Julie Cleves & Robbie Synge

Forest Floor (2019)

Shot in Abernethy Forest in The Cairngorms, “Forest Floor” considers different bodies and physical access challenges in a rural location. Close friends Julie and Robbie sit quietly together on the ground, a simple idea requiring a novel approach.

Robbie Synge (Cairngorms) and Julie Cleves (London) are performance artists. Their work together playfully investigates cooperative, embodied solutions to access problems, often Involving simple DIY-made objects.

Robbie Synge, 2019

Commissioned by BBC Scotland and LUX Scotland as part of the Now & Next scheme.

"...a short film of astonishing beauty that redefines “adventure”... first they solve the technical challenge that besets all good adventures — how to get there — and then, they dance."

- Keme Nzerem, Financial Times, May 2020 (https://www.ft.com/content/aa95d9b6-830b-11ea-b6e9-a94cffd1d9bf)

- Touring Europe with Cinedans, 2022/23.

- Overall Film Award, Light Moves Festival, Limerick, Ireland, September 2021.

- Best of Fest Jury Award and subsequent national touring, Dance Camera West, USA, January 2021.

- Best of International Shorts and subsequent national touring, Flickerfest, Sydney, Australia, January 2021.

- Winner of the Changemaker Award, Kendal Mountain Festival, UK, November 2019.

- Special Mention in Leeds International Film Festival Screendance Competition, 2020.

- Screened in galleries, and touring cinemas across UK, Europe, USA and Australia.

- Over 150,000 views on social media (during initial social media release).