Comments Off on Winners Announced – Exeter Contemporary Open 2017
From left to right: Aimee Parrott’s Banner 2, Olivia Bax’s Blaaah
An exclusive awards ceremony and exhibition opening at Exeter Phoenix last night saw Aimee Parrott announced as the winner of the prestigious £1000 Overall Award for Exeter Contemporary Open 2017.
Aimee Parrot said, ‘I’m really surprised. It’s a privilege to be showing amongst so many good works. For me making art is a line of exploration. I’m always hoping I’ll make discoveries along the way. I hope the audience does as well.’
The £500 Additional Award went to artist Olivia Bax for her steel plaster and clay structures sculptures.
The exhibition launched with a VIP preview hosted by main sponsors Haines Watts Chartered Accountants at Exeter Phoenix. This year’s exhibition includes a shortlist of eleven artists, selected from several hundred submissions by Independent Curator Kristian Day, Founding Director of VITRINE (London/Basel) Allys Williams and Exeter Phoenix’s Gallery Curator Matt Burrows.
Exeter Contemporary Open sponsor Haines Watts Chartered Accountants, believe it is important to provide a national platform for contemporary visual artists. Ben de Cruz, Managing Partner of the firm said, ‘The exhibition is a beautiful display of contemporary art. Haines Watts were pleased to support this exhibition as the main sponsor.’
A further Audience Choice award, voted for by visitors to the gallery will be announced at the end of the exhibition. Exeter Contemporary Open also received generous support from media partners Exeter Living and The Big Issue, and St Austell’s who provided wine for the exhibition opening.
Eleven artists have been selected to feature in this year’s exhibition; Nancy Allen, Olivia Bax, Gareth Cadwallader, Fiona Curran, Beth Fox, Ralph Hunter-Menzies, Sooim Jeong, Alistair Levy, Suzanne O’Haire, Aimee Parrott and Maryam Tafakory. Working across a range of visual artforms including sculpture, painting, collage and moving image, this year’s artists selection promises a fresh and diverse exhibition covering a range of exciting new work.
Exeter Contemporary Open runs in our main gallery until Sat 4 Nov. Find out more about the exhibition here >>
Comments Off on The Lost Weekend Headliners Announced
We are pleased to announce that Public Service Broadcasting will be headlining Lost In Music during The Lost Weekend – a new 3-day festival taking place across Exeter.
About Lost In Music
Lost In Music spans nine venues across the city and will feature a headline show from Public Service Broadcasting at Exeter Cathedral on Sat 7 Oct. One wristband gives you the chance to see over 40 bands at venues including Exeter Phoenix, The Cavern Club, John Gandys and more. Alongside Public Service Broadcasting, the event will feature performances from emerging names including Dutch Uncles, Mise En Scene, Muncie Girls, Eliza and the Bear and Zion Train, and the best of the bands from the area.
About Public Service Broadcasting
Public Service Broadcasting is the corduroy-clad brainchild of London-based J. Willgoose, Esq. who, along with drumming companion Wrigglesworth and multi-instrumentalist J.F. Abraham, is on a quest to inform, educate and entertain audiences around the globe.
PSB’s uniquely spell-binding live AV transmissions see them weave samples from old public information films, archive footage and propaganda material around live drums, guitar, banjo and electronics as they teach the lessons of the past through the music of the future – beaming our past back at us through vintage TV sets and state of the art modern video projection devices.
About The Lost Weekend
Lost Weekend is a new festival of music, tech, art, film and talks across various venues in Exeter city centre on the weekend of Fri 6 – Sun 8 Oct. The music programme also includes other standalone events such as Wildwood Kin playing in the Cathedral and a conference at Exeter Phoenix, both on Friday 6th. Festival partners include Exeter City Council, the Met Office, TEDx Exeter, Kaleider, Exeter Phoenix and the Cavern Club.
Comments Off on Film Commissions Updates And Sneak Peeks
Film Commissions 2017 Updates
Our commissioned filmmakers have been hard at work over the last five months on their upcoming short film projects. They are really starting to take shape and we are thrilled to be able to share some insight from the filmmakers into the process so far. Their final films will be presented at our Commission Premiere and Award Ceremony at Two Short Nights 2017 in December.
Microfilm Commission
Repercussions – Charlie Coldfield
Photo credits – Ben Tallamy
‘We shot Repercussions in a day mid July at the Moose Studios in Exeter. Finding the right location was a tricky one as we needed a room that looked like a normal room in a flat but in a location where the neighbours wouldn’t mind us playing the drums all day. Moose Studios turned out to be perfect, having a disused flat at the top of the building. The team worked extremely hard all day along with our actors and musicians to create some amazing moments in what we hope will be a memorable short.
