Blog Feed - Academy Films

ACADEMY PRESENTS - An Evening of Short Film

Mon, 15 Jan 2024 11:32:00 GMT

Please join Academy Films for an intimate screening of Short Film, brought to you by some of our finest talent.

An exclusive screening of three new short films currently making their festival run. Directed by Sophia Ray, Zhang & Knight and Henry Scholfield.

CLICK TO WATCH TRAILER
'Triptych'
Directed by Sophia Ray
Written by Atticus Hoffman and Roland Walters

CLICK TO WATCH TRAILER
'A Bear Remembers'
Written and Directed by Zhang & Knight

CLICK TO WATCH TRAILER
'King of The Couch'
Written and Directed by Henry Scholfield

Wednesday 15th January 2025
6pm-9pm

Curzon, Soho

99 Shaftesbury Avenue
London, W1D 5DY

RSVP ESSENTIAL

academyscreening@academyfilms.com

MORE ABOUT SOPHIA RAY

MORE ABOUT ZHANG&KNIGHT

MORE ABOUT HENRY SCHOLFIELD

Amy Shore Joins the Academy Roster!

Tue, 19 Oct 2021 14:06:00 GMT

We are chuffed to announce that Amy Shore is joining the Academy photography roster!

Amy is a worldwide automotive, landscape and lifestyle photographer, to find out more about her and to see her work click here.

Break into the Film Industry - Apply Here

Wed, 09 Jun 2021 12:19:00 GMT

Are you looking to start a career in the film industry? Are you unsure where to start? Well, we are here to help. Academy Films have teamed up with Holiday Club to bring you an event that will do just that.

We are running an open day on 4th August for people looking to start a career in the film industry, we will be hosting speakers from across the production spectrum from Producers to Directors, to Executive Producers and Production Designers. To give you an insight into how the adverts and music videos you see out in the mainstream are made, and hopefully demystify the roles required to do so. So come along and get inspired!

Speakers and more information to be announced. This open day will be an in-person event taking place at the Academy Films office in London's West End. Numbers will be dependent on the covid restrictions in place at the time so make sure to get in quick!

We understand the importance of supporting a broader range of applicants and are working with Holiday Club to make this more accessible. This event is aimed at people who would like to start a career in the film industry.

If you would like to apply please follow the link to Holiday Club's application page

We look forward to meeting you all!

Darapen Vongsa-Nga Joins Academy as Head of Emerging Talent

Wed, 12 May 2021 12:56:00 GMT

Darapen will join George Floyd in the sales division as head of emerging talent. She brings her years of experience working agency side at AMV BBDO and Saatchi & Saatchi, her passion for filmmaking, and immense knowledge of the industry as a whole, not to mention boundless energy and enthusiasm.

The new position will focus on developing commercial opportunities for Academy’s most recent signings such as Runyararo Mapfumo, GRANDMAS and Remi Laudat, continuing Academy's strong tradition of nurturing new talent in the industry.

Darapen had this to say on her new role: ‘I’m incredibly honoured to be part of a company with such a legacy of making iconic & memorable work. To be developing the emerging talent of today, the very people who will play an important role in shaping the future of the industry, is extremely exciting. My recent years Agency side working alongside incredibly talented people have been eye-opening; the appetite for fresh & new ways of thinking is palpable. As taste-makers in this changing modern world, we have a responsibility to evolve & be at the forefront of it. How we bring these ideas to life and the choices we make along the way rely so crucially on who we collaborate with. I hope to bring these insights into this new role and help to foster new ways of storytelling in the hope of continuing Academy’s legacy in making stand-out work. And ideally to have a bunch of fun in the process!’

Of the new appointment, Academy’s joint MD Medb Riordan said, ‘We have known and worked with Darapen for a number of years, and it was always exciting when we’d receive a script from her. Her passion and deep creative knowledge meant she always pushed for excellence, no matter the restraints. It is exactly this type of attitude that is needed in the industry right now, as we try to adapt the way we think and work moving into the future. Darapen is the perfect representation of where Academy and the industry can and should go. We are thrilled to have her working alongside us and to see her develop deep and long-lasting relationships with the directors she is representing.’

