In December 1966, the Canyon Cinema Cooperative in San Francisco, California published their first Catalogue of experimental and avant-garde films to rent. This was four years after the Film-Makers’ Cooperative had begun distributing underground films in New York City.

This is Part Two in a series about Chicago’s Experimental Film Coalition; and covers their screening series. Formed in 1983, the Experimental Film Coalition started holding regular monthly screenings starting in 1984. The screenings brought to Chicago the work of independent, experimental filmmakers across the country, as well as screening local work.

By the time the wall lights in the Gate Theater, Sausalito, were dimmed, a middle-aged couple had squeezed into the last remaining space, a few feet from the screen set up on the stage.

One screening, so many interesting names involved. The first being Gregg Barrios; who is now well-known for his poetry, playwriting and friendship with James Franco. However, nothing about the films he made in the ’60s can be found online. (That the Journal can find anyway.)

The 50th anniversary of the Ann Arbor Film Festival includes a major retrospective of Bruce Baillie, a Craig Baldwin lecture, and tons of films by George Kuchar, Jodie Mack and more.

With the Ann Arbor Film Festival holding its 50th anniversary in 2012 on March 24 to April 1, the fest has already lined up a fantastic set of special programs to celebrate.

West coast based underground filmmaker Robert Nelson, who was diagnosed with terminal cancer within the past year, passed away this week. He was 81 years old.

The 7th Florida Experimental Film/Video Festival is showing great films by Vanessa Renwick, Georg Koszulinski, Martha Colburn and more.

Jan. 23: The Academy Film Archive’s Mark Toscano presents a night of restored masterworks and rarities inspired by The Maltese Cross Movement.

Here’s the list of all 330 films included in the Anthology Film Archives’ Essential Cinema repertory collection that was founded in 1970.