We are now in post production with just some voiceover to record to complete a rough edit. We then hand over to our composer Ben Hudson who will create the film’s sound design along with Jimi Stewart. After that it just needs mixing and grading and we will be ready to screen at two short nights.’
Microfilm Commission
The Hardest Fight – Owain Astles
‘So it’s been a pretty busy few months; we’ve been focusing on our outreach work, connecting with boxing clubs and communities around the UK, and have had some incredible, and very personal responses from people, from university students to ex-boxers talking about how boxing has helped them to overcome their mental struggles. What’s been amazing is how much we’ve learnt about all the different reasons it helps people; for some it’s purely the exercise and aggression that clears your head during a boxing workout, while for some it’s all about the supportive community you get in boxing clubs.
We’re still running our crowdfunding campaign (you can still pledge here >>), and have had some very positive feedback from the boxing community, with links published in Boxing News and The Tab, and we’re due to go on a radio show next week to chat about the project. We start filming in just a couple of weeks (ahh!), but we’ve got a solid crew involved in the project, including a number of filmmakers from Exeter, and are excited to get rolling.’
Devon Short Film Commission
Before I Go – Scott Stevens
‘Working on this project so far has been one of the most challenging yet enjoyable things I have done. I have been overwhelmed by the support I have been given by complete strangers during the Kickstarter stage, amazed at the talent the cast and crew displayed during our shoot and slightly confused as to how I haven’t gone completely insane yet.
During the shoot, we faced a lot of issues (mainly battling the rainy weather) but I am extremely happy with how the film has turned out. This has been my first experience of directing a short film that had a budget, had a deadline and had people supporting the film. That pressure has been slightly scary but ultimately has kept me focused on finishing the film and, as we head into post-production, I am hopeful that we will have created something that people enjoy.’
Photo credits – Matt Bell (forest), Scott Stevens (beach)
Devon Short Film Commission
The Aisle – Jimmy Swindell
‘In comedy drama ‘The Aisle’ fastidious event planner Becky is getting married in less than an hour. A series of problems begin to ruin her perfect day and push her into Bridezilla territory. This project was inspired by my time photographing weddings after I left university and focuses on the comedy, fear, anger and family bashing that I witnessed behind closed doors, often in the lead up to the bride walking down the aisle. Set within a close-knit family we look at the nature of the relationship between a father giving away his only daughter and how that impacts upon them both.
We’re currently running a crowdfunding campaign for the project (here >>) We’ve secured the majority of the cast, and are pleased to have Tess Manson on board as Becky/The Bride. Venue hire availability has been a bit of a risk for us. South Devon has some beautiful venues, but as it turns out a lot of them are booked up for real weddings throughout the year. Unbelievable! But we have managed to secure the prefect venue now and looking forward to starting filming.’
South West Animation Film Commission
Totem – Steve Whittingham
‘Totems has certainly turned out to be an ambitious project! This experimental short film is a blend of live action footage and animation in the rotoscope style, where the animation is hand drawn over the live action footage. The film follows the story of Heather (Rosie Issitt) a young woman who finds a mysterious animated “Totem” in the forest. The location for the film is local to Exeter as well as using areas of Haldon forest.
The film is a collaboration between myself and Joshua Clarkin, who both have experience working within the animation industry, and cinematography by Owain Astles who has created a number of short films. Filming for the production is underway, and once finished the process of hand drawing over each of the frames will begin. When completed the film will estimate at around 4500 separate drawings in total.’
Keep an eye out for more updates from the Creative Hub!
Studio 74 is proud to champion women in film, and we are delighted to be part of the F-Rating movement. Throughout our programme you will see the 'F-Rated' tag accompanying selected films in our programme.
Developed by Bath Film Festival and now expanding across the UK, the F-Rating is a new film rating which highlight films made by and featuring women. To be awarded the F-Rating stamp of approval films must answer 'yes' to one of these questions:
Does it have a female director?
Is it written by a woman?
Are there significant female characters on screen in their own right?
Any film that answers yes to all three of the questions is awarded Triple F-Rated status.
The aims of the F-Rating are:
To champion women in film and highlight the fantastic work they are doing.
To encourage conversation around who tells the stories we see on screen – and whether that matters.
To act like a Fairtrade stamp, giving the audience an opportunity to #VoteWithYourSeat, and support women in film.
Find out what F-Rated films are coming up here or look out for the F-Rated tag on our film pages. Join the conversation on Twitter by following @F__Rating.
Comments Off on Laugh, Sing, Dance & Be Inspired at Exeter Phoenix This Autumn
With more than 100 ticketed events, courses and cinema screenings this season, Exeter Phoenix’s September to December schedule is bursting with captivating ideas, beautiful arts and vibrant music.
