Jonas Mekas
Personal Info
Known for
Directing
Gender
Male
Birthday
1922-12-24
Day of Death
2019-01-23 (96 years old)
Place of Birth
Semeniškiai, Lithuania
Jonas Mekas
Biography
Jonas Mekas was born in 1922 in the farming village of Semeniškiai, Lithuania. In 1944, he and his brother Adolfas were taken by the Nazis to a forced labor camp in Elmshorn, Germany. After the War he studied philosophy at the University of Mainz. At the end of 1949 the UN Refugee Organization brought both brothers to New York City, where they settled down in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
Two months after his arrival in New York he borrowed money to buy his first Bolex camera and began to record brief moments of his life. He soon got deeply involved in the American Avant-Garde film movement. In 1954, together with his brother, he started Film Culture magazine, which soon became the most important film publication in the US. In 1958 he began his legendary Movie Journal column in the Village Voice. In 1962 he founded the Film-Makers' Cooperative, and in 1964 the Film-Makers' Cinematheque, which eventually grew into Anthology Film Archives, one of the world's largest and most important repositories of avant-garde cinema, and a screening venue.
During all this time he continued writing poetry and making films. To this date he has published more than 20 books of prose and poetry, which have been translated into over a dozen languages. His Lithuanian poetry is now part of Lithuanian classic literature and his films can be found in leading museums around the world. He is largely credited for developing the diaristic forms of cinema. Mekas has also been active as an academic, teaching at the New School for Social Research, the International Center for Photography, Cooper Union, New York University, and MIT.
Mekas' film The Brig was awarded the Grand Prize at the Venice Film Festival in 1963. Other films include Walden (1969), Reminiscences of a Journey to Lithuania (1972), Lost Lost Lost (1975), Scenes from the Life of Andy Warhol (1990), Scenes from the Life of George Maciunas (1992), As I was Moving Ahead I saw Brief Glimpses of Beauty (2000), Letter from Greenpoint (2005), Sleepless Nights Stories (2011) and Out-takes from the Life of a Happy Man. In 2007, he completed a series of 365 short films released on the internet -- one film every day -- and since then has continued to share new work on his website.
Since 2000, Mekas has expanded his work into the area of film installations, exhibiting at the Serpentine Gallery, the Centre Pompidou, Musée d'Art moderne de la Ville de Paris, the Moderna Museet (Stockholm), PS1 Contemporary Art Center MoMA, Documenta of Kassel, the Museum Ludwig in Cologne, the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, and the Venice Biennale.
Known For
Acting
The Lamb
as Self
Viva Jonas!
as Himself
(2023)
Nam June Paik: Moon Is the Oldest TV
as Self (archive footage)
(2022)
(2022)
(2022)
(2022)
Jonas Mekas Anthology
as Jonas Mekas
(2022)
Fragments of Paradise
as Self (archive footage)
(2022)
(2021)
The Velvet Underground
as Self
(2021)
Back from New York
as Himself
(2021)
The Invisible Father
as Self (archive footage)
(2020)
(2020)
Tiny Tim: King for a Day
as Himself
(2019)
(2019)
Cinema and Sanctuary
as Self
(2019)
(2019)
(2019)
(2019)
Self Discovery for Social Survival
as Narrator (voice)
(2019)
(2019)
(2019)
(2019)
(2018)
(2018)
(2018)
(2018)
Beyond the Bolex
as Self
(2017)
(2016)
(2016)
I Had Nowhere to Go
as Himself
(2016)
Reminiscences of Jonas Mekas
as Self
(2016)
EXPRMNTL
as himself
(2015)
(2015)
(2015)
(2014)
(2014)
River of Fundament
as Wake Guest
(2013)
My Conversations on Film
as Himself
(2013)
What Is Cinema?
as Self
(2013)
Diaries, Notes, and Sketches
as Self
(2013)
Diaries, Notes, and Sketches
as self
(2012)
Out-Takes from the Life of a Happy Man
as Jonas Mekas
(2012)
Maya Deren, Take Zero
as Himself
(2012)
Reminiscences from Germany
as Himself
(2011)
Guest
as Self
(2011)
(2011)
My Mars Bar Movie
as himself
(2011)
(2011)
(2011)
3.11 A Sense of Home
as Himself (voice) (segment "Mt. Ventoux")
(2010)
Lavender
as Self
(2010)
Visionaries
as Himself
(2010)
(2010)
Portrait Serie - Jonas Mekas
as himself
(2009)
(2009)
(2009)
It Came from Kuchar
as Self (archive footage)
(2009)
Jonas Mekas in Kodachrome Days
as Himself
(2008)
Doc
as Himself
(2008)
(2008)
(2008)
(2007)
(2007)
Tuesday Jan. 9, 2007
as Self
(2007)
365 Day Project
as Self
(2007)
Sunday December 30, 2007
as Self
(2006)
Anger Me
as Himself
(2006)
Notes on Marie Menken
as Self
(2006)
Salvador Dalí at Work
as Self
(2006)
(2006)
Who Gets to Call It Art?
