The BBC reveals the full programme of leading names in film and broadcasting coming to Glasgow for brand new arts documentary film festival

The BBC has today announced full programme details for the brand new arts documentary festival Art Screen. Programme highlights include a specially selected documentary by legendary Hollywood director Martin Scorsese and an exclusive Q&A with Brit-pop legend Jarvis Cocker following the film screening of The Big Melt, co-directed by Martin Wallace.
Taking place as part of Glasgow International 2014, Art Screen takes place in two of Glasgow’s renowned art spaces, Glasgow Film Theatre and Centre for Contemporary Arts from the 10th-13th April 2014.

Glasgow Film Theatre will host screenings throughout the festival including Art Screen’s opening film Rio, in which acclaimed filmmaker Julien Temple returns to our screens with an exhilarating look at Rio de Janeiro on the cusp of hosting two of the world’s most high-profile events in 2016. This documentary, commissioned by BBC 1’s Imagine strand, will be followed by a Q&A with Julien Temple, hosted by Kirsty Wark.
Legendary Hollywood director Martin Scorsese has specially selected Italianamerican for Art Screen audiences, exclusively from his own personal archive. The screening will be accompanied by a special introduction from Martin Scorsese, filmed exclusively for Art Screen.

Directors Jarvis Cocker (of Pulp) and Martin Wallace will appear in a Q&A with Paul Morley after the screening of The Big Melt; a unique tribute to the thousands of men and women who toiled in Britain’s steelworks, with footage drawn from the BFI National Archives and British Council Film Collection. It includes a phenomenal score featuring Richard Hawley.

Looking at the life and work of oddball comedian, actor, painter and sculptor, Bruce Lacey- The Bruce Lacey Experience is a film by Turner Prize winning artist Jeremy Deller and filmmaker Nick Abrahams, who also appear in a Q&A hosted by Francine Stock from Radio 4’s The Film programme.

Salma tells the story of a young Muslim girl from a South Indian village, who was 13 years old when her family locked her up for 25 years, forbidding her to study and forcing her into marriage. The film follows Salma as she returns to her village and confronts the lives of the young women living there today.

Salma will join director Kim Longinotto and Adele Patrick, co-founder of The Glasgow’s Women Library, for a special post-screening discussion of the issues raised in the film.
The programme also includes two world premieres of documentaries about Glasgow; Our Glasgow is produced by frieze magazine co-editor Jennifer Higgie and part of their frieze Video strand, and will lead the celebrations of Glasgow as a unique hub of creativity. And in the week the new Reid Building at The Glasgow School of Art is officially opened, Art Screen will screen the world premiere of the BBC documentary Facing Up to Mackintosh, which charts the ultimate architectural challenge – how to design a building to sit opposite a Mackintosh masterpiece.

The CCA venue will screen the Arts in the Archive strand, offering an exclusive and unmissable collection of highlights looking back at television arts documentary making at the BBC, throughout its history. The venue will also host What Is The Art of The Arts Documentary?- a panel discussion chaired by broadcaster Kirsty Wark and featuring artist Jeremy Deller, award-winning film-makers Iain Forsyth & Jane Pollard and broadcasters and art critics Andrew Graham Dixon and Tim Marlow.

Art Screen at Night at the CCA follows each day of screenings and events with three nights of exclusive music and performances from special guests including a DJ set and live visuals from Jonnie Wilkes and Torsten Lauschmann on Saturday 12th April at 22:30.

Art Screen is a national partnership created by the BBC and delivered in collaboration with Glasgow International, British Council, frieze, LUX, Glasgow Film, CCA and BFI. It is supported by Creative Scotland.

Jonty Claypole, Head of Arts for BBC Productions said: “The BBC is incredibly excited to be launching Art Screen – a festival devoted purely to celebrating films about art. It’s a unique chance to bring together partners and practitioners of different arts forms from across the world to experience films which both capture the creative process and are works of art in themselves. This is a unique opportunity for the arts and documentary communities to come together to explore art in film.”

Janet Archer, CEO of Creative Scotland commented: “We are delighted to support this diverse four-day festival dedicated to Arts Documentary. It’s hugely exciting to be a part of this project working in collaboration with the BBC, British Council, frieze, Glasgow International, LUX, BFI, Glasgow Film and CCA. 
The programme offers a wide range of varied and exciting screenings and events, including ‘Who Cares About Art?’ with Alan Yentob, a rare TV interview with J.R.R. Tolkien and BBC Archive Shorts.

We are working to identify two key learning, collaboration and networking opportunities for the creative sector in Scotland to engage with the filmmaking and artistic talent present at Art Screen.”  

Christine Bardsley, Programme Manager - Film, British Council said: “Arts documentaries offer fascinating insight and have long shown the rich humanity behind artists and their work. The British Council is delighted to be working with the BBC and partners on this diverse, international programme, including the groundbreaking Salma, which shows the extraordinary strength and courage still required to be a female artist in much of the world today. 

Allison Gardner, Head of Cinemas at Glasgow Film Theatre, said: "BBCs Art Screen is bringing a diverse programme of new voices and fantastic documentaries to GFT this April. As Glasgows home of film, GFT is delighted to be a part of an excellent programme filled with unique cinema events, and we look forward to welcoming a range of exciting guest speakers to our venue."

Ainslie Roddick from CCA Glasgow, said: “CCA is excited to be hosting a programme of talks, screenings, music and visuals as part of Art Screen 2014.  A packed programme of events will include a screening of Francis Bacons infamous studio interview, Fragments of a Portrait, as well as documentaries about Louise Bourgeois, Susan Sontag, Andy Warhol, Guy Bourdin and many others. CCA and Saramago Cafe Bar will be hosting special guest DJs, including JG Wilkes, and visuals from Glasgow artist Torsten Lauschmann. Its a great opportunity to uncover some provocative footage and a chance to celebrate and dance.”

Sarah McCrory, Director of Glasgow International said: “Glasgow International is very happy to be partnering with the BBC on Art Screen.  The diverse programme is a great opportunity to look at another aspect of the artistic process, alongside the new exhibitions of contemporary visual art across the city during the festival.  Arts documentaries, ranging from John Bergers seminal ‘Ways of Seeing’ through to documentaries about important artists working today, such as Sarah Lucas and previous Glasgow International artist Jeremy Deller allow a new perspective of the work of artists and the way they work, and we’re thrilled to be part of this unique venture.”

Jennifer Higgie, Co-Editor, frieze said: “frieze video is honoured to be part of Art Screen, which promises an unprecedented weekend of extraordinary documentaries and discussions.”
Benjamin Cook, Director of LUX said: “LUX is thrilled to be a partner the UKs first festival dedicated to arts documentary, a brilliant idea that is long overdue, and participate in its extraordinary programme of screenings and events.”
Marcus Prince, BFI television programmer said: “From Barbara Hepworth to Marvin Hamlisch– television has the power to explain art and artists and open up whole new worlds for the inquisitive viewer. The BFI is delighted to be working alongside the BBC to make this amazing and eclectic collection of arts programming available to be seen once again from the BFI National Archive.”

More information and full programme details are available on bbc.co.uk/artscreen and tickets can be purchased via the venue box offices.

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