The city’s most innovative, intriguing and inspired festivals are coming to Exeter Phoenix this autumn. At the Translation Festival, on 28 September, visitors will experience a range of thought provoking interactive events celebrating the uniqueness and diversity of languages and cultures. A full programme of art exhibitions, talks, cinema and poetry, curated by the University of Exeter, it is certain to captivate and engage. From 6 October, Exeter Phoenix will be at the heart of the three day Lost Weekend Festival. Showcasing the best in digital creativity, art, ideas and cutting edge music, the citywide festival will champion Exeter as a home to world-leading scientists and technologists. Exeter Phoenix will host three consecutive evenings of emerging alternative/electronic bands as well as new tech conferences and playable art sessions. From 13 October, the internationally renowned multi-disciplinary WOW: Women of the World Festival brings arts, film, music and conversation to connect and engage with the process of progress for women locally and around the globe. And on 30 November, the Two Shorts Nights shines a light on the very best in short film and homegrown filmmaking talent. The annual event features must-see shorts from across the globe, emerging local talent and special events with leading industry professionals throughout the weekend.
With the success of the annual Laugh Out Loud festival, Exeter Phoenix has become THE home of comedy in the city and this season will continue that trend. Live at the Apollo favourite, Danny Bhoy, leads the way with his critically acclaimed, unique brand of observational story telling on 13 September. Matt Richardson visits on 8 Oct with a charismatic charm that The Guardian described as ‘brash, slick and full of mildly laddish but self depreciating stories, all delivered with an irresistible twinkle’. And witty panel show darling, Phil Wang, performs on 22 Oct.
With more than fifty live music events scheduled for this season, covering everything from funk, folk, pop and blues to afrobeat and electronic opera, the music line up is full of new talent and living legends. September begins with a burst of guitar based pop from Top 40 artist Lucy Spraggan. Host of BBC 6 Music’s Funk and Soul Show, Craig Charles returns to get audiences grooving on 6 October with his legendary DJ night. One-of-a-kind dance music, festival fueled, circus inspired ensemble Slamboree brings arrives on 20 October for a night to be remembered. While award winning LAU, described by the Guardian as ‘The UK’s best live band’, will hit the stage with tracks from their critically acclaimed contemporary folk album on 29 Nov.
Fans of theatre and dance can expect passionate story telling, international music and touch of the surreal. Award winning Hagit Yakira Dance will present a double bill of modern dance on Thursday 19 October and London company, The Cholmondeleys remount their music hall inspired dance gem, Ladies & Gentlemen, on 23 October. Internationally acclaimed puppeteer Stephen Mottram’s brings his curious creations to Exeter Phoenix with The Parachute on 8 October. And the children’s theatre offerings include the latest original works from Devon based companies Theatre Alibi, with Apple John from 18 Nov, and the Quirk Theatre Christmas show, Lucy & the Lost Ones on from 6 December.
Phoenix Gallery will showcase some of the visual arts most exciting talent from the UK and beyond at the annual Exeter Contemporary Open from 14 September to 4 November. Reflecting current themes and trends, a shortlist of eleven artists will be featured at this flagship event. Punk photography phenomena, Visible Girls: Revisited, lands in Phoenix Gallery from 17 November to 21 December. The project reconnects with the present day realities of women originally featured as teenage punks, mods, rockabillies and rastas in the 1980s photographic collection ‘Visible Girls’. Part of a national tour, Anita Corbin’s extraordinary portraits raise questions of social, cultural and political change, as reflected through two parts of a woman’s life.
In Exeter Phoenix’s own solar powered cinema, Studio 74, will be screening special events and much anticipated independent and international film. With a regular weekly line up of cinematic delights, standout features include a reboot of Japanese cult classic, Shin Godzilla(from 2 September), Goodbye Christopher Robin (from 20 Oct) and a 30th anniversary screening of Hellraiser on Halloween. The Studio 74 cinema will be a central venue for special screenings during The Lost Weekend, Women of the World, Translation and Two Short Nights festivals. And it’s accessible screenings, with options for caption subtitles or audio descriptions, make it one of the most inclusive venues in the city.
Ever full of surprises, Exeter Phoenix’s September to December events programme is filled to bursting. For full details of events, films courses and theatre visit the Exeter Phoenix website.
Comments Off on Big Screen in the Park returns for 2017
Exeter’s largest outdoor cinema returns to Northernhay Gardens for 2017. This year’s Big Screen In the Park line up will treat locals and holidaymakers to cult classics, family favourites and new releases over seven summer evenings.
Visitors are welcome to bring blankets and picnics, but can also upgrade to a deck chair or pre-book a specially prepared picnic basket packed full of breads, cheeses, pickles, charcuterie and other nibbles, served up with crisp white wine / locally-sourced fruit juice to round off the perfect evening.
