History
Four Corners is a long established centre for film production and training, based in East London. For 30 years we’ve been nurturing talent in a unique environment where BAFTA and Turner prize nominees work alongside moving image artists and local trainees, supporting artists such as Tacita Dean, Isaac Julien, Jarvis Cocker, Ali Zaidi, Carol Morley, Desperate Optimists and many others. Since 2003 Four Corners has also become a leading provider of professional darkrooms for London, with a fast developing arts and education programme.
Four Corners was formed in 1973 by four young filmmakers - Joanna Davis, Mary Pat Leece, Ronald Peck and Wilfried Thust. The name 'Four Corners' was loosely based on the fact that they came from all four corners of the world. They sought to develop independent filmmaking, both at the level of production and what was on the screen, and bring films and filmmaking to those who had previously been excluded from the whole practice of film. At 113 Roman Road, they created a cinema and production workshop, screening a range of work to local audiences.
Four Corners was provisionally franchised under the Channel Four Workshop Agreement in the 80s, and received funding for films Bred and Born, Hang On A Minute and Is That It? among others. Nighthawks (dir. Ron Peck/Paul Hallam 1979) was Britain’s first gay feature.
By the 90s, the organisation had developed into the open-access production resource and training centre of today, continuing its commitment to support a wide diversity of initiatives involving people who had been traditionally under-represented.
In 2003 Four Corners was granted the building at 121 Roman Road by the Arts Council, to meet a strategic objective in reopening the former Camerawork darkrooms and gallery, which had been closed for over three years.
Today we have created a new centre for still and moving image work, covering every stage of creative production from inception to exhibition. It is one of London’s foremost organisations which supports the wealth of emergent filmmaking and artistic talent, particularly engaging with people who have been traditionally completed excluded from the whole creative process.
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