as Self
(2006)
The Song of Central Park
as Himself (voice)
(2005)
(2005)
Excavating Taylor Mead
as Self
(2004)
A Letter from Greenpoint
as Mekas
(2003)
Not in Our Name
as himself
(2003)
Axiom of Choice
as Self
(2002)
Jonas Keeps Shooting Around
as Himself
(2002)
In the Mirror of Maya Deren
as Himself
(2002)
(2001)
(2000)
As I Was Moving Ahead, Occasionally I Saw Brief Glimpses of Beauty
as Narrator (voice)
(2000)
Requiem for a Manual Typewriter
as Himself
(1999)
Laboratorium Anthology
as Himself
(1999)
(1998)
My Country is Cinema
as Self
(1998)
Song of Avignon
as Self
(1997)
(1997)
(1996)
Michael Snow Up Close
as Himself
(1996)
(1996)
Cinema Is Not 100 Years Old
as Himself
(1996)
Jonas Mekas, Friday 13th October
as Himself
(1995)
Nico Icon
as Himself
(1994)
Jonas in the Desert
as Self
(1992)
(1992)
Award
as Himself
(1991)
Interview and Reading: Jonas Mekas
as Himself
(1991)
(1991)
(1990)
Step Across the Border
as Butterfly Wing
(1990)
(1989)
(1989)
(1986)
He Stands in a Desert Counting the Seconds of His Life
as Self (archive footage)
(1986)
Invocation: Maya Deren
as Himself
(1986)
(1985)
(1984)
Persistence of Vision
as Self
(1981)
(1981)
(1980)
J. Mekas
as Self
(1980)
No. 18: Mahagonny
as Self
(1980)
Self-Portrait
as Himself
(1979)
ORG
as Self (archive footage)
(1979)
Paradise Not Yet Lost
as Himself
(1978)
Notes for Jerome
as Self
(1978)
(1978)
Cinématon
as N°1590
(1976)
Lost, Lost, Lost
as Self
(1975)
(1974)
(1972)
Going Home
as Himself
(1972)
Imagine
as Self
(1971)
Journey to Lithuania
as Himself
(1970)
(1970)
(1969)
Filmmakers
as Himself
(1968)
Jonas
as Himself
(1968)
Underground New York
as Self
(1967)
The Song of Avila
as Narrator
(1967)
Poem Posters
as Self
(1966)
Galaxie
as Self
(1966)
The Love Merchant
as Lounge Patron
(1966)
Screen Test [ST211]: Jonas Mekas
as himself
(1965)
Jonas in the Brig
as Himself
(1965)
(1965)
(1965)
Andy Warhol Screen Tests
as Self
(1965)
Empire
as Self (uncredited)
(1962)
(1961)
Crew
Destruction of the Berlin Wall
Director
Bed-In: John Lennon & Yoko Ono
Director
When
Director
Marcel Hanoun wedding
Director
(2020)
Tapes
Director
(2019)
Requiem
Director
(2019)
(2017)
(2017)
(2017)
(2016)
On the Holy Spirit
Director
(2016)
(2015)
My Bolexes
Director, Cinematography
(2015)
All About Bolex
Director, Camera Operator
(2015)
A Report from Venice
Director
(2015)
(2014)
My Birthday
Director
(2014)
Halloween 1990
Director
(2013)
Diaries, Notes, and Sketches
Director, Writer, Editor, Cinematography
(2013)
The Sixties Quartet
Director
(2012)
(2012)
Reminiscences from Germany
Director
(2012)
20 Little Films
Director
(2012)
Happy Easter Ride
Director
(2011)
(2011)
Sleepless Nights Stories
Director
(2011)
First Class Flight
Director
(2011)
3.11 A Sense of Home
Director
(2011)
Mt. Ventoux
Director
(2011)
My Mars Bar Movie
Director
(2011)
Keep Singing
Director
(2011)
Re: Maciunas and Fluxus
Director
(2011)
My Paris Movie
Director
(2010)
WTC Haikus
Director, Director of Photography, Producer, Editor
(2010)
42 One Dream Rush
Director
(2010)
Lavender
Director, Director of Photography
(2010)
Orchard Street
Director
(2010)
A Daydream
Director
(2009)
(2009)
I Leave Chelsea Hotel
Director
(2008)
Notes on an American Film Director at Work
Director, Director of Photography
(2007)
Friday March 16, 2007
Director
