The latest instalment of our world-class filmmaker masterclasses will feature legendary Danish film director and poet Jørgen Leth. A leading figure in experimental documentary filmmaking, Leth has inspired a generation of cinephiles including fellow Dane Lars Von Trier, who collaborated with Leth on The Five Obstructions (2003) a challenge to Leth’s original and ground-breaking short The Perfect Human (1967).
The masterclass is an opportunity to be inspired by a prolific filmmaker whose career spans six decades, and has seen him win a huge number of awards. He also shot Andy Warhol eating a hamburger in 66 Scenes from America (1981) in an oddly fascinating scene that is one of the many iconic images of his prolific career.
On top of his huge contribution to cinema, Jørgen is equally well-regarded as a poet and publications and recordings of his work have had a huge impact in Denmark and internationally. And as if that wasn’t enough for one human to achieve in a lifetime he has achieved popularity with an entirely different audience, as a commentator on the Tour de France. Jørgen’s lifelong love of cycling and experimentation as a filmmaker came together to great acclaim in his 1977 classic A Sunday in Hell, which follows the Paris-Roubaix bike race.
A Sunday in Hell was one of the inspirations for SDI filmmaker Finlay Pretsell’s forthcoming cycling feature Time Trial, all set to receive its international premiere at IDFA on 19 November this year. As filmmakers are often in conversation with each other about and through their work, this is an important moment in the journey of the film and in finding its place in the world as it heads off to start a life of its own.
Finlay commented “I’ve been pursuing Jørgen for many years to join us in Edinburgh to share his vast body of work with us. His films are so inventive and playful, and have made a huge impression on me over the years, not only his cycling oeuvre but also his experimental works. Jørgen isn’t afraid of holding a mirror up to himself or his work which is to be admired. He’s also been a real support to me while making my film.”
The masterclass will be held on Monday November 6th at 16:30 in the West Court Lecture Theatre in the Main Building of Edinburgh College of Art and will last around two hours.
The event is FREE but ticketed, register HERE to attend.
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