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.
Did you know you can buy Exeter Phoenix gift vouchers? With our diverse programme of events, these make the perfect gift for any culture lover.
Exeter Phoenix gift vouchers can be redeemed for anything in our programme, whether it’s a day exploring your creative side at a sculpting workshop, a training session with our filmmaking team, or a great night out at one of our events.
Buying a gift voucher
Vouchers can be redeemed when buying online, on the telephone or in person at our box office. After you have paid for your voucher, an automatic email containing the voucher will be sent to you. You can choose to have the voucher sent to yourself (to print out and insert into a card), or it can be sent directly to the recipient.
You can buy gift vouchers of any value. Here are some examples of what a gift-voucher might get the lucky recipient...
Exeter Phoenix’s Two Short Nights Film Festival is set to return for its 13th year and is promising to showcase some of the most extraordinary and exciting short films from around the world. From Thursday 11th to Friday 12th December film lovers can watch screenings of newly commissioned shorts, international shorts and films that have been made in only 48 hours, as well as attending talks and the opportunity to watch filmmakers battle it out in a live pitch for our new £750 Documentary Shorts Commission run in partnership with returning festival sponsor Colourburn.
The final celebratory screening of the festival is the premiere of six shorts commissioned by Exeter Phoenix Digital. Five of this year’s commissions are specifically for Devon-based short film projects that provide vital opportunities to local filmmakers. The Devon shorts Ashes, The Exam, BabyBird, Seeing Red and the site specific short Insite will all premiere on the Friday night at 9.15pm.
Following the success of the first Exeter Phoenix Digital/ crowdfunder matched commission last year (Host Familie, Tom Austin), the sixth commission to premiere will be this year’s crowdfunder film A Penny for Them, created by Oddbodies. A complementary Fraid Not ale (Exeter Brewery) will welcome guests to the premiere that provides not only exclusive film screenings, but also includes the Festival awards presentation and the Two Short Nights after party with live music in the Exeter Phoenix Cafébar. DJ Dr. John Sealey will then spin the decks with some funky jazz tunes to see the evening into the early hours.
Approximately 140 short films were submitted for this year’s International Shorts Screenings, now shortlisted into three separate screenings and grouped by the themes of 1. Stretching Boundaries: The Strange & the Experimental, 2.Youth, Bravery, Exploration and 3. Documentary.
Award winning animation Drag Me: An Urban Music Tale, by Nikos Kellis (Greece) will be screened at International Shorts Screening 1 at 6pm on Thurs 11th December, alongside a range of international shorts which experiment with genre, technique or narrative in differing ways.
Arcadia, Dir. Rick Fisher, Canada, 2014. Stretching Boundaries: International Shorts Screening 1, Thurs 11th Dec 6pm.
Horoscope, the new film by Maya Rudolph will be screened at International Shorts Screening 2 at 7.15pm on Thurs 11th December. Maya won the award for Best International Film at Two Short Nights Film Festival 2013 with her film Iceberg so this new short made in China is not to be missed.
Vibraphonic urban music festival, Laugh Out Loud comedy, new immersive cinema experiences and over 50 artists’ work featured in a subversive new exhibition: Exeter Phoenix launches a bold and thrilling new season.
This season, Exeter Phoenix’s music highlights include: The Staves, known for their achingly beautiful harmonies; Welsh man Gruff Rhys of Super Furry Animals; Hudson Taylor, brothers who, when busking in Dublin caught the ear of Polydor Records and were immediately signed; plus recent Mercury Prize-nominees and hotly tipped rising stars of the UK jazz scene GoGo Penguin, who perform as part of Exeter’s Vibraphonic urban music Festival.
Including works by over fifty artists, Phoenix Gallery presents PIGDOGANDMONKEYFESTOS, an exhibition in which all the half-baked ideas, dead ends and prejudiced rants featured in contemporary artists’ manifestos are explored and celebrated. Mike Ricketts’ exhibition follows: interested in the ways in which urban planners and developers design and regulate public spaces, the artist has taken elements from Exeter City’s recent history to create a new body of works.
Exeter Phoenix is now offering a very different Monday night film experience. With new immersive experiences in secret locations, screenings of cult classics as well as post- screening talks, debates and special events, cinema in Exeter is now more interesting than ever before – and all for a reduced price of just £5 a ticket.
