Ben Rivers

Born in 1972, Ben Rivers is a British artist and experimental filmmaker based in London. His work, presented at numerous festivals worldwide, sits at the boundary between documentary and fiction. Drawing from raw images of reality, Rivers constructs oblique, sensory narratives, often centered on figures living at the margins of society and on isolated territories where alternative ways of life unfold. Taking a more pictorial than narrative approach, his work engages with key contemporary issues and reflects the emergence of an experimental documentary practice nourished by a wide range of artistic influences. This hybrid form has notably enabled him to move beyond the traditional cinema setting and present his work in art centers through installation-based formats. Working frequently with 16mm film that he develops by hand, Rivers embraces an artisanal approach to filmmaking. His first feature-length film, Two Years at Sea (2011), which premiered at the Venice Film Festival, contributed to bringing his work to international attention. He regularly collaborates with other filmmakers and artists, sharing his practice between cinema and visual arts.