The Story of Studying During a Pandemic by William Marsden

Wed, 14 Apr 2021 17:16:00 GMT

I recently photographed a few London-based students with the help of casting director Sue Odell (@scorpioredhair). Studying during a global pandemic must be incredibly difficult for multiple reasons. I interviewed students and asked them about their experiences during the Covid-19 outbreak.

Having studied at Camberwell College of Art, I could only imagine how hard it would have been to not be able to use the university facilities for a period of time. In recent weeks practical courses have been allowed to return to campus. With Looming degree shows, if they are allowed to go ahead. Most students will be feeling the pressure more than ever. These are some words from Corran Green, who is studying BA Knitwear at the University of Arts London.

Photo taken Feb '21 - William Arkle Marsden

Corran

“As a fashion knitwear student, my course is entirely practical based. Not only do we as knit students make fashion garments we actually construct the fabric, so not being able to use the machinery for a period of time during my course is detrimental.

I have gone through both extremes of withdrawal from people and a complete obsession with others. Bouts of very slow quiet periods and then times of manic hysteria. Journeys of self-discovery and yet questioning every principle of who I am as a person. I have been distant and lost.

There isn’t any talk of a final show, so we have nothing to look forward to and we are being told directly from government campaigns to ‘retrain ourselves’. The universities are companies, not providing the service we signed up for, the government because they deem universities as companies believe they should take it upon themselves to reimburse us. But the universities don’t have to without any government pressure. We as students are living in flats we can’t afford, leaving our homes in London to live with our families here and abroad, being sacked from our part-time jobs, and going into a world of broken businesses where we might not have a future. We are scared, uninspired, and angry.

Photo taken Feb '21 - William Arkle Marsden

Emma

Emma is currently studying for a master's in Queer History at Goldsmiths University. During the pandemic, all her learning has moved online, which has not affected her studies too badly.

“I don’t feel my mental health has been affected too badly by the lockdown since I’m a homebody anyway, but it has certainly had a massive impact on my motivation and concentration which in turn has an impact on my ability to do my uni work”.

She is currently taking part in a placement module that has been organised remotely, which I can imagine is far from ideal.

I interviewed Emma over email, the one part of her story that stood out to me was that as hospitality has been shut there are not many part job opportunities for students.

“I lost my job back in March due to it being in the hospitality industry meaning that I don’t receive any furlough and being a full-time student means that I’m not eligible for universal credit, so money is super tight. Had I known how long lockdown would last as long as it is, I think I would have given some serious thought to studying part-time so that I would be able to apply for universal credit since my student loan isn’t enough to live off and there are no jobs at the moment since everywhere is closed”.

Photo taken Feb '21 - William Arkle Marsden

Faye

Faye is currently studying at The University of Arts London. As university life returns to normal for some students, the reality of studying away from campus has affected students in different ways. Unfortunately, students studying for an art-based degree have been affected the most. Unable to access equipment to further their learning and in Faye’s case, having set up a small studio at home to get through her studies.

“In order to learn and have an industry level of understanding of knitwear, it is crucial to have access to extremely expensive machinery and facilities at university which is ultimately funded by our student fees. With no/limited access to the studios for a year now we have been limited to what we can produce at home with many students having to buy machines and tools out of their own pocket instead of having this free access, making it even more difficult for working class students on creative courses, with all of my part-time job savings and furlough pay being used on course expenses. Although our tutors and technicians are helping us as best as they can in the situation, I think we are all aware that the level of teaching and facility access is not to the usual standard and that our skills are going to be massively impacted once we graduate”.

From speaking to Faye on the day I took her portrait in a studio, I asked her if she considered deferring the year. She told me that her university made it very difficult for her to defer the year. She feels that if she had had the option to miss out this year and come back in September 2021, this would improve her studies and her job prospects.

“Overall the government has done a laughable job at handling the pandemic. For students there seems to be no recognition or hope for the struggles we are dealing with or any form of compensation for promised education we are not receiving. I can only praise organisations like Pause or Pay run by students for giving us some hope and a sense that something is being done about this seemingly hopeless situation a lot of us are in. If universities and the government are treating education as a product then I would like a refund since this extortionately priced product isn’t doing what it says on the label”.

