Summer Screen Prints [3-23 August 2017]
West Wing Galleries, Free Admission
Somerset House and Print Club London collaborate on the fifth edition of the Summer Screen Prints exhibition, which brings limited-edition film prints to Somerset House throughout August. This year's display will be the most extensive to date, with 20 original, screen-printed film poster artworks inspired by the Film4 Summer Screen programme.
Emerging and international artists respond to a moment, theme, character or quote from their favourite film in the season, including Joe Cruz, whose colourful and intimate work captures a pivotal moment in this year's 'Best Picture' Oscar winner Moonlight, while Hattie Stewart's bold and striking reimagining of Cruel Intentions bares the malice of the cult film's protagonist.
This free exhibition, open each day across the season, will enable visitors to buy the original, affordable works at Somerset House and on the Print Club London website for £60. With effortless access to the exhibition from the Edmond J. Safra Fountain Court, film-goers will be able to enjoy special late openings ahead of each film screening.
Behind the Screen [Selected dates between 10-23 August 2017]
Prices vary, from free to £10
Behind the Screen celebrates the art of cinema and shines a spotlight on themes presented in this year’s festival programme, with an entertaining line-up of talks, workshops and screenings for all ages.
Film-lovers will be able to gain rare access to the insights of industry insiders, and enjoy a host of film-focused activity ahead of selected nights’ headline screening in The Edmond J. Safra Fountain Court. Events include:
- Ruben Östlund: In Conversation: the director of this year’s Palme d’Or winner The Square, reveals his film inspiration and processes ahead of its UK premiere at Somerset House on 16 August.
- Alice Lowe: Raising Hell presents the actress and writer who will discuss the delivery of her own ‘demon child’ – her directorial debut Prevenge – prior to the screening of The Omen on 12 August, as part of a double-bill also featuring Donnie Darko. Lowe will also speak on creative inspirations in her wider body of work.
- On 14 August, Behind the Screen will bring together some of the best work from the new Channel 4 series of ‘Random Acts’ shorts.
- Drop-in family workshops will take place alongside special screenings over the two weekends of the festival. On 13 August, workshop ‘Sustainable Me’ will focus on intelligent ways to preserve our planet, taking inspiration from a screening of beloved Disney/Pixar favourite WALL-E. A further family screening of Studio Ghibli animation Ponyo on 20 August will inspire workshop ‘Animate Me’, where participants will learn to create anime-style self-portraits and discover more about the famous Japanese animation universe.
Special Introductions
Across the season, stars and directors will make guest appearances to introduce their films to Somerset House audiences. Introductions will include:
- Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore will present the UK premiere of An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power on the season’s opening night.
- Actors Dominic West and Claes Bang, and director Ruben Östlund, will introduce the recipient of this year’s Palme d’Or, The Square, ahead of its UK premiere at Somerset House.
- The cast of Bhaji on the Beach will be on site in celebration of Gurinder Chadha’s award-winning debut about a group of Asian women on a day-trip to Blackpool.
- Patti Cake$ director Geremy Jasper and the film’s star Bridget Everett will introduce the film before its premiere on the closing night of the season.
Bespoke sundown DJ sets
Specially selected DJ sets will animate The Edmond J. Safra Fountain Court and set the atmosphere for the evening, providing a musical insight into the films through the themes, genres and musical eras of each night’s screening. DJs entertaining film-goers will include:
- Former BBC 1Xtra presenter and winner of the DMC World Championships, Blakey, prior to In Bruges on Friday 18 August.
- The founder of the legendary London club night Blow Up, Paul Tunkin, before the film of the same title on Tuesday 22 August.
- Songwriter, performer and former Ash guitarist Charlotte Hatherley ahead of the Jaws and Deliverance double-bill on Saturday 19 August.
- LJ, heralded by NME, Vogue, i-D and Time Out as one of the foremost party starters, in advance of fan favourite Cruel Intentions.
Ends
For press enquiries, please contact Adam Roberts on press@somersethouse.org.uk / 0207 845 4624
LISTINGS INFORMATION
Tickets (where applicable): Available at www.somersethouse.org.uk
Address: Somerset House, Strand, London, WC2R 1LA
Transport: Underground: Temple, Embankment; Rail: Charing Cross, Waterloo, Blackfriars
Website: www.somersethouse.org.uk
Somerset House Facebook: www.facebook.com/SomersetHouse
Somerset House Twitter: @SomersetHouse
Somerset House Instagram: @SomersetHouse
Hashtags: #Film4SummerScreen; #SummerScreenPrints; #BehindtheScreen
About Somerset House
A unique part of the London cultural scene, Somerset House is an historic building where surprising and original work comes to life. From its 18th-century origins, Somerset House has been a centre for debate and discussion – an intellectual powerhouse for the nation. Somerset House is today a key cultural destination in London in which to experience a broad range of artistic activity, engage with artists, designers and makers and be a part of a major creative forum – an environment that is relaxed, welcoming, and inspirational to visit while providing a stimulating workplace for the cultural and creative industries.
