The Film London Jarman Award 2023 shortlisted artists

From surreal animated worlds to filmic explorations of landscape and community, the 2023 Film London Jarman Award showcases the urgency, creativity, and humour of exciting new approaches to the moving image.

Whether located in a Hackney council block or a Guinness factory in Nigeria, Ayo Akingbade’s intimate and playful films reflect the influence of place on a personal sense of identity, while Andrew Black works in close collaboration with local communities to uncover complex political histories hidden beneath the surface of the British countryside.

Experimental animator Sophie Koko Gate transforms familiar angsts and desires into dreamlike stories and psychedelic worlds, from a curious woman who has developed a taste for slugs as lovers to a fantastical holiday-romance film made during lockdown. Karen Russo’s work focuses on marginalised characters, obscure buildings and forgotten moments from the 20^th century, allowing us to reflect on the political, religious and cultural power structures that shape our understanding of history.

Empathy and community are at the heart of Rehana Zaman’s practice. Developed in collaboration with a group of women affected by the UK Government’s Hostile Environment Policy and prison system, Zaman’s recent work captures the perseverance of love and solidarity through experiences of trauma. In his practice, Julianknxx explores the multiple realities of black lives, from a poetic documentary that highlights the disproportionate impact of air pollution on working class citizens in London to a cinematic return to the artist’s birthplace of Freetown in Sierra Leone.

The artists shortlisted for the 2023 Film London Jarman Award create work characterised by a sense of resilience and joy, creating new visual languages and fresh perspectives on often tough and complex subjects.

On behalf of the Jury, Matthew Barrington said:
"This year's shortlist continues to reflect the fluid boundary pushing work being made within the ever-growing field of artists' moving image in the UK. The poetic, socially conscious, and singular nature of much of the work connects both to the legacies of previous awardees as well as that of Derek Jarman, and his large body of politically engaged work. Artists’ moving image has a varied and multifaceted lineage in the UK, and this year's shortlisted artists continue to forge new paths and create new engagements within the field of experimental film and video.”