- Words by William Arkle Marsden

CHECK OUT WILL'S PORTFOLIO HERE

2020 British Arrows Wins 🏆

Tue, 13 Apr 2021 16:12:00 GMT

ACADEMY brings home 6 Golds & 22 Arrows in total at the 2020 British Arrows! Thank you to all the wonderful people who made these films possible and congratulations to all who won 🌟

Simon Cooper @ 1.30am last night to all of Academy: "So very very proud of everyone at Academy. We had so many nominations across all the categories, so many different awards for so many different directors. We (you) make such beautiful work day in and day out in absurdly demanding conditions navigating impossible personalities. Hope you all know how very very loved and appreciated you all are. Xxx"

A list of our wins:

'The French Exchange' Renault | Dir. Frédéric Planchon

GOLD - Automotive + Casting

SILVER - Direction + Colourist + Re-Record

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'Feel The Power: PS4 PRO' Playstation | Dir. Frédéric Planchon

GOLD - Cinematography

SILVER - Achievement In Production + Production Design

Bronze - VFX

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'We Are Nurses' NHS England | Billy Boyd Cape

GOLD - Editing

SILVER - Writing + Cinematography

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'Three Lionesses' Lucazade | Dir. Jack Driscoll

GOLD - Re-record

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'Save Our Shirt' Paddy Power | Peter Cattaneo

GOLD - Integrated

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'The Diamond Journey' DPA | Dir. Ian Pons Jewell

SILVER - Costume & Wardrobe

Bronze - Achievement In Production

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'Raheem Sterling: Dream For The Next You' Nike | Dir. Billy Boyd Cape

SILVER - Sports

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'Television' ITV| Dir. Billy Boyd Cape

SILVER - Writing + Original Composition

Bronze - Entertainment & Promotions + Editing

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'Be Unlimited' Vodafone | Dir. Si&Ad

SILVER - In-Camera Effects

Runyararo Mapfumo joins Academy!

Tue, 13 Apr 2021 15:47:00 GMT

Introducing Runyararo Mapfumo to Academy! 🎥 ✨

“Runyararo has been recognised as a rising star in long form for some time, working with BBC Film, Netflix and Film4. We are incredibly excited to launch her as a director in advertising and music video. An exceptional storyteller, Runyararo has written and directed multiple award winning short films, across a variety of genres, displaying her unique ability to deliver emotional and engaging performances at every turn. We are honoured she has decided to join our roster of talent, and look forward to a long and happy future together.”

- Medb Riordan, MD

CHECK OUT HER REEL HERE

Academy Signs GRANDMAS

Fri, 19 Feb 2021 14:09:00 GMT

GRANDMAS draw their inspiration from the post-industrial areas of the North West, in which they were raised. The social clubs and run-down seaside towns served up colourful and peculiar characters that GRANDMAS champion with their unorthodox perspective and unique brand of morbid humour.

‘Norteños’ is GRANDMAS’ first short film and has won awards and recognition at festivals including BIFA, Raindance, Aesthetica, Encounters, Clermont-Ferrand, LSFF and Slamdance. After its run on the international festival circuit the film also landed them a licensing deal with Canal+. They are currently in development with NBC Universal on their first TV series.

‘We’re delighted to welcome GRANDMAS into the Academy family.

Their work is consistently beautiful, often disturbing and funny in equal measure and always totally engaging. With rich characters, effortless performances and a resoundingly strong voice, these two are fully formed film makers, mature beyond their years.

We cannot wait to see what the future holds for this talented pair and are excited to be on the journey with them.’

- Simon Cooper, MD/Partner

CHECK OUT THEIR REEL

Academy Films Signs Up & Coming Talent Ethan+Tom To Music Video Roster

Wed, 10 Feb 2021 15:21:00 GMT

Academy Films signs London-based duo Ethan+Tom to its Music Videos roster, fresh off the release of their latest video for Shrink, “Cut You Loose”.

