History
Artists’s Film International was established in 2008 by Whitechapel Gallery in London and since its inception has seen 32 international venues collaborate. AFI’24 is the first iteration of the programme that is convened by Forma, London. AFI is an alternative, lateral programme that exemplifies non-hierarchical, borderless and collaborative curatorial models. Responding to urgent global topics, the programme cultivates collective practice and cross-cultural dialogue, fosters the exchange of ideas and perspectives, and provides wide reaching visibility for artists.
R.I.P. Germain, 'Everything's For Sale & Everyone's Welcome To Buy', 2023. Film still. Courtesy the artist. Commissioned by Forma for Artists’ Film International 2023.
R.I.P. Germain, 'Everything's For Sale & Everyone's Welcome To Buy', 2023. Film still. Courtesy the artist. Commissioned by Forma for Artists’ Film International 2023.
R.I.P. Germain, 'Everything's For Sale & Everyone's Welcome To Buy', 2023. Film still. Courtesy the artist. Commissioned by Forma for Artists’ Film International 2023.
Antonia Shaw, Head of Programmes, Forma:
Forma is incredibly proud to continue the legacy of Artists’ Film International, founded over fifteen years ago by our colleagues at London’s Whitechapel Gallery.
Film, as a powerful and versatile medium, has always been championed by Forma. It has the unique ability to transcend borders and contribute to a more inclusive and dynamic global art community. AFI is a collective endeavour that amplifies diverse voices and connects international artists, organisations and audiences. Countering the fractured nature of our world, often beset by politics, conflict, disaster, and technological and industrial upheaval, AFI reminds us that by working together, we can envision and create alternative futures.
This year's theme, Solidarity, is a testament to the AFI partnership model and embodies Forma’s broader artistic mission. It highlights our commitment to collective action, collaboration and mutual support within the arts. We are deeply grateful to Whitechapel Gallery and the AFI partners for entrusting Forma to nurture and advance this unique and vital film programme.
Previous AFI iterations have considered how we care for one another; highlight the environmental crisis; explore the impact of technology; investigate the debate surrounding truth and fake news; and ponder on what it means to collaborate.
Previous artists in the programme include: artist R.I.P Germain (AFI 2023); Lithuanian artist Agnė Jokšė (AFI 2021), winner of the JCDecaux Emerging Artist Award in 2019; Indian writer and artist Himali Singh Soin (AFI 2022); Swedish filmmaker John Skoog (AFI 2018), winner of the 2015 Goteborg Festival’s Startsladden; Afghan artist Sajia Sediqi (AFI 2022); Filipino artist Kiri Dalena(AFI 2022), founder of the filmmaking collective Southern Tagalog Exposure; American artist Danielle Dean (AFI 2018); German-Italian visual artist Rosa Barba (AFI 2018); Colombian-British and current Getty Research Institute artist in residency Carolina Caycedo (AFI 2020); Scottish artist Rachel Maclean (AFI 2020); Turkish artist, activist and director Zeyno Pekünlü (AFI 2016).