Ben Rivers
Encyclopedia
Ben Rivers is a contemporary experimental film
maker and artist based in London. His work has been shown in many film festivals and galleries throughout the world, and won numerous awards. His work ranges from themes about exploring unknown wilderness territories to candid and intimate portrayals of real-life subjects.
Ben Rivers’ practice as a filmmaker treads a line between documentary and fiction. Often following and filming people who have in some way separated themselves from society, the raw film footage provides Rivers with a starting point for creating oblique narratives imagining alternative existences in marginal worlds. Rivers uses near-antique cameras and hand develops the 16mm film, which shows all the evidence of the elements it has been exposed to – the materiality of this medium forming part of the narrative. More recently the film works have developed to incorporate installation.
He has been the recipient of a number of commissions and awards, including London Artists Film and Video Award 2007, Vauxhall Collective Commission 2008, Film London Artist's Moving Image Network production 2009, and was shortlisted for the Jarman Award 2010. He is recipient of the Paul Hamlyn Award for Artists 2010.
Recent shows include; ‘Slow Action’ - solo show, Picture This, Bristol 2010 and Matt’s Gallery, London 2011; ‘A World Rattled of Habit’ - solo show, A Foundation, Liverpool, 2009; ‘Nought To Sixty’ ICA, London, 2008. Artist-in-focus screenings and retrospectives include Courtisane Festival; Pesaro International Film Festival; London Film Festival; Tirana Film Festival; Punto de Vista, Pamplona; and Indielisboa.
His first feature length film 'Two Years at Sea' was presented in September 2011 in the Orizzonti section at the 68th Venice International Film Festival
and won the FIPRESCI prize.
Represented by Kate MacGarry Gallery, London.
Experimental film
Experimental film or experimental cinema is a type of cinema. Experimental film is an artistic practice relieving both of visual arts and cinema. Its origins can be found in European avant-garde movements of the twenties. Experimental cinema has built its history through the texts of theoreticians...
maker and artist based in London. His work has been shown in many film festivals and galleries throughout the world, and won numerous awards. His work ranges from themes about exploring unknown wilderness territories to candid and intimate portrayals of real-life subjects.
Ben Rivers’ practice as a filmmaker treads a line between documentary and fiction. Often following and filming people who have in some way separated themselves from society, the raw film footage provides Rivers with a starting point for creating oblique narratives imagining alternative existences in marginal worlds. Rivers uses near-antique cameras and hand develops the 16mm film, which shows all the evidence of the elements it has been exposed to – the materiality of this medium forming part of the narrative. More recently the film works have developed to incorporate installation.
He has been the recipient of a number of commissions and awards, including London Artists Film and Video Award 2007, Vauxhall Collective Commission 2008, Film London Artist's Moving Image Network production 2009, and was shortlisted for the Jarman Award 2010. He is recipient of the Paul Hamlyn Award for Artists 2010.
Recent shows include; ‘Slow Action’ - solo show, Picture This, Bristol 2010 and Matt’s Gallery, London 2011; ‘A World Rattled of Habit’ - solo show, A Foundation, Liverpool, 2009; ‘Nought To Sixty’ ICA, London, 2008. Artist-in-focus screenings and retrospectives include Courtisane Festival; Pesaro International Film Festival; London Film Festival; Tirana Film Festival; Punto de Vista, Pamplona; and Indielisboa.
His first feature length film 'Two Years at Sea' was presented in September 2011 in the Orizzonti section at the 68th Venice International Film Festival
68th Venice International Film Festival
The 68th annual Venice Film Festival, held in Venice, Italy, took place from 31 August to 10 September 2011. American film director Darren Aronofsky was announced as the Head of the Jury. American actor and film director Al Pacino was presented with the Glory to the Film-maker award on 4 September,...
and won the FIPRESCI prize.
Represented by Kate MacGarry Gallery, London.
Filmography
- Two Years at Sea (2011)
- Slow Action (2010)
- I Know Where I’m Going (2009)
- May Tomorrow Shine The Brightest Of All Your Many Days As It Will Be Your Last (2009)
- A World Rattled Of Habit (2008)
- Origin of the Species (2008)
- Sørdal (2008)
- Ah, Liberty! (2008)
- House (2007)
- Dove Coup (2007)
- Greenhouse (2007)
- Terror! (2006)
- The Coming Race (2006)
- Astika (2006)
- This Is My Land (2006)
- The Bomb with a Man in his Shoe (2005)
- The Hyrcynium Wood (2005)
- We The People (2004)
- Old Dark House (2003)
External links
- http://www.katemacgarry.com/benrivers.php
- http://www.benrivers.com/index.html
- http://www.lux.org.uk/collection/artists/ben-rivers-0
- http://www.animateprojects.org/films/by_date/2010/slow_action
- http://www.measure.org.uk/show13/ex_13_intro.html