More a meeting ground than a regular festival, EXPRMNTL knew only five editions, in 1949, 1958, 1963, 1967 and 1974. Nevertheless this handful of events gained the reputation of the most exceptional happening in the history of experimental film. After a first edition that brought the pre-war avant-garde in contact with the young generation, the second event united for the first time what would become the canon of post-war experimental film, including Stan Brakhage, Peter Kubelka, Robert Breer, Len Lye, Kenneth Anger.
The catalyst behind this was the visionary director of the Royal Belgian Film Archive (now Cinematek), Jacques Ledoux, who gradually also combined the filmic avant-garde with electronic music, performance, happenings and video art. Legendary amongst all diehards, this documentary opens up the legacy of EXPRMNTL for a contemporary audience thanks to testimonies of participants such as Agnès Varda, Jonas Mekas, Harun Farocki, Birgit Hein, Boris Lehman and Michael Snow.
Film details
- Country of production
- Belgium
- Year
- 2016
- Festival edition
- IFFR 2017
- Length
- 68'
- Medium/Format
- DCP
