Avant-Garde, Experimental & Non-narrative Films

[DeprongMori]

Has anyone watched the Harry Smith - Selected Films DVD release from the Harry Smith Archives? Or, for that matter, Heaven and Earth Magic? I only have a copy of his films on DVD from a VHS tape. I imagine the image quality on the Archives DVD is far better. Know anything about the restorations?

[swo17]

I have that DVD. I think it looks pretty good! Here are some screencaps:

[DeprongMori]

Are there any (hopefully in-print) collections of Bruce Conner’s work on either DVD or Blu-ray? I’ve been finding a film or so in various anthologies, but nothing dedicated to his work.

[swo17]

I believe this is the only collection that's ever been released, and it's long OOP

[Gregory]

That was also followed up with another briefly available DVD "collection" of two films, Crossroads and Looking for Mushrooms.

[yoshimori]

Gregory is correct. Both discs were put out by Michael Kohn Gallery here in Los Angeles, back when it was still on Beverly Blvd. I spoke to Mr. Conner a few months later and it seems he had not authorized the release, fwiw.

[Matt]

UbuWeb has apparently ceased operations:

As of 2024, UbuWeb is no longer active. The archive is preserved for perpetuity, in its entirety.

Everything on the site is downloadable but nothing is permanent, so it might be wise to do your own archiving of anything you need.

[hearthesilence]

FWIW, Doc Films in Chicago will be showing one of James Benning's films every Sunday until May 19. (Naturally all will be screening from Benning's 16mm prints.)

Complete schedule here. Landscape Suicide already screened this past Sunday, but it's the only one they've shown so far.

[hearthesilence]

MoMA just launched a program of Nathaniel Dorsky and Jerome Hiler's films and both will be in attendance.

Any recommendations?