Alongside all of these events are stimulating courses in creative subjects including photography, sculpture, website creation, photoshop plus a whole host of activities for families and young people.
Full listings for all events can be found at here >>
Comments Off on Exeter’s very own fools to debut Dick Tracy on April Fool’s Day – no joke!
Exeter’s very own award-winning physical comedy theatre company, Le Navet Bete, have been successful in securing Arts Council England funding (£56,849) to support the creation and national tour of over 40 dates of their brand new show, Dick Tracy, debuting at the Exeter Phoenix on April Fool’s Day 2015.
The show, a co-production with Exeter Phoenix and supported by Exeter City Council, will transport audiences into a physical comedy based on the world-famous comic book detective which sees Tracy come up against a number of adversaries and, of course, the femme fatale. Will he be able to save the day, get the girl and get to the bottom of who’s causing the mayhem spreading across the city? Or perhaps the truth is closer than he thinks…
With their work rooted in the ridiculous, Le Navet Bete’s Dick Tracy will incorporate fooling, original live music, plenty of audience interaction, lightning quick character changes, incredibly authentic accents spattered with mystery, malice and mischief. Having wowed audiences across the globe since 2007 with their inimitable, tightly-honed style of comedy performance, they are teaming up once again with one of the UK’s most exciting comedy directors John Nicholson of acclaimed theatre company Peepolykus. Dick Tracy promises to have the bad guys in handcuffs and the audience in stitches!
Nick Bunt, co-artistic director of Le Navet Bete, said “We’re absolutely thrilled to have been awarded this grant from the Arts Council to create and tour Dick Tracy. It reaffirms their commitment to us as a company and that support is greatly received. The flourishing partnerships we have with the Exeter Phoenix and Exeter City Council, who both supported our most recent street show ‘Rumpus’ and our involvement in this year’s Unexpected Festival, are also a huge benefit to us allowing us to further embed our cultural mark on the city as well as the rest of the UK. We can’t wait to present what we believe will be our most exciting show yet!”
Val Wilson, Arts & Events Manager at Exeter City Council, said “Exeter City Council is delighted to be able to support Le Navet Bete. They bring so much joy and laughter to audiences whether at a street festival or in a black box environment. The company is one of the city’s fast rising stars not only in the South West but nationally and one that the city is proud to call its own.”
Can you help? Exeter City Council needs to reduce budgets in line with Government funding cuts so they are conducting surveys to find out your views about culture in our city.
Currently, a crucial part of our income comes from public funding, including from Exeter City Council. As a registered charity, this allows us to open six days a week, offering free access to our art gallery, run free activities for families, support local artists and offer inspiring, entertaining, life-enhancing events to people who may not ordinarily be able to experience them. We’re already dealing with cuts handed down over the past five years meaning that any further reduction in support from Exeter City Council will certainly affect our ability to continue this work.
We’d be really grateful if you could spare just a few minutes of your time to show your support for culture in our city by completing a short survey here. If you like what we do, please show your support particularly in question 10 and 11 which asks about ‘local cultural organisations and venues’.
Comments Off on Audience Choice Award 2014 – The Votes Are In
We are very pleased to announce that the Audience Choice Award for this year’s Exeter Contemporary Open exhibition has been won by Royal College of Art graduate Lexi Strauss.
Lexi was voted for by visitors to the exhibition, which remains open until Saturday 1 November, for her two watercolour paintings that explore the complexity of our interactions with belief systems and the processes of self-awareness.
Examples of Lexi’s work also currently feature in the John Moores Painting Prize (Walker Gallery, Liverpool) and the Jerwood Drawing Prize (Jerwood Space, London).
Comments Off on Win a £200 voucher for Finisterre UK #coldwatersurf
The Dala Horse featured on the Scandiland logo wants to go on an adventure.
Cut him out from a printout of the page below or download him from scandilandfilm.com and take a picture of him in an exciting location. Tweet it or share on facebook with #scandilandfilm and you’ll be entered in to win a £200 voucher for Finisterre surf wear.