Adding to the festival feel, there will be an excellent selection of food and drink including wares from Flaming Good Pizza, Candyfloss Kids and Chococo, a fully stocked bar and the original and best Bikecaffe.
Big Screen In The Park 2017 is supported by Princesshay Exeter, Exeter BID, Tarquins Gin and St Austell Brewery.
Tickets on sale now from bigscreeninthepark.com or by calling Exeter Phoenix’s box office on 01392 667080.
Comments Off on Try Something New in the Summer Holiday with Our Jam-Packed Family Programme
Prepare yourself for Exeter’s transformation into a stunning film set, its citizens into monsters, aliens and animations, and its young people into the filmmakers, directors and crew of the future. This summer, we have lined up a huge variety of film, theatre, photography and tech activities for young people aged 6 to 17, alongside summer cinema and theatre that all the family can enjoy.
Unpacked Family Theatre Festival is returning from 1 – 6 Aug, in collaboration with PaddleBoat Theatre Company, to bring visual, creative and inspiring storytelling to Exeter Phoenix. With shows for 3-year-olds and up, these pixies, ducklings, frogs and monsters are for all!
Exeter Phoenix’s independent cinema, Studio 74, has fantastic family film options too. Enjoy the uplifting tale My Life as a Courgette, or one of two stunning Japanese animations. And as part of Exeter Phoenix’s highly successful Big Screen in the Park film programme, Monsters, Inc. is showing on Tue 8 Aug. A classic that never gets old, it’s well worth staying up past bedtime for.
As members of Exeter Arts Award partnership, Exeter Phoenix delivers courses and activities to captivate minds and explore new ideas. Young & Animated offers six Saturdays sessions to get to grips with both digital and stop motion animation. Its Tuesday sibling Young & Animated Plus is at a more technical level for older kids. Other options include learning how to shoot expert selfies in The Selfie: Me Myself and I, and a half-day workshop introducing the secrets within the magic of film prosthetics in Behind the Scenes: Life Casting.
Comments Off on Commissioned Film Project Looking For Crew
Exeter Phoenix Commissioned Film Looking For Crew
Photographer & filmmaker Jimmy Swindells is looking for professional crew for his Exeter Phoenix commissioned short comedy/drama, The Aisle.
About the project
The film has a small budget so this is something to get involved with for the love of filmmaking rather than financial gain. If you fancy working on a tight little drama, set in one location, to be filmed over a long weekend in the Exeter/South Devon area in late August/early September 2017, with great catering provided then this is for you! Expenses covered.
The film will premiere this November at our Two Short Nights Film Festival and will then be promoted to other festivals globally.
Crew Needed
We are currently seeking crew with experience in their relevant fields to take part in this project. In particular we are seeking:
Producer
1st AD
DOP (ideally with camera, although not essential, ie RED, Alexa, Sony FS7)
Focus Puller
Sound Recordist (with equipment)
Boom operator
Editor
Please make applications via email and include a CV and/or any relevant links to websites or showreels. To apply, email to: jim@jimmyswindells.co.uk
About the filmmaker
Jimmy’s filmmaking draws together his love of storytelling and the creative eye of his photography and has received award recognition from the BBC and Film London. In comedy drama The Aisle bride to be Becky is preparing for the happiest day of her life, but she hasn’t counted on the fact that not everybody shares her level of attention to detail.
In this new blog series, we’re going to be taking you behind the scenes with some interview with our team members.
Up first this week it’s our Fundraising and Development Manager Laura Cameron-Long, who has been smiling all week as a result of our recent Arts Council funding announcement! (More on that here if you’re interested >>).
What’s your favourite part of your job?
I’m a total loser but data analysis. I love looking at trends, seeing what’s working, what’s not, how many people have donated this week, conversion rate, that kind of thing. Then tweaking fundraising asks accordingly and coming up with new ideas to increase income. Yay for stats!
What was the first event you attended at Exeter Phoenix?
Apparently it was the Youngblood Brass Band back in 2009 (seven years before I started working here). It was brilliant. Brass, rapping and lots of snare drum action. It involved lots of jumping around – especially to Nuclear Summer (great track if you get a chance to check it out). I had no idea anyone could make so much noise without anything synthetic.
What inspired you to work in fundraising?
Probably a more accurate question is what inspired me to work in a non-profit; the job just happened to be in Fundraising and lo and behold, I enjoyed it. I spent four months volunteering in south India at a social project/orphanage back in 2000. It was an incredible experience and made me realise I didn’t want to work in a place where huge profits went into the pockets of a few. So after mulling it over for a year or two I took the plunge, a pay cut and a part time job as a Fundraising Assistant at a medical development charity, and have never looked back. Oh dear, that makes me sound a bit disgustingly worthy – shall I balance it up by saying I love asking people for money?!
How do you like to spend your time outside of work?
