As part of the event, we are screening three films from the respective collections in an effort to map the (recent) history of experimental film culture: Vidofreex’s “What’s That For?”; Jaime Davidovich’s “Adventures of the Avant-Garde”; and Lynne Sachs’s “Swerve.”
Join us at Millennium Film Workshop on Friday, May 22, for Standard Normal Distribution, a panel discussion exploring the challenges of artists’ film and video distribution in 2026 and beyond. Organized in collaboration with the Millennium Film Journal, we are honored to welcome Rebecca Cleman of Electronic Arts Intermix (EAI, NYC), Matt McKinzie of The Film-makers’ Cooperative/New American Cinema Group (FMC, NYC), and Emily Martin of Video Data Bank (VDB, Chicago, IL), appearing in conversation with Joe Wakeman (MFW) and Nicholas Gamso (MFJ).
Interest in experimental cinema has surged in recent years, with sold-out screenings, a bounty of new publications, platforms, and festivals, and artists of all backgrounds turning to film to reach broader audiences. At the same time, the field of artists’ film and video distribution has faced severe shocks, from funding cuts and rising costs to the pressures of digital piracy. The moment is right to strategize methods of supporting our community for years to come. We envision a rich discussion, not just about the current state of artist film distribution but its potential futures, asking questions such as:
What would a more equitable and participatory kind of artist cinema look like?
How might we expand on creative models, past and present, for programming, distributing, and screening artists’ films?
Can we secure fair remuneration for artists and cinema workers while rethinking—even dismantling—the structures of visibility, prestige, and (in)accessibility that still characterize our field?
The transcript from this live event will appear in part two of MFJ’s yearlong study of Circulation.
We invite you to be a part of this important conversation, Friday, May 22, 7:30 PM at Millennium Film Workshop, 167 Wilson Ave, Brooklyn NY.