Comments Off on Live pitch for new £750 documentary commission
For the first time in Two Short Nights history, we will be offering filmmakers the opportunity to pitch their ideas live to a panel in an audience filled auditorium. The filmmakers will be vying for a £750 commission to create a documentary short up to 10 minutes in length. The commission will run alongside our annual bursary projects on a 12 month production schedule and will premiere at Two Short Nights 2015.
Still from Andy Oxley’s documentary ‘Men, Loos and Number Twos’
The brief is out on Monday 13th October so keep your eyes peeled on http://www.twoshortnights.co.uk for more details. To apply, we ask for a 400 word synopsis of your documentary idea. This can present any topic, but must be based in fact – we are looking for a diverse and exciting range of ideas from local filmmakers that can illustrate, inform, capture, conceptually represent or entertain, but most importantly have an impact on the audience.
If you are a Devon based filmmaker and have a documentary just waiting for the chance to be made, impress us with your ideas by submitting a proposal by November 10th to be in with a chance of a slot in the live pitching session at 6pm on Friday 12th December at Exeter Phoenix. To apply, visit www.twoshortnights.co.uk and complete the online form. The winner will be announced after the International Shorts Documentary screening (7pm) on Friday 12th December.
This summer, Exeter Phoenix Digital has been working with the Chelsea and Westminster Health Charity on the 2014 Artists’ Healthcare Landscape Moving Image Commission. This provided a fantastic opportunity for lens-based artists to develop their practice in relation to healthcare settings. The stunning work selected came from the artists Benjamin Borley, Volkhardt Müller and Chris Jones, each producing high quality moving image artworks for installation in the waiting rooms of The Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London.
Still from Ben Borley’s Dusk
Each artist has created calming and intriguing fixed view moving image landscape films that promote a sense of wellbeing for the visitors of the hospital spaces. The landscapes captured reflect the beauty of the sprawling Devon countryside and coastline, allowing the audience to watch restfully as the tide draws in, or the wind rustles in the fields. Each artist offered their own interpretation of the brief and the results are both interesting and visually impressive.
Still from Volkhardt Müller’s Sheep
Exeter Phoenix will introduce the three artists, discuss the Artists’ Healthcare Landscape Moving Image Commission and screen the full works as part of the Tuesday Collective on Tuesday 21st October at 7pm in the Black Box (free entry, booking advised).
Comments Off on Introducing Alison ‘Lady’ Wheeler from The South…
An interview from music muso.
We heard that The South were playing at the Exeter Phoenix on September 27th and thought it would be a great idea to hook up with Alison ‘Lady’ Wheeler who, alongside Dave Hemmingway, head up a band called The South (formerly The Beautiful South). Alison kindly agreed to a chat, we got together and had a gas about Tammy Wynette’s Winebago, embarrassing albums from the 80’s and vegetarian hangover cures, here’s how we got on….
There really is no need for lengthy introductions as 99% of folk know who you are, for the uneducated 1%, please would you describe your music in one sentence?
We are the new incarnation from the embers of the Beautiful South, carrying on traditions and improving and growing as well.
You’ve been on tour since February, any particular highlights that you’d care to share with us?
It’s amazing, this has been a really sociable tour, most tours tend to be a block of 3-4 weeks but this one has been spread out over the year to allow us to do gigs primarily from Fridays through to Sundays and you can’t beat a weekend crowd. Hats off to everyone who’s been to see us so far, everyone’s up for the craic and it’s all just been amazing, I think it doesn’t really feel like a tour, singing in front of 30000 people at the Rewind Festival this year was definitely a first for me, despite the band members telling me that we had previously performed in front of more, I think that this was the first time that I had actually stopped to appreciate it, it was lovely!
You also played at the Gosport Real Ale festival, did you manage to sample any of the wares?
I remember that one, I was driving, bad timing on my part, I love ale too, I’ve only recently come onto it, I was mightily upset about that!
If you had a chance to put together your own ‘super group’, who would be in it?
I’m all about the vocals so it would probably be a close harmony group with Beyonce, Doris Day, Ella Fitzgerald, Madonna and Lady Gaga!
Which do you find more rewarding, playing gigs in the ‘early days’ to people who were yet to discover your music or playing gigs nowadays to people who sing along to every song?