Reading, zumba, running (on rare occasions), spending time drinking coffee/eating a lot of food with my amazing friends, hanging out with my 3 year old and when spare time allows, the odd bit of acting.
What’s your favourite film?
I know it’s a bit of a cliché but I think my favourite film is Amelie – I love the way it’s so playful and celebrates the joy found in everything in life, and the fact that we’re all a little bit mad.
Comments Off on Arts Council Invests in Exciting New Capital Project with Exeter Phoenix
Image credit: LOWPROFILE
Our buzzing multi-disciplinary arts organisation is getting a face lift and exciting new contemporary art gallery facilities thanks to funding awarded from Arts Council England for an exciting new capital project. In addition, our crucial main funding has been extended for a further 4 years, allowing us to continue our core activity into the future.
This much-loved public space is used by up to 300,000 people every year from Devon and beyond. As well as attending nationally acclaimed live events and cinema, visitors can learn skills from painting to filmmaking and dance, see work from emerging and established contemporary artists and engage with their local arts community. Our facilities and Creative Hub initiatives provide support to some of Devon’s most promising new theatre companies, musicians and artists and nurture a thriving arts scene.
This morning the Arts Council announced that Exeter Phoenix’s NPO funding to sustain activity for the next 4 years would be renewed, allowing us to continue providing, and building on, this activity for the next four years. Furthermore it was announced that Exeter Phoenix would receive additional capital funding for a specific project to invest in our gallery spaces and improve visitor facilities.
The Arts Council will invest £187k towards the £244k capital project, leaving £57k to be raised from our local community and other sources including crowd-funding.
A major strand of the new project is the reconfiguration of the front interior section of the building, including a greatly improved welcome for visitors, utilising new facilities and new technologies as well as exciting and ambitious changes to our free-access gallery spaces. The exhibition spaces at Exeter Phoenix are currently one of the only contemporary non-commercial art galleries in the region and a combination of cosmetic and structural changes will not only make them fit for this purpose, but intend to significantly encourage arts attendance and artistic excellence.
In addition, the grant will kick start a project to replace ageing auditorium seating, and upgrade toilets and other communal facilities and spaces, improvements which will vastly benefit the experience for every visitor. Finally, following on from the opening of solar-powered cinema Studio 74 in 2015, further energy saving measures will be implemented in the building to continue our mission to be an arts leader on green initiatives.
During this morning’s Arts Council announcements, overall funding was increased for Exeter, with national portfolio organisation funding also awarded to many of our partners and friends, including Exeter Library, Exeter Northcott, Kaleider, Exeter Council, The Bike Shed Theatre, Arts & Health Southwest and Theatre Alibi.
Comments Off on Exeter Phoenix Supports A Powerful Short Film Tackling The Subject of Dementia
Short film focusing on dementia to be shot in Devon this summer.
An emotional and powerful short film, Before I Go , is to be shot in Devon later this year. Filmmaker Scott Stevens , who was awarded the Exeter Phoenix’s Short Film Commission (a scheme set up to help emerging talents), will be directing a unique story that focuses on dementia.
Before I Go tells the story of Michael, a vulnerable man diagnosed with dementia, and how he slowly learns to accept his new future and overcome his fears. “We are excited to be supporting emerging filmmaker Scott Stevens to develop his project ‘Before I Go’ through the Exeter Phoenix Devon Short Film Commission. We will be working with him over the next 7-8 months to develop his idea from script to screen and are confident in his ability to produce high quality storytelling.” Alix Taylor , Exeter Phoenix
The film is being made to highlight the support that is needed for all those may be fearful of the diagnosis and those who struggle to accept their new future. Scott Stevens , Director of Before I Go says “I’m really passionate about telling this story. Dementia is a tough subject but I want to show that nobody has to tackle it alone. There are great support systems that include the NHS and projects but people should never be afraid to speak up about their fears.”
Stevens is also working with The Filo Project to help with researching and development of the script and 5% of all pledges received via Kickstarter will be donated to the project.
The Filo Project is ‘a not-for-profit organisation which brings together small groups of people (typically 4) with early to moderate dementia so that they can socialise in a manageable and gentle environment. The sessions are facilitated by ‘hosts’ and
excellent outcomes are achieved; people flourish and demonstrate elements of recovery’.
You can read more
about them at www.thefiloproject.co.uk.
Stevens aims to gain a large following for Before I Go , with people checking into social media to find out where in the country he is. One of those people will be Simeon Costello , a producer and director from Devon. Costello says “Scott Stevens is an inspiring visionary in the UK filmmaking scene. I have had the pleasure of producing a number of films Scott has directed and his latest endeavour is looking to be the best yet.”
SUPPORT THE FILM THROUGH KICKSTARTER UNTIL SUN 2 JUL
Summer Film School is a filmmaking project for young people produced in partnership between Exeter Phoenix & Four Of Swords.
