ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Ben Rivers' 'Bogancloch' Screens at Locarno Film Festival

festival-fair · 2026-04-26

At the Locarno Film Festival, Ben Rivers presents 'Bogancloch', an 86-minute film-documentary that challenges viewers' endurance. The work follows Jake Williams, a hermit living in a caravan in a remote part of the Scottish Highlands. Rivers' film explores themes of contemplation versus materialism, questioning why humanity abandoned stillness for acceleration. The black-and-white long shots evoke melancholy and invite reflection on a lost way of life. The film serves as a mirror, suggesting a need to change perspective. Carlotta Petracci wrote the piece for Artribune.

Key facts

  • Ben Rivers' 'Bogancloch' screened at the Locarno Film Festival.
  • The film is 86 minutes long.
  • It features Jake Williams, a hermit living in a caravan in the Scottish Highlands.
  • The work is a hybrid of film and documentary.
  • The film uses black-and-white cinematography with long shots.
  • The piece was written by Carlotta Petracci for Artribune.
  • The film challenges the viewer's resistance and endurance.
  • It questions the abandonment of contemplation in modern life.

Entities

Artists

  • Ben Rivers
  • Jake Williams
  • Carlotta Petracci

Institutions

  • Locarno Film Festival
  • Artribune

Locations

  • Locarno
  • Switzerland
  • Scottish Highlands
  • Scotland

Sources