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Free Radicals: a History of Experimental Cinema.
A documentary by Pip Chodorov. Filmmaker in person.

6.30pm / Wednesday 12 February 2014
Irish Film Institute - 6 Eustace Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 

"The artists and poets of cinema since before WWI have always been free radicals, crazy about filmmaking and pushing the artform in radical new directions. Trapped in a no man's land, excluded both from the art world and the film industry, they boldly created a grassroots network for making and showing their films in a spirit of friendship and solidarity. They also created a profound body of work that continues to influence our culture. In this film, I want to share a few of the films I love and introduce you to some of the free, radical artists who made them." - Pip Chodorov

Stan Brakhage in Free Radicals: a History of Experimental Cinema

Filmmaker and film activist Pip Chodorov offers this affectionate overview of some of the leading figures of 20th century experimental film. Narrating in a personal and plainspoken manner ("I'd like you to meet some of my friends and see their films"), Chodorov combines clips and even films in their entirety with conversations with such luminaries as Hans Richter, Robert Breer, Michael Snow, Peter Kubelka and Stan Brakhage in his final recorded interview. The film, which takes its title from Len Lye's direct animation classic, shows how avant-garde filmmakers were often left in a no man's land between the art world and the commercial film industry. It was up to visionaries like Jonas Mekas and the organizations he founded - Film-Makers' Cooperative, Anthology Film Archive - to help struggling filmmakers out. (At one point, Ken Jacobs describes dumpster diving for food.) Warm and inspiring, Chodorov's film is part essay and part loving tribute. - AFI Film Festival

Jonas Mekas in Free Radicals: a History of Experimental Cinema

Free Radicals: A History of Experimental Cinema (Pip Chodorov)
2010, 8mm/Super-8mm/Super-16mm on video, 80 minutes