Both are exciting in different ways, we’re very fortunate this time around as we’re playing smaller venues, the type of places that don’t pitch you 30 feet away from the front row, instead, we are literally in their laps and you can see the whites of their eyes and it’s great for interaction as you feed off the energy from the audience. I must say that this has been a different type of tour and I’ve really enjoyed it, with them being smaller venues, we take the opportunity to come ‘front of house’ after the gigs (time allowing) and meet the fans, we all enjoy a chat and a pint after all, it’s so nice to catch up and thank the fans for supporting us all these years!
If push came to shove, what do you feel is the best album ever made?
That’s a tough one, really hard, give me a second……(lengthy pause), I think The White Album is a great orchestrated piece, I can’t really say what the all time best album ever is, if I knew the answer to that I think I’d have the key to unlock the universe!
Looking back over the years, what advice would you have given your younger selves?
Learn your trade, there’s a lot of reality TV shows out there that offer a ‘quick fix’ to talented people but get out there, do as much as you can and as often as you can, get your face out there and get noticed, keep trying. I tell my kids that indignation is the best skill that you can have, tell yourself that you deserve to be on the stage and until someone comes and performs better than you, you are in the stronger position…..
Do you own a record that you wouldn’t like to admit you have?
Can I just say yes and move on? (I politely asked her to stop stalling and answer the question….) My dad used to own the first record shop in my hometown which was a real bonus for me and quite an exciting time, it was when you had to put a small insert into the middle of a 45 RPM record to be able to play them. I must admit that I did accumulate quite a few albums back then that I’m quite ashamed of now…..I think it would have to be an album by a band called ‘Dollar’….(Taxi for Ms Wheeler!!)
What was the last live gig you attended as audience members?
I went to see Paolo Nutini at The Roundhouse in August, I didn’t appreciate that he was only doing 4 dates and I ended up having to go online to purchase tickets from one of these ‘semi-legal’ touting sites so I did pay over the odds, it was worth it as he is now playing an arena tour and as I said earlier, you just can’t repeat the experience of a smaller, more intimate venue in a larger place so I’m glad I went. I heard that Paolo Nutini actually auditioned for S Club Juniors back in the day, imagine what a cruel twist of fate that would have been if he had joined them?
You are now called ‘The South’, why not ‘The Beautiful South’?
We split in 2007, Paul Heaton decided that he wanted to go his own way and do his own thing and thought it would be healthier to finish the band rather than keeping us all hanging on. We reformed 2 years later, it was a bit of a stumbling block, we were going to continue to play the back catalogue but also wanted to have ago at producing new material. The first go at a name was ‘The New Beautiful South’ , we were thinking along the same lines of The New Seekers from the 70’s who went on to perform after The Seekers split, something just wasn’t right with the name so we sat down and had a few discussions and as the fans who used to follow The Beautiful South used to refer to us as ‘The South’, it seemed the best name to go with, keep the long standing fans happy as that’s what they referred to us back in the day, it keeps the connection but allows us to grow and perform new material too. We felt that we had to change the name as we did lose a band member and it wouldn’t have been right to carry on with the same name.
Tell us a fascinating fact about any of the band members?
(lengthy pause)…..I can do the splits which has proven that my body can do it but my back doesn’t agree anymore, maybe just a special party trick after a few real ales!
Your catalogue of hits is more than impressive, which is your favourite and why?
To play, I would have to say the following three tracks, Don’t Marry her, Rotterdam and Perfect 10, it’s during these tracks that you just know why you do what you do, the crowd just carry you along. For listening, I quite enjoy The Mediterranean, it’s a very engrossing track.
Which live venue brings back the best memories?
So many, now that we have been doing the smaller venues, there are loads that are amazing, I would probably say my home town gigs are the favourites, Leamington Spa as I can have my entire family there along with friends and my friends (more nerve racking but fun at the same time). The green room at the venue houses Tammy Wynette’s old Winebago, they actually built the room around the bus! It’s an amazing place, really kitsch, it’s like Laurence Llewellyn Bowen has come in and vomited all over the place….
How did your approach to recording your debut album ‘Sweet Refrains’ differ from that of The Beautiful South’s approach?
We had no financing this time so no big record company bank balance behind us, we had to be a lot more frugal. As The Beautiful South, we went away for 3 months and lived in a studio to pull the tracks together, this time we have had to really keep a reign on the purse strings, we found an amazing producer at The Cowshed Studio and he produced the album in North London. There was lots of driving to and fro as everyone is all over the country now. It was great fun as it is our responsibility and our decision on how we marketed it and it was up to us as to which singles we put out.