Meeting at the University of Westminster in 2017, where they were both studying a Film BA degree, Ethan and Tom began making music videos for friends who produced music. One such music video for budding band Badgirl$ caught the interest of Sony Music, which led to a series of music videos with the label - all while the pair were still at university. Since then, they’ve worked with artists such as Flohio, Greentea Peng, P-rallel, Nayana IZ, Wu-Lu, Berwyn and more. In 2020 their work for Flohio’s ‘WAY2’ was nominated for a UKMVA.

Academy Film’s Head of Music Maurizio Von Trapp says of the pair:

“We are incredibly excited to add the young duo to our music video roster. For the past year, we’ve been working closely together and have produced work we’re extremely proud of - it really feels like the possibilities are endless when it comes to these two. This duo of young filmmakers are a dream come true: full of ideas, excitement and wonder, and a relentlessness that drives it all forward, to a future we look forward to not only witnessing, but being a part of.”

Check out their REEL

Katie Burdon goes Macro 📷

Mon, 18 Jan 2021 16:28:00 GMT

Photographer, Katie Burdon, gives us a sneak peak into the process behind some her recent macro experiments.

In her own words below:

These are a series of images from a very casual on-going project I have been chipping away at for years. I have always been very interested in the biological structure of a body - the smells, textures and colours. We seem to have this idea that the insides of us are disgusting, perhaps we are disillusioned to what we really look like. I have been working with still life imagery that uses these ideas to create something viewers will find beautiful, but if they knew what they were really looking at then their minds might change. I chose to photograph bodies of animals with a macro lens to distort the perspective, using a lens like this means you can focus on shapes and textures that the blind eye might disregard. I think this allows me to create images that look like flesh paintings - they are grotesque, but when something is grotesque I think it is inherently associated with the feminine; it is bodied, earthly and changeful. These concepts are all part of a short film I am hoping to make this year - my ambition for 2021!

Fern Berresford joins Academy!

Wed, 11 Nov 2020 11:31:00 GMT

We are thrilled to have a new addition to out ever growing Photography Division, introducing Fern Berresford!
She is a photographer and filmmaker. A storyteller with work spanning across film, music videos, TV commercials and photography. Fern’s work combines clever concepts with beautifully bold aesthetics. She has a witty and distinctive visual style, often creating quirky characters that inhabit vibrant worlds.Whatever the medium, Fern’s imagery is full of atmosphere and cinematic drama.Her work has been recognised across the industry picking up awards at the British Arrows, D&AD, Creative Circle, the International Photography Awards in New York and has most recently been selected as a winner of the British Journal Of Photography’s ‘Female in Focus Awards’.Fern’s photography has been exhibited internationally and has featured on Vogue Italia and Hunger Magazine.

Check out her work here.

APA & Shots Top 20 of 2020

Tue, 10 Nov 2020 12:34:00 GMT

With no APA Show or shots Awards Europe this year, the APA and Shots wanted to keep the flag flying for the best of British work across the last 12 months. So, in celebration of some of the best commercial work created by UK companies, shots and the APA proudly present their Top 20 of 2020.

We are incredibly proud to celebrate Frederic Planchon for appearing in the top 20 THREE times, for Cadbury 'Fence', Renault 'The French Exchange', and PlayStation 4 'Tear'. Check them out on his reel ✨✨✨

Visit the full list here.

Introducing Henry Scholfield

Mon, 12 Oct 2020 11:05:00 GMT

Introducing Henry Scholfield to Academy! 🤩@hscholfield

Henry started out directing street style music videos on the UK grime scene for Dizzee Rascal, Kano, Professor Green and Wretch 32. He continues to make killer videos for some of the biggest urban artists. ‘Boasty’ by Wiley, featuring an epic who’s who of the music industry’s most recognisable artists, and the unmistakable ‘Vossi Bop’ by Stormzy have both upped the ante in grime video visuals. ‘Vossi’ netted Best Video and Henry won Best Director at the 2019 UK MVA’s and he’s been nominated in both categories again this year.

Away from the Grime scene Henry has directed stand out videos for Billie Eilish, Rosalia and Dua Lipa, with his video for ‘New Rules’ winning a D&AD Pencil and breaking viewing records on YouTube; last count up to 2.2bn.

