Underground Film Journal

Online Cinema

Watch amazing short films from the entire history of underground film in the United States, from the 1930s to the early 2000s. And, if you go far back enough into our archives, you’ll find modern short films, movie trailers, film festival trailers and other great video.

Films:

And Sometimes The Boats Are Low — Leighton Pierce

And Sometimes the Boats Are Low by Leighton Pierce (1983). As of this writing, there does not appear to be much written about this particular film by Pierce, even though there is quite a bit written about his work in general, particularly by film historian Scott MacDonald.

Watch This Film
Happy 95th Birthday, Jonas Mekas!

Happy Birthday to Jonas Mekas! Who turns 95 today! From humble beginnings in a small Lithuanian town, to escaping the Nazis, to arriving in New York City in 1948 to become a champion of the cinema!

Watch This Film
Breathdeath — Stan Vanderbeek

Breathdeath by Stan Vanderbeek (1963). At the EXPRMNTL 3 film competition at Knokke-le-Zoute, Belgium in 1963, Breathdeath tied for 2nd place with Gregory Markopoulos’s Twice a Man.

Watch This Film
Andy Warhol — Marie Menken

Andy Warhol by Marie Menken. Competed 1965. Marie Menken made several films inspired by and starring artists she knew, such as Visual Variations on Noguchi (1945) and Arabesque for Kenneth Anger (1961).

Watch This Film
Jammin’ The Blues — Gjon Mili

Jammin’ the Blues by Gjon Mili. Completed in 1944. Gjon Mili is primarily known for his work as a photographer, particularly his portraits and experimental use of strobe lighting, much of which appeared in Life magazine.

Watch This Film