Do you find that having the level of creative control better now or did you prefer it when you were almost dictated to by the label?
It’s a fine line, I really enjoy the options and seeing as there are 9 of us in the band, it’s sometimes difficult to agree on things and you wish there was one ‘trouser wearer’ that can come up with the decisions, you can’t expect a unanimous decision with 9 people. Saying that, if there was just one ‘leader’, it would spoil the chemistry of the band so I think we’ll stick with what we have right now!
Dave Hemmingway isn’t here, which do you think he prefers, drumming or singing?
I have been in many interviews where he has answered the exact same question so I hope I can remember what he has said in the past! He is a drummer by profession, Paul (Heaton) asked him to join the Beautiful South, he wasn’t a front man, he never felt that he was right for the role, especially with Paul being such a flamboyant character. Dave really is the lead focus of the band as he has been there since the beginning. I’ve seen such a change in his behaviour, he now has a good laugh with the crowd and he’s so dry witted on stage. Whenever our drummer takes a break, he darts in like a rat up a drainpipe and takes over the hot seat!
What is the best cure for a hangover?
I’m a vegetarian now (15 months) and I would have said a big fat greasy fry up but that doesn’t really cut it anymore as I can only have eggs and beans! So lots of water, lots of chocolate and a large bottle of Coca Cola and ideally lots of sleep but with everyday pressures and demands, that can sometimes be a big ask and never normally happens!
Playing live these days, what percentage of the setlist do you give to the older Beautiful South classics?
We normally play about 20 mins of new material and we are hoping to get back into the studio early next year to record more so we have new stuff to throw at the audience, I guess we would play ¾ of the back catalogue material which poses it’s own problems as we receive so many requests for more random, obscure material, it’s hard to know what to include!
We have to whittle them down and agree what’s going to work best combined with the classics that we’re going to play, it’s a pleasant challenge! We hold a couple of ace cards in the wings that we can pull out if needs be. It’s a trial and error exercise, if we feel that the songs aren’t going down as well as they should be, we’ll revert to plan B and get the crowd jumping again!
Do you share Kate Bush’s views that smartphones and tablet devices should be banned from live shows?
It’s a really grey area re intellectual property and sharing stuff like this, I think there’ll be new avenues that are explored down the line. If people profit from pictures well that’s a different story, something that would have to be acted on in the future. Come back and ask me when I have Kate Bush’s following (and bank balance) as I may have a different view on it!
You split in 2007 owing to ‘musical similarities’, are you still in contact with Paul Heaton?
Paul is back with Jacqui Abbot and they are doing really well. We made initial contact with Paul when we decided to go back on the road as Dave Hemmingway wanted to do it out of politeness and Paul was happy for us to do it. Our paths do not cross now, he signed with a major label and is super busy and luckily there seems to be enough space out there for all of us to do what we want to do.
Prior to letting Alison go and dig out her old ‘Dollar’ records, we thought it only fair that we subject her to the musicmuso quick fire questions that everyone loves…..
Coffee or Tea?
Tea
Coca Cola or Pepsi?
Coca Cola
Drum machine or the real deal?
Real Deal
Fry up or Sunday Roast?
Fry Up
Lemmy (Motorhead) or Ozzy (Black Sabbath)?
Ozzy
Rotterdam or Perfect 10?
Perfect 10
Acoustic or Electric?
Acoustic
Tattoos or Piercings?
Tattoos
Robert De Niro or Al Pacino?
Al Pacino
God or Google?
Google
We’d like to thank Alison for sparing her time to chat to us and we wish them every success on the remainder of the 2014 live dates which are selling out FAST, we’ll be at the Exeter show at the Phoenix to take some pictures and review the evening, we’ll see you all there!
Comments Off on Scandiland: A Season of Scandinavian and Nordic Cinema
A pop up cinema in Haldon Forest, dark and atmospheric screenings of classic thrillers, live Swedish music and a salivating food presentation; just some of the immersive cinematic experiences created by Exeter Phoenix this November.
This November, Exeter Phoenix presents a season of Scandinavian and Nordic cinema. Featuring films from Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Iceland, audiences will journey through snowy landscapes, confront troll-infested forests, consume surreal assignments and experience moody Nordic Noir.
