In 1976, a crudely published fanzine devoted to the experimental film scene made its debut. It was called Idiolects and the first issue offered a definition of its name: “An idiolect is the language of an individual at a particular time.”

Experimental filmmaker Warren Sonbert was born today, June 26, in 1947. Sadly, he passed away in 1995 from complications due to AIDS. Sonbert began making films as a teenager in 1966. While his first films were loosely-structured narratives, he later became known for making movies out of his extensive worldly travels. He would plan a […]

Here’s a list of filmmakers that author Sheldon Renan wrote bios for in his seminal ’67 book An Introduction to the American Underground Film.

Notable underground film events of 1978 were the beginning of the No Wave movement, Amos Poe directing The Foreigner and the launch of Glenn O’Brien’s TV Party.

Notable underground film events of 1976 were the publication of A History of American Avant-Garde Cinema and the production of Jonas Mekas’ Lost, Lost, Lost.

Notable underground films in 1972 were John Waters’ Pink Flamingos, Robert Downey Sr.’s Greaser’s Palace; plus Kenneth Anger published his own obituary.

Some notable underground film events in 1971 were Jonas Mekas ending his Movie Journal column, Willard Maas passing away and the first festival was held.

Avant-garde screening series kino21 is hosting a retrospective of the underground films made by Warren Sonbert.

Edited by Wheeler Winston Dixon and Gwendolyn Audrey Foster, Experimental Cinema is a very academic film book with some very engaging bits.