CROSS, COLOURBURN
The winners have been announced for Exeter Phoenix’s Two Short Nights Film Festival 2014, sponsored by Colourburn. Only five award categories and almost 65 short films screened in two days created a difficult task to for anyone to separate work that had such an eclectic range of styles, themes and approaches.
Best Short Film Commission went to director Richard Gosling for Baby Bird. The film tells the tale of eight-year old Arthur and his attempt to nurture the abandoned bird egg he has discovered. The film combined live action with beautifully executed animation sequences, showing Arthur’s fantasies for the lives of the birds and depicting his anxieties and need for redemption. The Audience Award, voted for by the public throughout all of the festival screenings was won by Luke Jeffery, director of bursary commissioned film Seeing Red.
New to Two Short Nights this year was a documentary theme, which saw a collection of International Short Documentaries screened on Friday 12th December, along with The Live Pitch for the new Exeter Phoenix Digital Documentary Short Commission, supported by Colourburn. Panel member and festival sponsor Damo Cross commented that ‘The standards of the proposals pitched for the new documentary commission were all very high, demonstrating the amazing array of creative short film activity in and around Exeter.’ Congratulations to Amanda Whittington who fought it out to win this commission with her proposal for Jab Jab, a revisit of the sound, experiences and relationships of the high energy British black band that performed in the 1970’s. The Best Documentary award went to Born to be Mild directed by Andy Oxley for his comedic documentary depicting the activities of The Dull Men’s Club.
An incredible 400 short films were submitted for this year’s International Shorts Screenings meaning there were three separate showings comprising over twenty short films. Competition for the International Open Award was high but ultimately I am Sami was chosen from a plethora of possible worthy winners.
The 48 Hour Film Challenge saw a host of teams write, shoot and edit films in only two days, within the theme of ‘Myths and Legends’. Team No Egos won the Best 48 Hour Film award for The Snug. Phoenix Digital Film Coordinator Ali Pym said, ‘This year’s 48 Hour Film Challenge was the most tricky to date, demanding a high level of creativity from filmmakers using a music track as the prop. The teams certainly stepped up to the challenge, providing a wide range of interpretations of the brief. Thanks go out to Drunk with Joy for supplying the track ‘Strangers in the Making’ for this year’s brief.’
The physical awards presented to the winners lived up to creative expectation this year, being designed through a £1000 artists commission supported by Exeter Phoenix Digital, Colourburn and IdeasTap. They were created by artist Bethan Highgate-Betts, who used 3D printing and electronics to make the awards that project light, glow in the dark and display stills of the winning film.
Jonas Hawkins, Exeter Phoenix Digital Media Manager said, ‘It was great to see new elements to Two Short Nights this year. The Live Pitch for our new documentary commission gave filmmakers a fantastic opportunity to present their work and gain insight into industry processes.’ Returning for its 13th year, the Two Short Nights Festival is an event that enjoys strong support from local film enthusiasts. The different screenings, commissions and seminars provide vital opportunities to local filmmakers.
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