ST IVES FILM
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Summer School

Summer School: Land and Sea
4 day analogue film skills workshop 18-21 August 2025

Porthmeor Studios and around St Ives and the coast path, Cornwall
download application form
last two places - 10% off - apply now!
St Ives Summer: St Ives Film Summer School:
Led by Joanna Mayes and James Holcombe


Monday August 18th - Friday August 21st, 2025
+ Sunday evening welcome meeting

Price: £425 for 4 days £382.50 with 10% discount applied
2 supported places for Cornwall artists @ £195

Rolling applications for last couple of places

Join us for a special four-day workshop in the inspiring surroundings of St. Ives, Cornwall, where we’ll explore the art and craft of experimental analogue filmmaking. This immersive opportunity takes place just after the Summer Solstice, with its long days and warmer evenings, offering a perfect moment to immerse ourselves in the interplay of light, nature, and film!

St Ives Film is delighted to invite guest tutor James Holcombe of Erehwon Film to work alongside St Ives Film director Dr Joanna Mayes. James has an international reputation as an artist filmmaker and educator, having taught 16mm Bolex and experimental photochemical filmmaking to hundreds of individual filmmakers as well as to students at UK film and art schools. James also runs the independent film lab @erehwon_film. Dr Joanna Mayes is director of @stivesfilm and founder of @mayescreative. Joanna is an artist filmmaker and educator with a specialism in eco aware analogue filmmaking and experimental processing techniques. Joanna treats film as ‘site’, working to find ways to reduce the impact of her filmmaking practice, whilst supporting accessible home-based and DIY film making techniques, including low cost 8mm cameras and ways to enjoy working with expired film and using plants and berries for alternative film processing and tinting.

This workshop will focus on playful and experimental 8mm and 16mm filmmaking techniques, using affordable and recycled materials without the need for a formal darkroom. We’ll be working at the renowned Porthmeor Studios, overlooking Porthmeor Beach, as we explore the dramatic contrasts of light across the St. Ives peninsula—from the lively surf and rock pools of Porthmeor to the serene waters of Porthgwidden, St Ives Island and the Coastal Path.

More About The Workshop
We will consider the basics of artisanal 16mm and 8mm film production, learning from Joanna’s and James’ filmmaking practices, developed over the last 20 years, which incorporate a kitchen-friendly and eco-aware approach to working with photochemical film. Both artists will share ways in which you can source affordable and recycled film making materials, working without a formal darkroom and how to align our film making practice with contemporary climate and waste-aware concerns. Residents will come away with an awareness of the artisanal film production and ways in which to continue their practice in an affordable way.

Participants will be encouraged to share skills and learn from each other. This opportunity will take a relaxed approach, giving plenty of time for conversation and the sharing of experiences of image-making and how this relates to the development of an photochemical moving image practice. The aim of the week is to develop a network of like-minded artists who can support each other's practices, and create spaces for sharing work more widely both online and in person through @stivesfilm and @mayescreative.

Together We Will Enjoy:
  • Hands-on 16mm Bolex camera work, including multiple exposures and consideration of approaches to more experiemental ways of working.
  • Considering the benefits of ‘sketching’ on the simpler and more affordable Standard 8 Bolex cameras
  • For this workshop we are focusing on filming on land and sea. We will be seeking out the quieter spots and times to film around St Ives coast path and enjoying early filming sessions around the beaches
  • We will be sharing eco-conscious film developing methods - caffenol and/or locally foraged plant materials.
  • Using Cameraless film production techniques especially phytograms to make abstract images from plants foraged from The Island.
  • We will escape the sun in the Porthmeor Fish Cellars, sharing experience of experimental film prints. 
  • Sociable evenings sharing film with eachother - gaining inspiration from films and sharing our own practice
  • A chance to explore St Ives and the coast path and enjoy sea swimming and/or surfing! (Friday is left free for exploring further afield)

Why Join?
This relaxed and collaborative workshop is open to all skill levels—no prior experience or filmmaking equipment is needed (but please feel free to bring your own), and all shared film stock and digitisation is included, thanks to sponsorship from Kodak Film. Together, we’ll explore the creative possibilities of film, share skills, and connect with like-minded artists. The goal is to foster a supportive network and develop sustainable filmmaking practices that align with contemporary climate concerns.

📍 Location: Porthmeor Studios, St. Ives, Cornwall
📅 Dates: Monday Aug 18th - Friday Aug 21st, 2025 + welcome evening on August 17th 2025

Practicalities
Price: £425 for 4 days
1 supported place for a Cornwall artist @ £195

All filmmaking equipment is included (but please feel free to bring your own); workshop film stock and digitisation is included, thanks to sponsorship from Kodak Film.

This opportunity does not include travel or accommodation, allowing participants to make their own choice about cost and location. We can recommend Tregenna Castle Hotel or St Ives Bay Hotel, which is within walking distance/short taxi ride to Porthmeor Studios. Or there is a range of accommodation available on booking sites, including affordable rooms through Air BnB. Early booking is advised.


Click here for St Ives tourist information

Find out more about the historic Porthmeor Studios here
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Second round and 10% discount closes on July 31st 2025 - apply now to guarantee a place!
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  • Home
  • Workshops
    • Spring School
    • Solstice School
    • Summer School
    • October School
    • November Deep Dive
    • Autumn Weekender
    • New Year Schools 2026
  • St Ives Film in a Day
  • Residencies
  • Contact
  • Terms and Conditions