Joseph Cornell was a cinephile, film collector, filmmaker and pioneering American assemblage artist. He called his work ‘white magic’ to distinguish it from the darker arts of the surrealists with whom he had a dialogue. From the late 30s onward he reworked Hollywood movies, travelogues and education films to create touching, sophisticated edits and juxtapositions. The first programme includes Rose Hobart which Dali accused Cornell of stealing from his dreams, and the newly rediscovered The Wool Collage. The second programme shows collaborations with other experimental filmmakers such as Stan Brakhage and Larry Jordan. Gnir Rednow and other titles here draw on material shot by Cornell’s collaborators which he then edited and reworked according to his particular aesthetic.

Ben Rivers: Shorts
Saturday August 4th, 16:10h
Sunday August 5th, 2012 18:40h
Thursday August 9th, 2012 18:40h
BFI Southbank
Belvedere Road, South Bank, London SE1 8XT

Filmarmalade DVD launch 2010
Sunday October 3rd , 17h
BFI Delegate Centre, BFI Southbank
Belvedere Road, SE1 8XT, London UK