Channel 4 looks forward to a second run of Random Acts

Channel 4's Arts Commissioning Editor Tabitha Jackson has ordered 260 more films for late night arts strand, Random Acts.  After a successful run of specially commissioned three-minute films first launched in October 2011, the call for a new raft of films reflects Channel 4's commitment to providing artistic space and a creative medium for both established and up-and-coming talent.

Since October, Random Acts has provided a television and online platform for innovative challenging, and imaginative contemporary artists such as: Ghostpoet; Rankin, Irvine Welsh, Pepstar, The Chapman Brothers; Ai Wei-Wei, 17-year-old filmmakers Toby Segar and Sacha Powell; David Shrigley,  and poet Kate Tempest, whose film not only and attracted 832,000 viewers on TV but also saw her trend on Twitter across the UK after only three minutes on screen. The strand's highest rated film to date is Frank Eddie's animation, which averaged 788,000 consolidated viewers when it aired on 13th December at 11:10pm.

Jackson said: ‘I'm thrilled with the success of Random Acts, which has provided a creative outlet to such a diverse range of talent and suppliers. I'm looking forward to more dynamic, expressive and vibrant pieces supporting our aim to speak to a broad, contemporary audience and exploring what life is like for us today, every weeknight.'

Building on a diverse supply of content from creative partners around the country, Channel 4 Arts will continue to work with groups such as Tate Media; Protein, Dazed and Confused; Vice; animation specialists Lupus, and cutting-edge dance company, Ballet Boyz along with new partners including Don't Panic and BAFTA. As well as discovering new talent, over 50% of Random Acts producing partners were within their first year of work within Channel 4, or had never worked in television before.

With the mission ‘television as art, not television about art', Random Acts allows artists, performers and experimental filmmakers to create their own pieces, unmediated by presenters and unfettered by television conventions. The short-form films are part of Channel 4's continuing innovative approach to arts content - using the screen creatively to support and nurture new and contemporary artistic talent.

Random Acts disrupt the schedule nightly with content including spoken word, dance, animation, video art and music and also exist in a film gallery on http://randomacts.channel4.com/.

Random Acts airs five nights a week on Channel 4.