The season launches on 8 November with a screening of the Norwegian thriller Troll Hunter. From Exeter city centre, audiences will be taken on a bus deep into the woods of Haldon Forest. As darkness descends they will be greeted by a Rekorderlig cider and a smorgasbord of tasty Swedish canapés before entering a bespoke cabin cinema to watch the fantasy thriller.
On 11 November, Surf Cinema presents an evening of cold-water surf films charting some of the individuals who brave the roughest of conditions to get their fix, followed by live music from Finnish folk punk band Slack Bird. The following night sees a dark and comic double bill offering a humorous and unusual insight into the Nordic countries with Of Horses and Men and In Order of Disappearance.
On 16 Nov, set amongst a taxidermy filled cinema-hut in Stoke Hill and accompanied by music from a Swedish musician and storyteller, will be a screening of Lars Von Trier’s Antichrist. Strictly for over 18s, this event offers an extraordinarily atmospheric setting to in which to watch this seminal film.
Back at Exeter Phoenix on 17 November, a screening of the Oscar-nominated Norwegian comedy Elling is screened alongside Kitchen Stories highlighting the best visual storytelling from the country, whilst two new Nordic noir titles, Tommy and Hour of the Lynx will be presented on 22 Nov.
In a free event on November 20th we invite you to snuggle under a blanket on our terrace for an outdoor screening of a selection of Icelandic short films, complete with hot drinks and cinnamon treats from the Café Bar.
A screening of Babette’s Feast on 24 November will include a salivating presentation by food historian Dr Annie Gray who will introduce Babette’s dishes, identifying her unusual ingredients and discussing long forgotten techniques.
Finally, Exeter Central Library will host an evening of Scandinavian storytelling by performer Emily Parrish who will share stories of Loki, a god of Nordic mythology, before a Nordic film screening.
Comments Off on Contemporary Open 2014 Winner Announced
An exclusive awards ceremony and exhibition opening at Exeter Phoenix last night saw Hannah Murgatroyd announced as the recipient of the prestigious £1000 award for Exeter Contemporary Open 2014. The artist, who recently returned to the UK after years working in Berlin said, ‘I’m thrilled. It means so much just to be part of this exhibition, which has a fantastic reputation. I’m delighted to have won.’
‘I Would Not Know Who I Am’ by Hannah Murgatroyd
The Additional Award of £500 was given to Barcelona-born Robert Cervera who’s work explores encounters (real or imagined) between our bodies and the structures that surround us, particularly physical structures such as walls, enclosures and buildings. He said ‘with just seven other artists exhibited, the opportunity to show my work is the best prize. The exhibition is curated very carefully with great attention to detail, which is very attractive for an artist. The fact I also won an award is the cherry on the cake!’
‘Cure (Elbow)’ and ‘Cure (Forearm)’ by Robert Cervera
This year’s Exeter Contemporary Open exhibition is open to the public from 13 September to 2 November. It presents a range of work in which popular culture, advertising, notions of beauty and the body are just some of the subjects explored. Although not chosen to create a theme, unintended connections and synergies seem to form when the art is brought together.
Now in its tenth year, Exeter Contemporary Open has become one of the highlights of the South West’s arts calendar. Sponsored by Haines Watts Chartered Accountants, it is providing an important national platform for contemporary visual artists. Ben de Cruz, Managing Partner of the firm said, ‘The exhibition this year is quite amazing and the overall quality of the work continues to grow. Exeter Contemporary Open has become a major art event in the area and we are delighted to continue to be involved in supporting the arts in the South West.’
A further Audience Chioice award, voted for by visitors to the gallery, will be announced on the 21st October. The Exeter Contemporary Open also received generous support from media partner The Big Issue and St Austell’s who provided wine for the exhibition opening.
This season, Exeter Phoenix’s music highlights include Mercury-prize winning Nick Mulvey (previously of Portico Quartet), Radio 6 DJ Ben Watt and original members of The Beautiful South performing their much loved songs alongside a programme packed with some of the best instrumentalists and singer songwriters in folk, blues, jazz and world music. Acoustica, in which over sixty acts perform alt-folk and Americana over seven stages, offers a chance to experience the best new talent with a festival vibe, whilst the New Year’s Eve Time Travellers’ Ball invites revelers to party through the decades with live music, DJs and time-warped happenings.