The film school takes around twenty 10-14 year olds and works intensively with them over the course of a week, guiding them through each stage of the film-making process: from script-writing to set-building and costume-design, through to acting and filming, and trying out animation and special effects. The project takes place at Poltimore House, and as always we are indebted to their hospitality, their flexibility, and their keenness to accommodate.
Summer Film School 2017 will take place from Mon 31 Jul – Fri 4 Aug and follow a similar format where by the kids will be able to develop a short film from script to screen. Tickets are now on sale of this year’s event and can be purchased by this booking link: TBC
Over the last three years the summer film school has produced a number of successful and engaging short films, all produced, shoot and acted by the young groups, which you can view below.
Class of 2016
ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WESTCOUNTRY
Class of 2015
BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE POLTIMORE
Class of 2014
THE SQUEAKENING
February Half-Term 2017 (Acting Workshop)
SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE MYSTIFYING CASE OF THE HORRIFYING SECRET OF GREAT ACTING!
Comments Off on Six New Films To Be Made With Help From Our Commission Schemes
Screen shot from 2016 commissioned film The Search Party
Exeter Phoenix 2017 Commissions Announced
This week we are delighted to announce the winners of our 2017 film commissions. Over the last three months, ideas for new short films and artist moving image work have been streaming in from all over the South West. The final six filmmakers have now been selected by a panel of industry experts to receive a share of over £10,000 worth of support from Exeter Phoenix and make their ideas a reality.
The winning concepts include surrealist comedies, dramatic portraits of human endeavour and mental health, innovative animation, and artist moving image work exploring hybrid bodies
MICROFILM CATEGORY WINNERS
Owain Astles – The Hardest Fight of my Life
Charlie Coldfield – Ghost Note
SOUTH WEST ANIMATION CATEGORY WINNER
Steve Whittingham – Totem
DEVON SHORT FILM CATEGORY WINNERS
Scott Stevens – A Friend in Me
Jimmy Swindells – The Aisle
ARTISTS MOVING IMAGE CATEGORY WINNER
Isobel Adderley – W E F E W Find out more about the films here >>
The selected filmmakers reflect a dynamic emerging filmmaking scene based in Exeter and further afield, each are looking to develop their careers and present new work for international festival entry. Many of Exeter Phoenix’s previous commission winners have gone on to win awards and gain recognition within the industry, with some developing feature length work, putting Exeter on the map.
Alix Taylor, Digital Co-ordinator at Exeter Phoenix says ‘Year-on-year we receive an increasingly high standard of applications for our film and artists moving image commissions, it was a difficult decision, but we are very excited to be working with our selected filmmakers and artist. We will be working with them over the next 7-8 months to develop their ideas and continue to support the flourishing filmmaking and artistic scene here in Exeter.’
Each selected filmmaker will complete their film over the course of the year, with the process culminating in a special preview screening which will take place at Exeter Phoenix’s Two Short Nights Film Festival in December this year. Alongside representatives from the film industry, film fans and those curious to preview emerging talent will be able to purchase tickets for the festival from September.
Comments Off on Live art hits the streets of Exeter this May
Exeter Phoenix and Blind Ditch present Street LAB, a micro-festival of live art busking hitting the streets of the city during Art Week Exeter (13 – 21 May). The festival showcases an exciting array of entertaining and politically engaged concepts designed bring audiences in public sites into lively encounters with contemporary live art practice with a musical twist.
Street music is at the heart of historical debates around taste, place and disruption; often described as being democratic and open to anyone, particularly those with limited means. Live Art also engages with the forms and the politics of the margins, offering a haven to artists whose practice does not necessarily comply with the strictures of the traditional. Street LAB looks to mix up these genres, bringing together performances combining street music and live art.
Five artists will bring work to life at a range of public sites around Exeter, from retail centres to busy street corners, during Art Week Exeter this May. Alongside two new commissions created by performance artist Alistair Gentry and musical performance duo Asthma, internationally acclaimed Berlin artists Princessin Hans will be bringing TheSong Dispensary to Exeter – a place for audience members to order and pick up prescription songs, written live and exclusively for them. Gentry’s project A Five Year Old Could Do That humorously challenges the criticisms often leveled at contemporary art, while Asthma’s Get It Off Your Chest invites participants to join them for a live, improvised dance jam of a performance using gathered sounds from the city’s streets.
The festival also includes opportunities for the public to get musical, with the positioning of pop-up pianos at various locations around the city centre. Jazz duo Neil Todd and Charlie Hearneshaw will be launching the first day of piano pop-ups with jamming sessions on Sat 13 May, before the pianos are let loose on the public, for people to try their own hand at busking, or just come to listen to a range of musical talent.