Since its opening in 2000, Somerset House has built up a distinctive outdoor public programme including Skate, concerts, an open-air film season and a diverse range of temporary exhibitions throughout the site focusing on contemporary culture, with an extensive learning programme attached. In October 2016, Somerset House launched Somerset House Studios, a new experimental workspace connecting artists, makers and thinkers with audiences. The Studios provide a platform for new creative projects and collaboration, promoting work that pushes bold ideas, engages with urgent issues and pioneers new technologies. Somerset House is also one of the biggest community of creative organisations in London including The Courtauld Gallery and Institute of Art, King’s College London Cultural Institute and over 100 other creative businesses. It currently attracts approximately 3.4 million visitors every year. www.somersethouse.org.uk
About Film4
Film4 is Channel 4 Television’s feature film division. Film4 develops and co-finances films and is known for working with the most distinctive and innovative talent in UK and international filmmaking, whether new or established.
Film4 has developed and co-financed many of the most successful UK films of recent years, Academy Award®-winners such as Lenny Abrahamson’s Room, Alex Garland’s Ex Machina, Asif Kapadia’s box office record breaking documentary Amy, Steve McQueen’s 12 Years a Slave, Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire and Phyllida Lloyd’s The Iron Lady, in addition to critically-acclaimed award-winners such as Mike Leigh’s Mr. Turner, Chris Morris’s Four Lions, Shane Meadows’ This is England, Clio Barnard’s The Selfish Giant, Jonathan Glazer’s Under the Skin, David Mackenzie’s Starred Up and Yann Demange’s ’71.
Film4’s recent releases include Ben Wheatley’s Free Fire, Danny Boyle’s T2 Trainspotting, Andrea Arnold’s American Honey, Todd Haynes’ Carol, Sarah Gavron’s Suffragette, Yorgos Lanthimos’s The Lobster and Andrew Haigh’s 45 Years. Forthcoming releases include Martin McDonagh’s Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, Andrew Haigh’s Lean on Pete, Clio Barnard’s Dark River, Yorgos Lanthimos’s The Killing of a Sacred Deer, Lynne Ramsay’s You Were Never Really Here, Rungano Nyoni’s I Am Not a Witch, John Cameron Mitchell’s How To Talk To Girls At Parties, Michael Pearce’s Beast, Paddy Considine’s Journeyman, Toby MacDonald’s Old Boys, Benedict Andrews’ Una and Baltasar Kormákur’s The Oath. Films in production include Yorgos Lanthimos’s The Favourite, Bart Layton’s American Animals, Mike Leigh’s Peterloo, Steve McQueen’s Widows, Stephen Merchant’s Fighting With My Family, Sebastián Lelio’s Disobedience, Garth Davis’s Mary Magdalene and Asif Kapadia’s Maradona.
For further information visit www.film4.com/productions
About Print Club London
Founded in Dalston in 2007, dedicated gallery curators and screen-printing aficionados Print Club London are a contemporary screen printing studio dedicated to nurturing creative talent and the craft of screen printing. The brainchild of Rose Stallard, Fred and Kate Higginson, central to the values of Print Club London is to produce high-quality, handmade, limited-edition prints at an affordable price. Representing a diverse selection of newly established artists and industry heavyweights, influences and styles range from street art to graphic design and illustration.
Print Club offers a dynamic exhibition space, a fully equipped print studio offering workshops in the art of screen printing as well as an ever evolving online gallery, showcasing the work of over 300 artists. It is the founder and organiser of one of UK’s largest annual poster shows, Blisters, which showcases affordable screen prints to a wider demographic, enabling attendees to invest in original artworks at an affordable price.
Alongside printing, curating and dealing screen prints, Print Club London is regularly commissioned on bespoke projects, ranging from live printing events for the likes of Soho House, Google, Tate and Pinterest, to creating bespoke bags for Stella McCartney and producing edible screen prints for Saatchi X and Nike. For further information, visit http://printclublondon.com
