LONDON.- Film London announced a stellar line up of 10 UK-based contemporary moving image artists comprising John Akomfrah, Sebastian Buerkner, Laura Buckley, Marvin Gaye Chetwynd, Steven Claydon, Redmond Entwistle, Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard, Ursula Mayer, Rachel Reupke and Stephen Sutcliffe, as the shortlisted artists for the prestigious Film London Jarman Award’s seventh year.

Following in the footsteps of previous winners Luke Fowler (2008), Lindsay Seers (2009), Emily Wardill (2010), Anya Kirschner & David Panos (2011), James Richards (2012) and John Smith (2013) the Film London Jarman Award winner will be announced at a special event on 8 December at the Whitechapel Gallery, receiving combined prize money of £10,000 and a film commission for Channel 4’s short-form arts strand, Random Acts.

Three further artists will also be selected for Random Acts commissions, worth £4000 each. This is the only Award of its kind where an artist is rewarded with both financial assistance to enable them to flourish and the opportunity to produce a new piece of work.

Nominated by experts across the UK contemporary film and arts sectors, the shortlist presents the work of 10 artists who use moving image in a range of diverse and uncompromising ways. It offers a comprehensive survey of the work and practice of UK based moving image artists, and celebrates the rich and eclectic array of work emerging in recent years.

Adrian Wootton, Chief Executive of Film London and the British Film Commission, said: “The Jarman Award shortlist is yet again showcasing some of the UK’s most interesting artists working with the moving image. We very much look forward to presenting their work through our national tour, which this year is bigger than ever. The Jarman Award is central to our support of artist filmmakers – a sector which continues to surprise, innovate and break new ground. I am proud of the support FLAMIN provides to these artists, which is only made possible by the investment and vision of our funders Arts Council England.”

John Hay, Commissioning Editor, Arts at Channel 4 said: “Channel 4 doesn’t make films about artists; it invites artists to make films about the world, so this is a perfect partnership for us. We’re delighted to have work of this calibre on the channel, and proud that we can help get as big and broad an audience to it as possible.”

The 2014 Jury who will select this year’s winner are: FLAMIN (Chair), Iwona Blazwick OBE, Director, Whitechapel Gallery, John Hay, Commissioning Editor for Arts, Channel 4, Steven Cairns, Associate Curator of Artists’ Film & Moving Image, ICA, Beatrice Gibson, artist & filmmaker, and John Maybury, filmmaker.

Launched in 2008, the Film London Jarman Award gives recognition and support to artists working with moving image and whose work resists conventional definition, encompassing innovation and excellence. The Award is inspired by visionary avant-garde filmmaker Derek Jarman, one of the most esteemed and controversial artists of the late 20th Century.

A UK touring programme showcasing works by the 10 shortlisted artists will take place from 23 September to 7 December at venues across the UK, including FACT, Liverpool (Tuesday 23 September), Towner, Eastbourne (11 October – 2 November), Chapter, Cardiff (October, date TBC), CCA, Glasgow (16 October), Watershed, Bristol (date TBC), Nottingham Contemporary (date TBC), Cornerhouse, Manchester (date TBC) and CIRCA Projects, The Northern Charter, Newcastle (27 November). The tour will culminate in a special weekend of screenings, Q&As and performances at Whitechapel Gallery across Sat 6 & Sun 7 December. Full details of the touring programme, including further dates, will be announced shortly.

This year also sees a special exhibition of the work of John Smith, the 2013 Jarman Award winner at The Gallery (26th November – 7th December), Tyneside Cinema’s new space dedicated to artists’ moving image work in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. The exhibition is curated by Elisabetta Fabrizi, Tyneside Cinema, and FLAMIN (Film London Artists’ Moving Image Network).