We’re calling on all artists, doodlers and designers with a love of Exeter Phoenix to help us come up with a new T-shirt design to be worn by our café bar staff throughout 2017/18.
Our favourite idea will be selected in May and made a reality.
The design will be printed in white onto the back of black T-shirts. The front of the T-shirts will bear the Exeter Phoenix logo.
As an extra bonus, if your design is the one selected, we’ll give you your own T-shirt, along with a discount card for our Café Bar which will be valid all year.
About the Design
The design can be anything you like. You’re the ones with the ideas and we want to see them. Saying that, if it reflects our style and what we do here at Exeter Phoenix all the better.
The design will need to be a black and white image, suitable for screen printing on a black T-shirt.
No obscenities please (well, you can if you want, but we won’t pick it).
Please remember that your design will be printed on the reverse of the T- shirt, not the front.
In the body of your email: Please state your name, email, phone number and any written details you’d like to include about your design (such as size and scale if not represented in attachment)
In an attachment to your email: Please send us an A4 pdf or jpg of your design. The final result will be scaled to fit to the standard screen printing size for a T-shirt, which is 32cm (w) x 43cm (h).
Timeline
Deadline for applications is Fri 21 Apr
Four shortlisted designs will be announced Mon 24 Apr and then we’ll be throwing it out to the public to vote for a fifth ‘audience choice’ to be added to the shortlist. Deadline for voting Fri 28 Apr.
Final selected design will be announced on Mon 1 May
The new T-shirts will launched at a special event in May and everyone’s invited! Date TBC. We’ll present all shortlisted applicants with their design printed on a one-off, exclusive T-shirt, and the overall winner will also get a discount card for a year’s worth of discounted food and drink at our Café Bar.
Terms: Upon submitting your design, Exeter Phoenix retains the right to use images of your submission in social media posts and general promotion of this competition. No personal details will be shared unless you have given prior consent. If your design is selected as the winner, Exeter Phoenix retains the rights to the image for printing on staff T-shirts and any other uses deemed appropriate by the organisation.
Comments Off on Academy Award Winning Films Head To Studio 74
We’re delighted to announce a host of Oscar winning films are making their way to Studio 74 over the next few weeks. Read on to find out more.
Manchester By Sea
Kenneth Lonergan’s drama about a grief-stricken Boston janitor scooped an impressive six nominations. With a Golden Globe winning performance from Casey Affleck and a further six BAFTA nominations to its name, Manchester By The Sea has fast become one of the most talked about films around.
Showing: Fri 3 Mar – Thu 9 Mar
Nominated for:
Best actor (Casey Affleck)
Best original screenplay (Kenneth Lonergan)
Moonlight
This coming-of-age tale chronicles the life of a young black man as he struggles to find his place in the world. Moonlight follows up its four BAFTA nominations and best film Golden Globe win with an impressive eight Oscar nods.
Showing: Fri 17 Mar – Thu 23 Mar
Nominated for:
Best picture
Best supporting actor (Mahershala Ali)
Best adapted screenplay (Barry Jenkins and Tarell Alvin McCraney)
The Salesman
After picking up the gong for best foreign language film, The Salesman promises to be another sure fire hit for director Asghar Farhadi.
Comments Off on Join Us For Inspiring Events This International Women’s Day
IMAGE CREDIT: REBECCA HARRIS – STORM IN A B CUP
Wed 8 March is International Women’s Day and we’d like to invite you to join us for a host of inspiring arts events celebrating some of the artistic, social and cultural achievements of women.
Women In Cinema
Check out Wednesday’s screening of A Stitch Of Life, the latest film from acclaimed female author, poet, playwright and director Yukiko Mishima. Dressmaker Ichi inherits her grandmother’s quaint shop where tailor-made clothes have been lovingly laboured over for years. But when her department store offers to turn her clothing creations into a brand, she has to choose between honouring the past and forging a future. Part of the Japanese Touring Film Programme.
Whilst this one isn’t strictly on International Women’s Day, we also have to give a mention to The Fits, screening the Sunday before. This brilliantly emotional and psychological coming-of-age drama, centres around 11 year old Toni, and explores the power, confidence and community of female boxing.
Rebecca Harris on Art and Breasts
We’re very excited to welcome artist Rebecca Harris for a talk about Storm In A B Cup, a body of work exploring the complex and multifaceted story of breasts, currently in development for Art Week Exeter in May.
Occupy The Airwaves
Courageous storytellers (and former Exeter Phoenix Associate Artists) Dreadnought South West are taking over your radio for International Women’s day with a host of guests. Tune into Phonic FM to hear what they’ve been up to, or join them from 9pm in our Cafe Bar for an informal social to follow up the day’s broadcasting.
