The Film-Makers’ Cooperative celebrated its 65th anniversary with a gala at Judson Memorial Church in New York City on a recent Friday. The event featured performances by Isaiah Barr, a recreation of Yvonne Rainer's Trio A by Brittany Bailey, and a closing set by musician Kinlaw. Notable attendees included photographer Nan Goldin, video artist Joan Jonas, and filmmaker John Waters, who was honored in absentia. The evening included speeches, a shoppable collection of film ephemera, and a crowd of artists, actors, and filmmakers.
This anniversary matters because the Film-Makers’ Cooperative is the oldest nonprofit in the United States dedicated to preserving and circulating experimental film. Founded in 1961 by pioneering artists like Jonas Mekas and Shirley Clarke, it remains a vital living archive and distribution hub for avant-garde cinema. The gala underscored the organization's enduring cultural influence and its ability to bridge generations of experimental filmmakers and artists.