Henry’s work is charged with energy, innovation and creativity. His swift, flowing camera moves, stylised choreography and standout art direction set him apart, positioning him as a master of the short form. In commercials, he has echoed the pace and fluidity of his promo work, shooting for clients like Barclaycard, Budweiser, Gojek, Pepsi, Google, Converse, Stella Artois and many others. In 2018 he won a Lion at Cannes for his brutal Red Cross film, ‘Rules of War’.

CHECK OUT HIS REEL

Welcoming Remi Laudat to Academy

Fri, 11 Sep 2020 11:02:00 GMT

We are incredibly excited to welcome Remi Laudat as the newest addition to our roster.

Remi initially trained as a dancer (ballet and contemporary) before shifting into filmmaking. He made this transition after discovering the broader reach he could have through film rather than as an individual dancer on stage, as well as the artistic scope film has to tackle any subject matter.

Now Remi has ensconced himself as a director in his own right, creating fashion films, music promos, ads, and short films. His directorial style centers heavily around beauty, whether rugged or pristine, and works to evoke emotion within his audience using impactful visuals and imaginative storytelling.

We cannot wait to see what he does next, view his reel here.

'Color Me', Unnerving New Short From Martin De Thurah

Wed, 26 Aug 2020 11:30:00 GMT

At times you find yourself on a dark road in a deep black valley. It is hard to orient yourself. You vaguely recall who you are, but it is hard to completely grasp, you have to lay down to dissolve into the ground.

We all contain darkness. A door to a strange place, where the world falls apart and becomes unrecognizable. A floaty reality, almost dreamlike.

How do we respond when we have to face our own fears and mortality, and is it possible to find tranquility within the world of our nightmares?

These are some of the themes explored by the new art project Color Me, a collaboration between Danish director Martin de Thurah and Active Child, the musical alias of American singer, songwriter and producer Patrick Grossi.

De Thurah has combined sculpting, live-action recordings and visual effects with the trembling and distorted sound of Active Child’s track ”Color Me” to create a haunting and visually innovative film - one of his most ambitious projects to date.

“I wanted to make something frightening, and I know it is very hard. To create a film in which someone was physically penetrated by their own anxiety. In a gentle way, with a lot of love and the possibility of healing,” Martin de Thurah says.

For Patrick Grossi the project echoes an attempt to grasp the sadness and hope of life.

”It is hard to be human. Our capacity to feel can be overwhelming. But how we process great emotion and crippling anxiety is what sets us apart. My own fear of death has been with me since I was boy. My fear of a complete end, a full stop, like going to sleep, it haunts me. It lives within me and takes shape in my dreams. It is why my music much of the time is an attempt to reconcile with the existence of a spiritual world,” Grossi says.

The creation of Color Me began in 2019 and as Martin de Thurah worked tirelessly with his team to form the right expression, the global pandemic changed the world and added layers of meaning and relevance to the film. The result is an emotional and visceral experience, which demands the attention and reflection of its spectators.

Watch Color Me Here

THIS IS ME: Frederic Planchon | Campaign Magazine

Wed, 19 Aug 2020 15:56:00 GMT

Welcoming director, musician and artist, Baloji ✨

Mon, 13 Jul 2020 16:38:00 GMT

View his work

Baloji defies categorisation: his work as an artist, musician, poet and film director has reached and touched audiences globally.

Born in Lubumbashi (DRC) and based in Belgium, Baloji is an award-winning musician and filmmaker and the perfect example of the polymath artist. In Swahili, Baloji originally means man of science but during the colonial era this transformed into man of occult sciences and into sorcerer today. This name, as a heavy burden to bear, has translated through his work, shaping an eye for dreamlike worlds and magic realism.

In 2008, he released “Hotel Impala” an album conceived as a reply to a letter he received from his mother after a 25-year absence. 137 Avenue Kaniama is Baloji’s third album and the first to appear on the Bella Union label (John Grant, Fleet Foxes, Beach House...).

