Melbourne’s Artist Film Workshop (AFW) began as a series of workshops and film-only screenings in 2011. After 18 months, AFW found a permanent base at Goodtime Studios. The AFW lab space was inaugurated in 2012 with more than 20 founding members, who constructed a wet lab, dry dark room, common space and screening room. The lab was officially launched in May 2013 with the inaugural exhibition “Equinox” at the Goodtime Studios exhibition space.
The lab is furnished with cameras, projectors, printers and editing equipment. These include Standard 8, Super8, Bolex and Kiev16mm cameras; 8 and 16mm projectors; Lomo tanks, a Bell and Howell Model C contact printer and editing/developing equipment including two Steenbeck flatbed editors.
In addition to the lab facilities, AFW runs a regular program of screenings and workshops with a strong emphasis on teaching and learning. Information about these events can be found on the AFW website: http://artistfilmworkshop.org/.
AFW operates as a central hub for individual and collaborative film activity, with all decisions made and financed by lab members. If AFW has a manifesto, perhaps it is “Do what thou wilt”.
