Life and Deaf Selected for Festival in Ukraine

Written on 01 November 2012. Posted in Films

Life and Deaf will screen at 'CYCLOP' as part of the 2nd International Videopoetry Festival in Kiev, Ukraine on 17th / 18th November. The festival programmers have selected the Best of Berlin's Zebra Poetry Film Festival so we're pleased that the film will be reaching even wider audiences across the globe.

Life & Deaf Selected for Film Festival in Berlin

Written on 08 August 2012. Posted in Films

Our short film poem Life & Deaf, directed by Eelyn Lee has been selected for this year's 6th Zebra Poetry Film Festival in Berlin. From almost 900 entries only 30 films have been chosen for the competition selection so we're very excited to be attending the festival which runs from 18th - 21st October. Some of the young deaf Londoners who were involved in the film will also be attending so we look forward to representing the Poetry Filmmaking Team GB.

Life and Deaf was commissioned by the Life and Deaf Association and has so far been premiered at The South Bank Centre and extracts featured on BBC's See Hear. The film will go live online later this year.

Watch an Interview with Artist Song Dong

Written on 07 June 2012. Posted in Participation

The film about Song Dong's 'Waste Not' made by the Barbican Young Filmmakers is now available to watch online. Commissioned by the Barbican and Guildhall we have designed and delivered a series of projects for this new group of young filmmakers. We are enjoying working with a creative and talented group of young Londoners in the inspiring environment of the Barbican building.

If you haven't seen it yet, you have until 12th June to see Song Dong's powerful installation in The Curve Gallery at the Barbican Centre. Wet your appetite by watching an intimate interview with the artist below

Young Filmmakers Create VJ Sets for Live Events

Written on 12 March 2012. Posted in Events

We have been working with our young filmmakers, Constant Pictures to create a series of VJ sets. Video Jockying - the art of mixing projected images live, sometimes on multiple screens is an opportunity for filmmakers to feel the buzz of creating work in front of a live audience opposed to sitting in the edit suite.

Working alongside our Associate VJ Francis Morgan-Giles, the young filmmakers took things one step further by remixing sounds and music as well as images. Marie-Solange made an audio-visual remix of her short documentary about Hackney that also screened on the night. Following a premiere screening of your own film with an instant remix of it is pretty groundbreaking!

Constant Pictures performed their VJ sets recently at the Discover Young Hackney closing party. Get in touch if you'd like to book them. They are pictured above with up-coming East London music artist Lil Simz. [From left to right: Sandy, Lil Simz, Marie-Solange, Jonelle, Muzzammil, Shajna] 

Interviewing Song Dong at The Barbican

Written on 14 February 2012. Posted in Participation

Today we worked with a team of young people on filming a short video clip about 'Waste Not', an impressive art installation by Chinese artist Song Dong which opens at The Barbican this week. We managed to secure an interview slot at the busy press preview this morning in which we gleaned a personal insight in to the piece which is inspired by loss and family grief. 

The shoot was part of a 4-day induction project, the first in a series of participation projects for young people wanting to join the Barbican's Young Filmmakers, a group we have been commissioned to set-up. 

Life and Deaf Picks up Award in Berlin

Written on 23 October 2012. Posted in Films

On Sunday evening our film, Life and Deaf picked up one of the three main prizes at the 6th Zebra Poetry Film Festival. The 'RITTER SPORT Film Prize' was awarded to Director Eelyn Lee during the closing ceremony in Berlin's Babylon Cinema. Eelyn says, ".... It's great to have the film recognised and encouraging to know that it reaches out to international audiences...."  

Two of the young deaf poets and actors also attended the festival. Nadeem who plays the angry young man in the film made an impassioned plea to a packed auditorium: ".... you don't have to feel guilty about us. We're deaf and we're OK .... really, we're OK...." 

Life and Deaf will launch online early next year. In the meantime watch this space for special screenings.........

UK talent is Celebrated in Berlin
Another UK Filmmaker won the 'Goethe Film Prize' at the festival. 'I Come From' features a poem and performance by Joseph Buckley and is beautifully illustrated by mesmerizing shots of Leeds. The short film is part of a feature-length documentary, We Are Poets. It's great that Zebra Poetry Film Festival has acknowledged both of our films which celebrate young people from UK cities.

Two Nations Ident Goes Live

Written on 19 June 2012. Posted in Events

A third of Londoners were born in another country. Who will you be cheering for in the Olympic & Paralympic Games?

We have just finished overseeing two young filmmakers from Constant Pictures make an ident to promote an interesting event taking place this Thursday 21st June, 6.30 - 9.00pm at Freeword in Farringdon. Muzzammil Hashmi and Sandy Abdelrahman Co-Produced and Directed this great little sting from initial concept to the final edit.

Constant Pictures will be filming at the event which will feature poets, films and discussions introduced by BBC Radio 1xtra breakfast show presenter, GEMMA CAIRNEY

Tickets available here
Join the Two Nations Facebook page

Life & Deaf on BBC this week

Written on 25 April 2012. Posted in Films

Following a well-received premiere screening of our recent short, Life & Deaf at The South Bank Centre last month the film will be featured on this week’s episode of See Hear on BBC2 & BBC1. The 8 minute film is based on poetry written by deaf young people from around UK and was adapted for screen and directed by Eelyn Lee.

Broadcast Dates are as follows:
Wednesday 25th April 2012 on BBC2 at 1pm
Repeated on Thursday 26th April 2012 on BBC1 at 12.50am
Available on iPlayer after the broadcast - series 32 episode 4 

Don’t forget to Tweet your views #lifeanddeaf

Ian McMillan to Write Poem for Charity Film

Written on 22 February 2012. Posted in Films

 Photo Adrian Mealing

We are very excited that South Yorkshire poet and football fan Ian McMillan has offered to write a poem for our promo film about FURD - Football Unites Racism Divides. Ian who presents the flagship Radio 3 programme, The Verb is an ambassador for the Sheffield charity and a supporter of the great work FURD have been doing over the last 15 years.

Everyone working on the film is giving their time voluntarily as part of the Media Trust's Untold Stories initiative. The film will be released in the Spring.

A Successful Shoot in Sheffield

Written on 30 January 2012. Posted in Films

The weather was kind to us this weekend for a jam-packed 2-day shoot in Sheffield. We were filming the principal photography for a promo we are making for FURD [Football Unites Racism Divides]. Everyone working on the project is giving their time voluntarily as part of The Media Trust's Untold Stories initiative.

A big thanks to our cinematographer Winstan Whitter who filmed some stunning shots in the dramatic Sheffield light. He was assisted by London-based Michael Gillooly. Sheffield filmmakers Richard Heap and Eve Wood kindly offered their services as well as friends from the north and the south.

FURD co-ordinated major aspects of the production such as the cast, mainly young people who work closely with the charity. So thanks to everyone for getting up so early, especially our driver Adnan :) 

Produced and directed by Eelyn Lee the film will be broadcast on the Community Channel later this year.