Swalesong

A sonic and visual exploration of a remote river valley in England’s North Yorkshire Dales. The documentary layers together place, people, history and nature, with the River Swale as a leitmotif. The film’s score was created by musician Sam McLoughlin (samandtheplants), who recorded his river harp in the current of the river. Swalesong combines location shots with archival material, including photographs by pioneering wildlife photographers the Kearton Brothers, along with historic audio interviews with local people who remember Neddy Dick, who was infamous for his musical instruments made from nature.

Commissioned by Chrysalis Arts Development for 'Unfolding Origins' artist residency programme 2020-2022

  • Nick Jordan
    Director
  • Jacob Cartwright
    Director
  • Nick Jordan
    Producer
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Experimental
  • Runtime:
    11 minutes 5 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    January 8, 2022
  • Production Budget:
    3,000 EUR
  • Country of Origin:
    United Kingdom
  • Country of Filming:
    United Kingdom
  • Language:
    English
  • Aspect Ratio:
    4:3
  • Film Color:
    Black & White
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Istanbul Experimental Film Festival
    Istanbul
    Turkey
    November 3, 2022
  • Silent Running
    Whitworth
    United Kingdom
    October 6, 2022
  • Antimatter Film Festival
    Victoria
    Canada
    September 2, 2022
    International Premiere
  • Bogotá Experimental Film Festival
    Bogotá
    Colombia
  • Fisura International Festival of Experimental Film & Video
    Mexico City
    Mexico
  • West Virginia Mountaineer Short Film Festival
    Morgantown
    United States
    April 22, 2023
    Best Documentary
  • Short Circuit
    Brighton
    United Kingdom
    April 27, 2023
Director Biography - Nick Jordan, Jacob Cartwright

Jacob Cartwright and Nick Jordan's collaborative practice is cross-disciplinary, encompassing film, drawing, painting, photography, objects, publications and events. The artists’ documentary films present oblique, layered narratives that explore social, cultural and natural histories.

Cartwright and Jordan's award-winning films have been screened and exhibited internationally, including Innsbruck International Biennale (Austria); BFI London Film Festival (UK); Whitstable Biennale (UK); Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival (France); Sheffield Doc/Fest (UK); São Paulo International Short Film Festival (Brazil); Kassel Dokfest (Germany); Kurtzfilmtage Winterthur (Switzerland); Documenta Madrid (Spain). They are based in Manchester, UK

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