Exceptional 2012 shortlist announced for 5th year of the prestigious Film London Jarman Award

The winner will be announced at a special event on 6 November at the Whitechapel Gallery.

Film London and Channel 4 in association with the Whitechapel Gallery are excited to announce a stellar line up of ten UK-based contemporary artists, comprising Brad Butler & Karen Mirza, Marcus Coates, Shezad Dawood, Benedict Drew, Nathaniel Mellors, James Richards, Ben Rivers, Aura Satz, Matt Stokes and Thomson & Craighead, as the shortlisted artists for the prestigious Jarman Award’s fifth year, also marking the 70th anniversary of the birth of artist and filmmaker Derek Jarman who continues to inspire the spirit of the award.

The winner will be announced at a special event on 6 November 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 commission. Three further artists will also be commissioned for Random Acts this year.

Selected from a record number of artist entries, nominated by experts across the UK contemporary arts sector, the extended shortlist, presents the work of ten artists who use the film and video medium in a range of diverse and interesting ways. It offers a comprehensive survey of the work and practice of UK based film and video artists, and celebrates the rich and eclectic array of work emerging in recent years.

The 2012 Jury who will select this year’s winners are: Stuart Comer film curator, Tate Modern (Chair); Mark Cousins, Film-maker, author and curator; Aaron Cezar, Director, Delfina Foundation, Iwona Blazwick OBE, Director, Whitechapel Gallery; Mark Rappolt, Editor, ArtReview; and Tabitha Jackson, Commissioning Editor for Arts, Channel 4.

Launched in 2008, the Film London Jarman Award gives recognition and support to artists working with the moving image and whose work resists conventional definition, encompassing innovation and excellence. The Award is inspired by visionary avant-garde film-maker 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 12 September to 3 November at venues across the UK, including FACT, Liverpool , CCA, Glasgow and CIRCA Projects Newcastle . The tour will culminate in a special event at London’s Whitechapel Gallery on Saturday 3 November with screenings, Q&As and performances. Full details of the touring programme including further dates, will be announced shortly.

Adrian Wootton, Chief Executive of Film London said: “Year after year the Jarman Award showcases some of the UK’s most interesting artists working with the moving image in the UK and this year’s shortlist is no exception. A fantastic line up whose work demonstrates what an exciting time it is for the sector. At Film London the Jarman Award is central to our support of artist moving image, and rightly so it has become something of an annual celebration. We are proud to be presenting it for the 5th year and thank our funders Arts Council England and partners Channel 4 and the Whitechapel Gallery for their ongoing support.”

Following in the footsteps of previous winners Luke Fowler (2008), Lindsay Seers (2009), Emily Wardill (2010), and Anja Kirschner & David Panos (2011), the 2012 winner of the Film London Jarman Award will be awarded a £10,000 cash prize and a unique broadcast commission – to make film-based artwork for Channel 4’s acclaimed Random Acts strand, for which Film London is one of the commissioning partners.

A change for the 2012 Film London Jarman Award, is that three further artists, selected from the shortlist by Channel 4 and the jury panel, will also be commissioned to make a short film for Random Acts. The total value of the four Random Acts commissions is £16,000.

This is the only Award of its kind where an artist is rewarded with both financial assistance to enable them to flourish and the exceptional opportunity to broadcast their work on primetime national television.