Since 1972, John Smith has made over sixty film, video and installation works, comprising one of the most consistently rich, inventive and thought-provoking bodies of work in British filmmaking. 

Films in this programme: 

Associations (1975, 7 mins) 

The Girl Chewing Gum (1976, 12 mins) 

The Black Tower (1985-87, 24 mins) 

Om (1986, 4 mins) 

Slow Glass (1988-91, 40 mins) 

Inspired by the Structural Materialist ideas that dominated British artists' filmmaking during his formative years, but also fascinated by the immersive power of narrative and the spoken word, Smith has developed a body of work that deftly subverts the perceived boundaries between documentary and fiction, representation and abstraction. Drawing upon the raw material of everyday life, his meticulously crafted films rework and transform reality, playfully exploring and exposing the language of cinema.

This screening is part of Film Feels Curious, a UK-wide cinema season, supported by the National Lottery and BFI Film Audience Network. Explore all films and events at filmfeels.co.uk.