Canyon Cinema is dedicated to educating the public about independent, non-commercial, experimental, avant-garde and artist-made moving images. Canyon Cinema manifest this commitment by providing access to their unrivaled collection to universities and cultural organizations worldwide, as well as cultivating scholarship and appreciation of artist-made cinema. They ensure the experience of rare film works in their original medium while also reaching new audiences through our growing digital distribution project. Canyon Cinema’s unique collection of artist-made films – comprised of digital media, 8mm, Super 8, 16mm and 35mm prints – traces the vital history of the experimental and avant-garde filmmaking movements from 1921 to the present. With a strong emphasis on American West Coast and San Francisco Bay Area filmmakers, we are the access point to 3,400 ground-breaking works that represents 260 artists.
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Christopher Harris, “Reckless Eyeballing,” 2014, still from 16mm film. Courtesy of the artist and Canyon Cinema Foundation.
Previewing films in the Canyon Cinema office.
Canyon Cinema Salon screening at 16 Sherman Street, San Francisco.
Screening of Curt McDowell's films at Minnesota Street Projects, San Francisco.
1966
Warhol’s film Chelsea Girls is a commercial success, offering an unedited glimpse into the daily lives of several Factory Superstars. Later it is considered an influential forerunner of reality TV.