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London International Screen Dance Festival Returns for 2021

Tue 31 August 2021

The biennial festival returns to Laban Theatre this September to showcase 26 new independent short films from around the world.

Curated by Reader in Choreography Charles Linehan, the London International Screen Dance Festival champions the inventive and experimental integration of movement, choreography and the moving image on screen.

This year, there will be four hour-long programmes across two nights (23 & 24 Sept), featuring work from 5 continents, including four World Premieres from the USA, South Korea and the UK and 11 UK premieres.

Shortlisted from over 500 submissions, the 26 films include:

  • Douglas Rosenberg’s Song of Songs, described as a “deeply personal evocation” of the poetry series from the Old Testament. Shot in black and white with an original cello score, it evokes a cinematic space that is contemplative and austere, turning “ritual to art to performance”.
  • John Degois’ Birds, a life affirming 9 minute one-take film shot outdoors in black and white using slow motion. The film attempts to transpose live performance to film and breaks expectations of where the viewer should focus their attention, offering an antidote to the gloom of our covid 19 reality.
  • Hadi Moussally’s Bellydance Vogue, which mixes archive VHS footage from his childhood in Lebanon with contemporary footage, in response to celebrating his birthday alone during lockdown.

In collaboration with Screen Dance International, Detroit, the 2021 Festival will also present Second Warning in memory of Marcus White (17 May 1988 – 14 May 2020). Marcus created the film for the 2017 Moving 24 fps, a week-long festival in Detroit for dance-makers and filmmakers that he co-founded and directed with Carlos Funn.

Alongside the screenings, there will also additional Q&A events and talks, and the announcement of the Festival Award for Best Film.

Charles Linehan says:

“London International Screen Dance Festival is a dynamic event celebrating a diverse range of films from the international community. It gives lesser-known artists a platform alongside artists with international profiles, creating a level playing field where quality is prioritised over status, ensuring the audience can enjoy an exciting and surprising mix of experimental films.”

Discover the full programme listings and visit our What’s On pages to book your tickets.

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