Brakhage's Anticipation of the Night was rejected by New York exhibitors in 1958, and the Film-Makers' Cooperative exists because of refusals like that one. MoMA's series traces what Mekas, Shirley Clarke, Ken Jacobs and everyone they made room for built next — nine thematic programs pulled from two institutions that are still running, still distributing, still screening.
What to expect
Five programs land across this weekend: Seventies Structures and Make Love, Not War on Friday; Quotidian Pleasures, New York No Story and Cinemas of Transgression on Saturday; Diaries, Notes, and Sketches and The Material is the Message on Sunday. Most run about an hour and mix 16mm and 8mm originals with newer transfers.
Good to know
- Screenings are in MoMA's Debra and Leon Black Family Film Center, Floors T1 and T2
- Each program is ticketed separately; museum admission includes same-day film access
- Programs run roughly an hour, so doubling up in an afternoon is easy
- Every weekend program repeats later in the run
- MoMA is at 11 West 53 Street, closest to Fifth Av–53 St on the E and M
Planning Sep 25–27, 2026 in NYC?
This list keeps changing as events are verified. We'll send you the final version the Thursday before — and you can unsubscribe right after if that's all you need.
Common questions
What screens this weekend?
Seventies Structures at 4 PM and Make Love, Not War at 6:30 PM on Friday; Quotidian Pleasures at 2 PM, New York No Story at 4:30 PM and Cinemas of Transgression at 7:30 PM on Saturday; Diaries, Notes, and Sketches at 2 PM and The Material i
Do I need to know experimental film to enjoy it?
No. The programs are thematically grouped rather than chronological, and each stands alone as an hour of short films.
