The Film-Makers’ Coop held its third annual Film and Music Benefit on April 23rd at Angel Orensanz Center in the Lower East Side. Within the beautiful, gothic surroundings of the former synagogue hundreds of the Coop’s friends met up to celebrate the art of the experimental avantgarde while enjoying themselves, each other, and the mesmerizing film and music performances.

This year’s benefit is dedicated to Mary Lea Bandy, former curator and dedicated promoter of avantgarde and experimental film through the MoMA and elsewhere. As a symbol of gratitude and appreciation, The Film-Makers’ Coop presented its first ever Honorary Award to Mary Lea Bandy on this occasion, as an homage to her lifelong achievement and devotion to experimental cinema in New York.

The award was presented to Mrs. Bandy by Coop Executive MM Serra, director and benefit producer Bill Morrison, and filmmaker Donna Cameron.

The presentation of the award was followed by an immersive evening of live music by Philip Glass, Bill Frisell Trio, Pedro Soler, The Clogs, Irena and Vojtech Havel, Dorit Chrysler, Benoît Pioulard, Ray Sweeten, members of The National, and Now We Are Here feat. Jonas Mekas, performing to experimental films by Robert Breer, Marie Menken, Maya Deren, Harry Smith, Bill Morrison, Bradley Eros, Jonas Mekas, Lynne Sachs & Mark Street, and Paul Sharits.

Looking back on this “marvellous” and “magical” event (quoting excited guests) it is hardly possible to contain the atmosphere of the night in words, but from the overwhelming response we have received since then everybody certainly had a wonderful time.

Thanks to everybody who came by and helped to make this year’s benefit such a beautiful experience – and to put the “art” back in the party, not least. For what’s music and films without people, and vice versa?

We are very happy to announce that the proceeds from the benefit will help to ensure the continued existence and activities of the Film-Makers’ Cooperative.

Big thanks to everybody, and special thanks to the performing artists and those donating items and experiences for the art auction. See you all next year!

Thank you to Clayton Patterson for providing images from the Summer Benefit. They have been arranged for viewing in slideshow format. view slideshow

An impressive line-up of downtown musicians was assembled to perform with film projections from the Co-op’s archive: Steve Reich, Philip Glass, Elliott Sharp, Todd Reynolds, Mark Stewart, Sue Garner, Patrick Watson, and a trio consisting of Tim Barnes, Alan Licht and Lee Ranaldo.

Musical performances were paired with screenings of films by the likes of Ken Jacobs, Michael Snow, Harry Smith, Jenn Reeves, Bill Morrison, Donna Cameron, Emily Hubley, and Ron Rice.

The Film-Makers’ Cooperative was founded in 1961 by a group of artists that included Shirley Clarke, Robert Frank, Alfred Leslie, and Jonas Mekas. It is the world’s oldest and largest artist-run collection of avant-garde cinema. Proceeds from the benefit will support the Coop’s preservation efforts and the distribution of over 5000 films in its collection.

Artist and organizer for the event, Bill Morrison remarks “The Film-Makers’ Coop maintains one of the most important collections of independently produced films anywhere, reflecting a history of the avant-garde dating back to the early 1920s. The benefit concert gives people a chance to view selections from this vast treasure trove of experimental film, with live performances by some of the greatest musicians of our time. An evening like this can only happen in New York.”

This event was funded partially by a grant from the New York State Council on the Arts. Also,funding for the concert was made possible by generous donations from Cinema Arts, Colorlab, Glass Eye Pix, Lab Link, The Maya Stendhal Gallery, The Orphan Film Symposium, and the Board of Directors of the Film-Makers’ Cooperative.

Thank you to Clayton Patterson and Dan ochiva for providing images from the Summer Benefit. They have been arranged for viewing in slideshow format. view slideshow

"The Film-Makers' Cooperative First Annual Summer Benefit Concert was a highlight of the summer of 2004. For those of us who could attend, it was a reminder of why we are so lucky to live in New York: the hallowed former synagogue thatis the Angel Orensanz Foundation Center for the Arts provided the perfect setting for beautiful film and inspired music."

"Ken Jacobs' "Dazzler for Two Analytics" brought the audience into a cinematic trance, and then successive sets by Rebecca Moore, Philip Glass, Lee Ranaldo and Michael Gordon paired with film projections delivered on the promise of a magical summer evening. Selections of films preserved and distributed by the Filmmakers Coop included work by Harry Smith, Marie Menken, Jud Yalkut, Shirley Clarke, and Scott Bartlett. Jeff Scher unveiled a stunning new masterpiece of rotoscope animation. Joel Schlemowitz and I contributed recent work as well."

"But the older titles films offered the true raison d'etre of the evening: they felt as fresh and pertinent as the day they were made. Paired with music for the first time, they seemed to breathe with new life. M.M Serra and the Film-Makers' Coop is providing a valuable service to film viewing audiences everywhere by keeping these and other titles rolling before the projector's lamp. "

"The audience seemed aware of this, and happy to be reaping the rewards of a Summer night in New York. Many people commented to me that there was a great vibe in the air, something we all need a little more of. I saw people there I hadn't seen for months, and in some cases, years. We hope that this will be the first in a long line of similar benefit concerts, combining the vast resource of local musicians, with an equally impressive trove of gems from the Coop's vaults."

--Bill Morrison
(Organizer and Producer of FMC Summer Benefit Concert 2004)