Jess and Morgs create
high impact, entertaining dance films and live interdisciplinary stage works, transportinG audiences to the edge of
their imaginations
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Jessica Wright and Morgann Runacre-Temple - collectively known as JESS AND MORGS - are award-winning Directors and Choreographers, creating Dance Film and Interdisciplinary stage work. Their work has been featured on Channel 4, BBC iPlayer, Canal+TV, at TATE Liverpool and at Sadler's Wells. Commissions include: Channel 4 - Random Acts, English National Ballet and Scottish Ballet.
In 2022 they were commissioned by Scottish Ballet to make a full length reworking of the original Ballet COPPÉLIA which premiered at Edinburgh International Festival. Following COPPÉLIA Jess and Morgs collaborated together on an interdisciplinary piece HOTEL for Birmingham Royal Ballet. Both COPPÉLIA and HOTEL were shortlisted for the Fedora Prize.
Their films have won awards at international festivals including the Short Form Award at the prestigious Celtic Media Festival for TREMBLE and the Grand Prize for Best Musical at the Oscar-qualifying Rhode Island International Film Festival 2020 for CINDERELLA GAMES.
JESS AND MORGS received the audience award for their films at Choreoscope Festival Barcelona over 3 consecutive years, and were nominated by the Critics’ Circle at the 2021 National Dance Awards for Outstanding Creative Contribution.
They directed Scottish Ballet’s first feature film THE SECRET THEATRE, released at Christmas 2020, which was subsequently awarded Best Dance Film at the Critics’ Circle National Dance Awards 2021.
CURING ALBRECHT - commissioned by English National Ballet in association with Manchester International Festival, had over 150k views and 3k shares in its first weekend online and was subsequently hosted on BBC iPlayer and Canal+TV. To date, it has won 7 awards at International Film Festivals.
Jess and Morgs have given lectures and taught workshops at institutions including ICA London, The Cultural Academy Gothenburg, The Place, Rambert 2 and Central School of Ballet. In 2021 they were invited to be on the International jury of Bodyscope Festival in Moscow and to curate a programme of Dance Film for the Venice Biennale.
They are recipients of a Genesis Foundation Award 2021 with which they will create a new work BACKSTAGE in partnership with Dance East next year.
JESS AND MORGS
Their films are ambitious
full of high octane choreography
designed specifically for the camera
and feature large casts
shot on spectacular locations
AWARDS
WINNER BEST MUSICAL Rhodes Island International Film Festival (Oscar qualifying) CINDERELLA GAMES, 2020 (USA)
WINNER SHORT FORM Celtic Media Festival, TREMBLE, 2020 (France)
WINNER BEST DANCE FILM New Renaissance Film Festival - TREMBLE, 2020 (Amsterdam)
WINNER BEST MINI Portland Dance Film Festival, TREMBLE, 2020 (USA)
WINNER AUDIENCE AWARD Dance@30FPS, TREMBLE, 2020 (USA)
WINNER AUDIENCE AWARD Choreoscope Festival, TREMBLE, 2019 (Spain)
WINNER BEST DIRECTION Portland Dance Film Festival, CURING ALBRECHT, 2017 (USA)
WINNER AUDIENCE AWARD Choreoscope Festival, THE LAST RESORT, 2018 (Spain)
WINNER AUDIENCE AWARD Choreoscope Festival, CURING ALBRECHT , 2017 (Spain)
WINNER BEST SOUNDTRACK Pentedattilo film Festival, CURING ALBRECHT, 2018 (Italy)
WINNER BEST DANCE FILM New Renaissance Film Festival - CURING ALBRECHT, 2017, (London)
'Jess and Morgs are an original
and fresh voice in dance film.
Their work is accessible and innovative,
and should be supported'
JAN YOUNGHUSBAND
Commissioning editor BBC Music and Events
