“In the temple of cinema there are images, light and reality. Sergei Parajanov was the master of that temple…” Jean-Luc Godard

UK PREMIERE

FABRICA 4-8pm

31 OCT – 10 NOv (closed 6 NOV)

Inspired by ancient manuscript vitrines and camera slate boards, this exhibition repurposes over three hours of newly scanned, unseen film footage and camera tests from director Sergei Parajanov’s masterpiece The Colour of Pomegranates. The film, described by Martin Scorsese as ‘like opening a door and walking into another dimension, where time has stopped and beauty has been unleashed’, was inspired by 18th–century Armenian poet and musician Sayat–Nova.

“This singular artist creates a world of incredible internal motion and hypnotizing beauty.” Atom Egoyan

In the Soviet era, outtakes were usually burnt to recycle the silver in the negative film stock. Incredibly, the hours of original footage shot for The Colour of Pomegranates (originally known as Sayat Nova) were saved and have now been fully restored. Never seen before in the UK, they offer a stunning series of dreamlike tableaux and a remarkable insight into Parajanov’s creative process.

Our thanks to curator and film historian Daniel Bird and the Cinema Foundation of Armenia. The Cinema Foundation of Armenia is tasked with supporting films, their archiving, preservation, and circulation, while also backing research, educational, and development programs. 

SCREENINGS & EVENTS:

In This World – a presentation by Daniel Bird, in-conversation with Frank Gray and live cinema performance.  

6th November – 6pm £9 / £7

Fabrica 

Daniel will speak about language, space and time in relation to Temple of Cinema and then be joined by Frank Gray to discuss the importance of preserving and making accessible film culture, and the particular need to reclaim Armenian, Georgian and Ukrainian cultural heritage and those of other former Soviet republics.  

Their conversation is followed by (at 7:30pm):

In This World: Sayat Nova Outtakes Live 

A special projection of Sayat Nova outtakes, camera tests and black leader to sounds of The Colour of Pomegranates, which have been reworked by Daniel Bird in collaboration with the film’s original composer, Tigran Mansurian. 

Daniel Bird is a writer, film historian and curator of Temple of Cinema. He has curated numerous retrospectives, overseen film restorations, and directs a film-preservation and film-restoration project dedicated to films from the South Caucasus, Central Asia, and Ukraine. Frank Gray was founder and director of Screen Archive South East and is a co-founder of CINECITY. 

Draw to Film: Sayat Nova Outtakes  

15th November – 5pm-7.30pm £15  

Fabrica 

A special one-off ‘Draw to Film’ event for anyone who wants to explore drawing, mark-making and film. Suitable for all skill levels and led by experienced artist-facilitator, Jane Fordham, this session will feature a projection of unique film material from the Temple of Cinema exhibition. 

All materials including paper, pencils and charcoal are included in the ticket price.