> Description
Last Updated Tuesday 13th June
Viewing film festivals as 'highly suspect at the best of times' Mike Figgis constructed an elaborate rouse to survive Cannes 2006. Acting as a (rather famous) 'beach portraitist', he set up a make-shift studio in his hotel bedroom and a gallery at the back of his host nightclub and spent the week photographing and exhibiting prints of the various directors, actresses, producers and writers attending the festival. In the gallery, filmed interview and essay below, Figgis shares with SHOWstudio his resultant images, his thoughts on the festival and the history of how photography has influenced his image career.
> Gallery
Last Updated Tuesday 13th June
View Mike Figgis' portraits of Cannes luminaries,
taken at the 2006 festival.
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Last Updated Tuesday 13th June
Read a personal testimony, written by Mike Figgis, detailing his stint as a self-titled 'beach photographer' as a strategy to divert him from the Cannes festival business.
Click to read Cannes Diary >
Last Updated Tuesday 13th June
In an informal interview, conducted at his North London home, Mike Figgis answers questions on his photographic career, the value of the photographic 'act' vs the print and his Cannes 2006 portraiture project with characteristic candour and creative curiosity.
Click to watch the Interview >
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Mike Figgis
Viewing film festivals as 'highly suspect at the best of times' Mike Figgis constructed an elaborate rouse to survive Cannes 2006. Acting as a (rather famous) 'beach portraitist', he set up a make-shift studio in his hotel bedroom and a gallery at the back of his host nightclub and spent the week photographing and exhibiting prints of the various directors, actresses, producers and writers attending the festival. In a gallery, filmed interview and essay, Figgis shares with SHOWstudio his resultant images, his thoughts on the festival and the history of how photography has influenced his image career.
By Studio, 16:01 Tuesday, 13 June
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> Credits
Photography and text: Mike Figgis
Direction: Nick Knight
Interview: Penny Martin and Sharmin Nordien
Technical Assistance: Ross Phillips and Anna Gudbrandsdottir
Project Design: Paul Bruty
Editorial Assistance: Hannah Lawton
> Contributor Biographies
Mike Figgis
Mike Figgis is a writer, director and composer. Born in Carlisle, England, Figgis spent his childhood in Kenya before (later) returning to Newcastle. He began to play trumpet and guitar with numerous musical...
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