26 September 2012 Author Vicky Anderson

The first of the three-minute films commissioned by FACT will be shown tomorrow night (Thursday, September 27) at 11.05pm, and will be Dangerous Games by the iconic performance artist Marina Abramovic.

25 films have been curated by FACT's CEO Mike Stubbs and independent producer and curator Jacqui Davies. Each work will be broadcast on Channel 4 before being made available to view online.

Artists including Johan Grimonprez, Hollywood actor James Franco, Palme d'Or winning director Apichatpong Weerasethakul and Turner Prize winners Mark Wallinger and Mark Leckey will also have films screened in the coming weeks.

All of the artists involved in Random Acts have an interest in television as subject or context, and have made works that embody, expand or reflect on the medium, subverting and challenging its aesthetics and politics.

Random Acts: Artist Interventions into Broadcast will be a celebration of the series as part of the Liverpool Biennial, with a one-day event of performance and talks at FACT on October 26. 


Mike Stubbs said: "We have curated a series of extraordinary, surprising and challenging three minute films with a variety of exciting and well-known artists, as well as some real talents to watch.

"FACT is Britain's primary new media centre, and to commission short works from artists of this calibre is a great opportunity to move beyond the conventional gallery space, and increase our reach as art moves outside the building."

Tabitha Jackson, commissioning editor for arts at Channel 4 said, "We are delighted that our first partnership with FACT has resulted in such an extraordinary set of films.  Long may it continue!"

Find out more about FACT's commissions on our Random Acts project page, and keep an eye out on our website to see when the films will be first broadcast on Channel 4.