In addition to regular Monday screenings of independent films, there are new special immersive experiences very different from the usual multiplex offering: The screening of Calypso Rose: Lioness of the Jungle – a documentary following the life of the calypso queen of the world – will be followed by a Q and A with the director; the screening of the 1920’s silent film Siliva The Zulu will be accompanied by a live musical score performed on traditional African and Western instruments; Scandiland – a season of Scandinavian and Nordic cinema – will launch with a screening of Troll Hunter in a cabin deep within Haldon Forest.
New one-day classes and seasonal workshops have also been added so in addition to the many different art and digital courses on offer, there is now the chance to learn theatre design, make props, create vintage Christmas cards or make an organic wreath.
Comments Off on Quirky Arts Market & Pop up Auction
Unique Boutique offers a way to shop like no other. A quirky arts market, it showcases the best of the west in the arts and crafts world offering the chance for discerning buyers to support local makers and independent businesses.
Stallholders include makers of glass beads and decorative accessories, upcycled furniture, home-spun wools, ceramic platters and dishes, and all sorts of cards and drawings, textiles and fashion.
September’s event features a brand new addition: a pop up auction. Art originals, special editions and one off curios made by Devon’s hottest makers and designers will be go to the highest bidder. Having experienced the thrill of bidding, shoppers are invited to browse the stalls, chat to the makers and indulge in some homemade cake and tea.
Unique Boutique
A quirky arts market offering original, handmade and locally crafted goods.
Big Screen In The Park returns to Exeter’s Northernhay Gardens for four nights of fabulous films under the stars.
This year we are venturing to the moon and back, saving the world from super villains, visiting the bottom of the ocean in search of jaguar sharks and reaching top speeds in vintage Formula 1 cars. It sounds quite exhausting… but rest assured, all you have to do
is lie back, nestle on a rug and watch someone else take all the action. We also have the usual array of tempting goodies to keep you happy while you watch, including Exeter’s Bikecaffe serving locally roasted coffee, wood fired pizzas from the Little Devon Pizza Co and homemade butter fudge popcorn. Plus our very own Phoenix Café Bar will be running the special Bar Belafonte, serving specially selected craft beers.
Unlike many other cinema experiences Big Screen In The Park celebrates the magic of cinema with 35mm film projection. It is a wonderful thing to watch reels of film thread its way through a projector, accompanied by the whirring sounds of the sturdy machine as it clicks into action sending the first flicker of light to the big screen.
As a film programmer there is nothing like hearing the cheer from the audience as the projected image jumps into action and the film experience begins. We can’t wait to see you there.
A month has passed since Ignite Festival 2014, Exeter’s biggest and best theatre festival to date. With over 200 performances citywide from local and internationally acclaimed companies and over double the number of visitors from 2013, this year saw Ignite Festival leap into national consciousness, putting Exeter’s thriving theatre scene firmly on the map.
As the largest venue taking part in the festival, we had our work cut out for us and couldn’t have done it without our dedicated team of volunteers. So from everyone at Exeter Phoenix, a huge thank you for all your hard work helping make this year’s festival the phenomenal success that it was.
‘It was great to be part of the synergy that was Ignite Theatre Festival. A wonderful opportunity to mix with like minded creative people and support the creative and diverse range of work provided by artists from all over the UK.’
Mai-Lin, freelance creative artist and educator
‘I really enjoyed it! There really is no downside to volunteering at the Phoenix, you get to watch a great variety of theatre and meet lovely people.’
Victoria, second year drama student at the University of Exeter
‘I had a really good time volunteering for Ignite, I was put in charge of the Blackbox space, this involved helping the artists with get ins an get outs, rigging lights and generally making sure they had everything they needed. I’d volunteer again and would definitely recommend it to anybody else, it’s a great way to meet other artistic and creative people.’
Dan, amateur filmmaker and recent graduate with a degree in theatre design and production
‘Any creative person who hasn’t seen much theatre should volunteer, as the variety and talent that the festival showcases will inspire you and show you a million different ways to approach a subject.’