He started his directorial career by making videos set to his own music, and has made several short films for which he creates the visuals, costumes and set design. With his first short fiction film, ‘Kaniama Show’, he made a satire on African propaganda TV shows. ‘Peau de Chagrin/Bleu de Nuit’ is a musical trip that looks into Congolese pygmy wedding traditions. He opened up the skin bleaching debate with ‘Never Look At the Sun’, his visual ode to black beauty, a film he made for Nowness. In his last short film ‘Zombies’ he brings together tribal motifs and digital culture to explore the stupefying effects of mobile technology. He’s currently developing his first feature film, a hybrid VR experience and another short film.

‘Zombies’ created a furore within the short film festivals where he won numerous awards, including the Prinzipal Prize at the Oberhausen International Short Film Festival, the Prix Festivals Connexion Auvergne- Rhône-Alpes at the Festival International du Court-Métrage de Clermont- Ferrand and official selection at the London Film Festival. In 2019 ‘Zombies’ was picked as Short of the Year by MUBI and won Best Styling at the UK Movie Video Awards. As an artist he was selected as Creative of the Year by Nowness.

Academy’s Head of Music, Maurizio Von Trapp has been following Baloji for some time; ‘We are incredibly excited to add Baloji’s voice to our roster. His work is both exuberant and timely, and much needed in today’s political climate. He makes films for the future, he asks questions that aren’t being posed, and he does it with dexterity and poetry. Academy is very lucky to have him.’

View his work

Ways to help the current situation | Donate + Sign

Mon, 01 Jun 2020 15:12:00 GMT

DONATIONS

https://minnesotafreedomfund.org/donate

https://bailproject.org/

https://actionnetwork.org/fundraising/louisville-community-bail-fun

https://brooklynbailfund.org/

https://www.libertyfund.nyc/

https://www.classy.org/give/204448/#!/donation/checkout

http://atlsolidarity.org/

https://blacklivesmatter.com/

https://secure.everyaction.com/4omQDAR0oUiUagTu0EG-Ig2

https://secure.actblue.com/donate/freeblackmamas2020

https://www.aclu.org/issues/racial-justice

https://www.cuapb.org/what_we_do

US PETITIONS

https://act.colorofchange.org/sign/justiceforfloyd_george_floyd_minneapolis/?source=dm_sms_optin_5-26-20

https://www.standwithbre.com/

https://naacp.org/sign-petition-justice-ahmaud-arbery/

https://www.change.org/p/mayor-jacob-frey-justice-for-george-floyd

https://www.change.org/p/andy-beshear-justice-for-breonna-taylor

Welcoming Woody Rankin to Academy 📸

Thu, 30 Apr 2020 16:37:00 GMT

We may still be in lockdown but that doesn’t mean we can’t mix up our household... Welcoming @woodyrankin as our newest photographer to the Academy family 😎

Woody Rankin is a London-based photographer and shoots on both film and digital. Specialising in documentary content and portraiture, he has shot some of the most high profile names in football and music. He draws humanity and authenticity with a unique ability to reach behind the professional veneer and reveal facets of a subjects personality. Inspired by the ‘human-ness’ of life – he often marries this intimacy with a documentary-style approach. Whether working with huge stars or capturing locals in their natural environment, Woody always captures deeply arresting images.

Clients include: Adidas, Beats by Dre, Copa90, Nike, OPPO, Pepsi, Sony Music, Virgin Atlantic, VICE, and VISA, and his work published in British Vogue.

Check out his work

It's Nice That | Academy Photo #Remote Brief

Thu, 30 Apr 2020 16:22:00 GMT

Confinement and community: Academy Photo’s artists create something beautiful from a challenging situation

The London-based photography agency tasks its photographers with a series of remote briefs in the hopes of maintaining the creative spirit.

Words by Jyni Ong

Academy Photo – home to the likes of Peter Funch, Frederick Paxton, Ivar Wigan, Joshua Wilks, Katie Burdon – have come up with a way to keep its representees busy during this isolation period. The production house hoped to instil positivity in its photographers, providing them with a remote brief to create something beautiful out of a challenging situation. Tasking its renowned photographers to explore something they hadn’t done previously under the themes of confinement, community and stockpiling, the experiment prompted the artists to flex their muscles under the limitations of lockdown. As a consequence, the results are unexpected, with each contributing artist producing something outside of their known aesthetic, and to the delight of their fans all over.

