Ben Rivers studied Fine Art at Falmouth School of Art, initially in sculpture before moving into photography and super8 film. After his degree he taught himself 16mm filmmaking and hand-processing. His first film ‘The Joy of Walking’, toured the world as part of the package ‘Experiments in Terror’ organised by Other Cinema in San Francisco. Since then he has made over 15 films, showing extensively at international film festivals, as well as galleries, and theatres around the UK. 

 

Recent films have included two commissions from Paul Harnden Shoemakers – making works which fall somewhere between documentary and fiction. His latest work is an ongoing series of portraits of people living somehow outside of the generally accepted idea of society. The first part – ‘This Is My Land’, was premiered at London Film Festival 2006 and exhibited by Measure Arts in London 2007. 

 

In 1996 he co-founded and has since co-managed/programmed Brighton Cinematheque - renowned for screening a unique programme of film from its earliest days through to the latest artist’s film and video.