James
‘I found out about the role through the opportunities page on the website, which I’ve used for several things before, including getting involved with the Arts Department on a music video shoot. I have been completely inspired by Ignite festival and would definitely volunteer at Exeter Phoenix again. I’d encourage anyone who was thinking about it to give it a go.’
Beth, recent graduate of Falmouth University
As the South West’s largest multiform arts charity, we always have a variety of great opportunities to get involved in our creative output.
Keep an eye on our jobs and opportunities page and get involved!
Comments Off on Exeter Phoenix Digital Crowd Funder Film Commission goes live
Ever wanted to be a Viking? Or find your own treasure?
Tanya and Paul Morel of Oddbodies, the creative team behind the darkly comic and award-winning Mrs Lustleigh’s Fancies and The Nature of Angrove have been selected by Exeter Phoenix Digital to create a short film though the Crowd Funder Short Film commission.
Exeter Phoenix will fund £500 of their budget but Oddbodies must match at least 100% of this amount via the online fundraising platform Crowdfunder.co.uk.
The film, A Penny For Them, features Ancient Britons, marauding Vikings, the wild and beautiful Dartmoor wilderness, and a large number of ‘Seolfor Pennings’, (anglo-saxon for ‘silver penny’). This psychological drama with a twist in the tale will bear all the hallmarks of Oddbodies’ previous work and tell a compelling story of an uptight English businessman who is troubled by reoccurring nightmares. Distraught and exhausted, he goes to see a Skandinavian psychotherapist specialising in sleep problems. She hypnotizes him in an attempt to get to the root of these anxieties, and what she discovers takes them both on a journey of unexpected consequence.
Shot in intriguing settings and featuring beautifully drawn characters the film was selected by Exeter Phoenix for the Crowd Funder Commission, a new initiative to encourage filmmakers to develop their skills beyond the camera and to think about their audience as the film is being made. Jonas Hawkins, Exeter Phoenix Digital Media Manager said, ‘We want filmmakers to think beyond the traditional routes of film funding and find ways for their practice to become sustainable. It also helps them to think about where the film will go once it is made and how the content might appeal to new audiences’.
Oddbodies have four weeks to reach their target of £1500, which will provide three quarters of the entire film budget and they are seeking the support of kind, generous individuals who are willing to donate towards their campaign. The unique way in with crowd funding works means that every pledge will receive a reward based on the amount donated. Therefore, Oddbodeis will send everyone who offer £5.00 a copy of a beautiful, handmade treasure map which will lead to hidden Lyford Pennies. £75.00 will offer backers the chance to play a marauding Viking in the film and for £100 Oddbodies will send a beautiful set of handcrafted wooden Runes inscribed with the Elder Futhard symbols used by the Vikings.
The film will be premiered at Two Short Nights Film Festival at Exeter Phoenix in December along side all the commissioned film projects and will be entered to international film festivals.
We’re delighted to announce a programme of events this summer with something for everyone. As always, our July to August season has an exciting mix of music, performance, art and film.
Music highlights include the legendary Ian McLagan of The Small Faces and The Faces, a special Chris Difford and Glen Tilbrook show and the always-entertaining Almost The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band. Our Ale and Cider Festival returns and will feature a host of live music acts and DJs, whilst performance wise, we have a special series of Edinburgh Fringe previews in July. First Chance Fringe will feature a series of double bill evenings with up and coming comedians showcasing their newest work.
Rachel Busby, the winner of the Exeter Contemporary Open 2013 Main Award, returns to exhibit in our Phoenix Gallery alongside David Webb. Their show Hinterland will feature new paintings that share reference to personal histories and the powerful agency of objects and places.
Our Monday night films continue to bring the best of independent and foreign cinema to Exeter, and Big Screen in the Park, the annual feast of film under the stars, returns. The best way to watch films, this year’s Big Screen lineup is The Lego Movie, Rush, Gravity and The Life Aquatic with Steve Zizzou (see our new brochure’s front cover). As The Lego Movie would say – everything is awesome!
We have a range of regular and new courses, workshops and digital learning opportunities as well as our monthly Family Saturday events that are full of fun, creative, family activities.
Finally, our Café Bar will have a new summer menu and a selection of excellent new Craft Beers. We’ll have special screenings for the World Cup and you can enjoy great food, drink and sunshine on our open-air terrace.
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