For Katie Burdon – a photographer who has shot for the likes of Vogue Italia and Rollacoaster Magazine – the brief provided her with an apt opportunity to go over the road and visit her 86-year-old neighbour. She had just arrived back in her home town in Cornwall from London when she was presented with the brief “to keep [her] abstract thinking alive and camera clicking.” She tells It’s Nice That, “I don’t think I would have taken these portraits without this nudge,” and found herself pushing ideas to a new level under the newly imposed restrictions.

She’s known Maureen her whole life and remembers reigning the Cornish countryside lane as a child with her in close proximity. Describing her as a legend, Katie recalls her thick Cornish accent like “petals through rough diamonds” and her curiosity “as sharp as a razor.” Spending much of her time spying on passers-by out the window or from the comfort of her front garden, Katie captured the cheekiness of her neighbour in a striking portrait revealing Maureen’s quirks. Elsewhere, Katie’s been playing with more abstract modes of photography, exploring the heightened feelings experienced in isolation while questioning her relationship with the medium.

Above

Academy Photo: Jim Fenwick

Peter Funch, on the other hand, has spent his confinement across the channel in a small town in the south of France. “Like many other countries,” he tells us, “the confinement rules were very strict and the emotional understanding of this pandemic has been quite a journey.” Despite not knowing what tomorrow will be like, he found a new meaning in the beauty surrounding him, explaining, “We are extremely suspicious of beauty, but maybe less these days as it gives us a confirmation of meaning in life.”

Taking to the foliage around him, he started gathering flowers, enjoying the environmental experience, then arranging and photographing the scene. “It feels simple and meditative,” he adds. Over time, he witnessed the circle of life take hold of the budding blooms around him. As conversations with family and friends unfolded, new flowers came into being and others faded away. In short, confinement may be restrictive, but on the flip side, it has also allowed Peter to deeply observe.

Flowers is a common subject also shared with William Arkle Marsden, who documented their fragile intricacy in a symbol of coexisting power and frailty. It was a subject he thought of immediately when presented with the brief; a distinct change from his practice outside lockdown which is based on documenting sub-groups of British society. In a society on a much smaller scale however, Jim Fenwick photographed the highly organised society of ants, each one living for the greater good of the colony. “I read a fascinating article in The New Yorker explaining how isolation takes its toll on ants,” he explains. “According to a study by researchers at the University of Lausanne, ants are forced to live alone and have only one tenth the life span of those that live in groups.” With that being said, Jim finally concludes: “We all benefit from community.”

See More & Read the Original Article on It's Nice That

Blog Feed - Academy Films

ACADEMY PRESENTS - An Evening of Short Film

Please join Academy Films for an intimate screening of Short Film, brought to you by some of our finest talent. An exclusive screening of three new short films currently making their festival run. Directed by Sophia Ray, Zhang & Knight and Henry Scholfield.

Amy Shore Joins the Academy Roster!

Break into the Film Industry - Apply Here

Darapen Vongsa-Nga Joins Academy as Head of Emerging Talent

The Story of Studying During a Pandemic by William Marsden

2020 British Arrows Wins 🏆

Runyararo Mapfumo joins Academy!

Academy Signs GRANDMAS

Academy Films Signs Up & Coming Talent Ethan+Tom To Music Video Roster

Katie Burdon goes Macro 📷

Fern Berresford joins Academy!

APA & Shots Top 20 of 2020

Introducing Henry Scholfield

Welcoming Remi Laudat to Academy

'Color Me', Unnerving New Short From Martin De Thurah

THIS IS ME: Frederic Planchon | Campaign Magazine

Welcoming director, musician and artist, Baloji ✨

Ways to help the current situation | Donate + Sign

Welcoming Woody Rankin to Academy 📸

It's Nice That | Academy Photo #Remote Brief

Confinement and community: Academy Photo’s artists create something beautiful from a challenging situation

Please join Academy Films for an intimate screening of Short Film, brought to you by some of our finest talent.

An exclusive screening of three new short films currently making their festival run. Directed by Sophia Ray, Zhang & Knight and Henry Scholfield.