MORGAN RHYS TAMS
About Me.
Morgan Rhys Tams is a multi-disciplinary artist and media educator who regularly struggles with writing about himself in the third person. He works primarily in the mediums of film and photography, with an interest in the inherent iconography and symbolism of landscape, and the humanity within it. His research into modes of 'Elevated Cinema' has resulted in a series of installations, interactive, and community-based art interventions which re-imagine traditional storytelling, distribution and power structures in media creation.
His film credits include the documentaries 'Strangers in a Strange Land' (2016) and 'Bella and Don'(2016), site specific and interactive works 'Window Movie' (2016) and 'A Cartography of Iconic Memory' (2014) and the psyched-out hybrid western/rock opera ‘Killer’s Crossing’ (2013). He has made a whole bunch of music videos for bands you probably haven't heard of, and cut his cinematic teeth producing the award winning short films ‘Hello Faye’ (2007) and ‘Marnie Love’ (2006) with artist/playwright Norman Yeung.
As a media educator Morgan has taught in partnership with The National Film Board of Canada, The City of Victoria, The Vancouver Olympic Organizing Committee, Hot Docs International Documentary Festival, and The Klondike Institute of Art and Culture. He is also a creative advisor for The Weight of Mountains, a biennial residency project for filmmakers held in remote, challenging, or uniquely inspiring locations across the globe.
He has received awards from the Canada Council for the Arts and the British Columbia Arts Council for his creative work and holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film Production from Ryerson University in Toronto (2008), and a Masters Degree in Art Education from the University of Victoria (2013).
Morgan currently spends his time on the road shooting and/or living on a collective farm property on Cortes Island, BC Canada.
Selected Awards,
Exhibitions and Residencies.
2021.
Canada Council for the Arts
Explore and Create Grant Recipient.
Festival du Nouveau Cinema
Official Selection - 'Dear Mr. Dudley'
2020.
Cannes Film Festival
Official Selection - Telefilm's 'Canada: Not Short on Talent'
Canada Council for the Arts
CBC Digital Originals Grant Recipient.
2018.
Canada Council for the Arts
Concept to Realization Support Recipient.
2017.
British Columbia Arts Council
Project Assistance for Media Artists.
CreativeBC / MPPIA
Short Film Award Pitch Finalist.
2016.
FLUX Gallery, Victoria BC.
Interchange Symposium on Digital Art.
National Film Board of Canada
Filmmaker Assistance Program Support Recipient.
2015.
The Weight of Mountains International Artist's Residency
Guest Facilitator - Tissardmine, Morocco
Canada Council for the Arts
Travel Grant for Media Arts Professionals.
Artscape Gibraltar Point
Artist in Residence.
2014.
The Pandora Arts Collective
Filmmaker in Residence.
Short Circuit Film Festival
"Killer’s Crossing"
Best Actor - Clay George
Best Composer - Brooke Gallupe
The Weight of Mountains Film Festival
"Killer’s Crossing"
"A Cartography of Iconic Memory"
2013.
Canada Council for the Arts
Travel Grant for Media Arts Professionals.
British Columbia Arts Council
Professional Development Assistance Grant.
The Weight of Mountains International Artist's Residency
Filmmaker in Residence - Skagastrond, Iceland.
CACGV Café Gallery
"Culmination" - Group photography show.
Cenote Gallery
"Magic Lanterns" - Group photography show.
Dawson City International Short Film Festival
"Killer’s Crossing"
2005 - 2012.
MediaNet Film and Video Co-Op
Production Grant - "Killer's Crossing"
The Film Fort
"The Alphabet Movie"
Vancouver Asian Film Festival
"Hello Faye"
Los Angeles International Short Film Festival
"Hello Faye"
Norman Jewison Filmmaking Award
"Hello Faye" w/ director Norman Yeung.
William F. White Production Grant
"Hello Faye" w/ director Norman Yeung.
Vancouver Asian Film Festival
"Marnie Love"
Honourable Mention
Toronto Reel Asian Film Festival
"Marnie Love"
Calgary International Film Festival
"Marnie Love"
Publications and Press.
InFlux Journal of Critical Writings on Media Art.
'Window Movie.' Volume 1, Number 2.
‘A Neighbourhood in Stop Motion’
The Martlet, October 2014.
http://www.martlet.ca/culture/a-neighbourhood-in-stop-motion/
Korsakow Artist Profiles: ‘A Cartography of Iconic Memory’
https://web.archive.org/web/20141213214233/http://korsakow.org:80/a-cartography-of-iconic-memory-by-morgan-rhys-tams/
The BC Art Teachers Association Journal:
'Making Connections in Remote Locations.' Volume 56, Number 1.
The Journal of the Canadian Society of Education Through Art:
'Windows into Digital Worlds.' Volume 11, Number 1.