Live Music To Support Victims of Domestic Abuse
From 8pm we’ll be hosting an amazing line-up of both local and touring artists, raising money for SAFE. The line up includes Chiyoda Ku, Kermes, Drawstring, Young Adventurers and Me Rex.
Save on entry to Japanese films at Exeter Phoenix and the Hiroshige exhibition at RAMM. Studio 74 at Exeter Phoenix and RAMM are offering a £1 special discount: buy a full-price ticket at RAMM and receive £1 off any of the six films in Exeter Phoenix’s March Japan Foundation Film programme or present your Japan film ticket at RAMM and receive £1 off entry to Hiroshige.
Hiroshige’s Japan at RAMM
Organised by the Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford, Hiroshige’s Japan: Stations of the Tokaido Road showcases a selection of Japanese woodblock prints from the series that made Utagawa Hiroshige (1797-1858) one of the best known of all Japanese artists. His landscape prints are among the most frequently reproduced of all Japanese works of art and were hugely successful both in Japan and in the West.
Full price tickets £4 (£3 with Exeter Phoenix ticket) until 16 April.
Experience Japan Through Cinema at Exeter Phoenix
Presenting films from established and up and coming Japanese directors, this year’s Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme promises not only to entertain but also to provide a vivid insight into what drives human action. Exeter Phoenix presents six Japanese film titles throughout March, from animation to documentary and must-see classics.
Full price tickets £6 (or £5 with RAMM receipt) from 1 to 29 March.
Comments Off on Street LAB: Live Art Busking Commissions
Exeter Phoenix and Blind Ditch are offering two £1,000 commissions to develop itinerant new work that includes music for Street LAB . This micro-festival of live art busking will form part of Art Week Exeter (13-21 May) and we are looking for entertaining and politically engaged concepts that bring audiences into lively encounters with contemporary live art practice on the streets of the city… and encourage their appreciation through donations directly into your pocket!
Street music is at the heart of historical debates around taste, place and disruption; often described as being democratic and open to anyone, particularly those with limited means. Live Art offers a haven to artists whose practice does not necessarily comply with the strictures of the traditional, often engaging with the forms and politics of the margins.
We are looking for two artists or artist groups to develop projects that combine these practices to make new work with Exeter street audiences that is accessible and challenging, provocative and generous.
We will negotiate a range of public sites for artists to work in with Exeter City Council and retail centres in the city. Each LAB event will be accompanied on the street by a volunteer steward and Street LAB signage Any public donations gathered through the event will belong to the artists. Artists are required to deliver street engagement on a minimum of 3 days throughout the week, but can be present as much as you like above this. As part AWE there will be an Art Car Boot on Exeter Quay, Sun 14 May.
Applications deadline: Fri 31 Mar
Commissions announced: Fri 7 Apr
Artists will receive:
£1,000 commission
An expenses/materials budget of £300
We will endeavour to arrange low cost billeting with local artists if needed.
Blind Ditch is a small group of artists and associates that make live art and performance, street interventions & traveling art objects, participatory and social events. We have been producing the life-art mix of rural & experimental from our Devon base since 2001.
More about Music In Devon Initiative
Music In Devon Initiative is a non-profit-making organisation which has been founded by a group of local musicians and music industry professionals. We aim to develop emerging talent, increase opportunities for musicians and audiences, and generate business for the music industry in Devon.
More about Art Week Exeter
Art Week Exeter is a new festival of contemporary art bringing together galleries & open studios, workshops and interventions in venues, homes and public spaces across Exeter. This commission is part of an ambition to share vibrant, contemporary practice with a wide range of audiences in the city.
More about Exeter Street LAB
Exeter Street LAB is an artist-led project visioned by Blind Ditch and Exeter Phoenix with support from Music In Devon Initiative. Funded by Exeter City Council and Arts Council England.
Comments Off on Enter Your Film for Two Short Nights Film Festival
Submissions Now Open
Entries are now open for one of the South West’s most vibrant and longest running film festivals, Two Short Nights.
Festival organisers are inviting submissions from filmmakers based across the UK and beyond, working in every genre, from animation and documentary to moving image artwork and music videos.
Each winter, Two Short Nights Film Festival brings crowds of film lovers, filmmakers and industry specialists to Exeter Phoenix to indulge in a varied programme of screenings, workshops and events celebrating short film. Now in its 16th year, the festival offers an established platform for audiences to see regional, national and international short films, and is proud to nurture new and emerging talent.
This year’s festival will take place on the Thu 30 Nov and Fri 1 Dec 2017 across our cinema, main auditorium and workshop spaces. It will include screenings, talks, live film pitches and the premiere of seven films and moving image works commissioned by Exeter Phoenix during 2017.
The earlybird deadline for film entries is Fri 31 March, with a final deadline set for August. Films of any genre which are under 20 minutes in length are invited.
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