(2007)
Tuesday Jan. 9, 2007
Director
(2007)
Monday Jan. 1, 2007
Director
(2007)
(2007)
365 Day Project
Director
(2007)
Monday April 16, 2007
Director
(2007)
(2007)
Sunday December 30, 2007
Director
(2006)
A Visit to Stan Brakhage
Director
(2006)
(2006)
John & Yoko Bed-In
Director
(2006)
To Barbara Rubin with Love
Director
(2006)
A Visit to Stan Brakhage
Director
(2006)
Dedication to Matsuo Basho
Director
(2006)
A Visit to Timothy Leary
Director
(2006)
Bibi Hansen
Director
(2006)
Carl Dreyer
Director
(2006)
Warhol and Maciunas
Director
(2006)
Poets at the Living Theater
Director
(2006)
Andy at Work
Director
(2006)
Robert Frank Films
Director
(2006)
Salvador Dalí at Work
Director, Writer, Cinematography
(2006)
Cinémathèque Française
Director
(2006)
Brakhage Crosses Central Park
Director, Editor, Cinematography, Writer
(2006)
The Destruction Quartet
Director
(2006)
Monks of Cinema
Director
(2006)
(2006)
The Song of Central Park
Director
(2006)
To John With Love
Director
(2006)
John & Yoko Bed-In
Director
(2005)
Scenes from the Life of Hermann Nitsch
Director, Editor
(2005)
Notes on Utopia
Director
(2004)
A Letter from Greenpoint
Director, Writer, Creator
(2003)
Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Director
(2003)
A Visit To Hans Richter
Director, Editor
(2002)
Three Friends
Director
(2002)
Mysteries
Director
(2001)
Ein Märchen aus alten Zeiten
Director
(2001)
(2001)
Elvis
Director
(2001)
Wien & Mozart
Director
(2000)
As I Was Moving Ahead, Occasionally I Saw Brief Glimpses of Beauty
Director, Writer, Cinematography, Editor
(2000)
Silence, Please
Director, Cinematography
(2000)
(2000)
Requiem for a Manual Typewriter
Director
(1999)
This Side of Paradise: Fragments of An Unfinished Biography
Director, Editor, Producer, Writer
(1999)
Laboratorium Anthology
Director
(1999)
Letter to John from Jonas
Director
(1999)
A Few Notes on Andy's Factory
Director
(1998)
Song of Avignon
Director, Writer
(1998)
(1997)
Happy Birthday to John
Director
(1997)
Scenes from Allen's Last Three Days on Earth as a Spirit
Director, Cinematography, Editor
(1997)
Nam June Paik's Piano Piece
Director
(1997)
Birth of a Nation
Director, Editor, Cinematography, Writer
(1997)
Letters from Nowhere
Director, Writer, Editor
(1996)
Reminiscences of a Journey to Lithuania
Director, Cinematography, Writer, Editor
(1996)
Celebrate Cinema 101
Director
(1996)
Cinema Is Not 100 Years Old
Director
(1996)
Song of The Salamander
Director
(1995)
Imperfect Three-Image Films
Director
(1995)
On My Way to Fujiyama I met..
Director of Photography, Director
(1995)
Memories of Frankenstein
Director
(1993)
(1992)
(1992)
(1991)
Quartet Number One
Director
(1991)
Carl G. Jung by Jerome Hill or Lapis Philosophorum
Director, Editor
(1990)
Scenes from the Life of Andy Warhol: Friendships & Intersections
Director, Editor, Cinematography
(1990)
A Walk
Director, Camera Operator
(1990)
Mob of Angels: Baptism
Director
(1986)
He Stands in a Desert Counting the Seconds of His Life
Director, Cinematography, Editor, Writer
(1983)
Cup/Saucer/Two Dancers/Radio
Director
(1983)
Street Songs
Director
(1983)
(1981)
Travel Songs
Director
(1981)
The Song of Stockholm
Director
(1980)
Self-Portrait
Director
(1980)
Robert Haller's Wedding
Director
(1979)
Paradise Not Yet Lost
Director
(1978)
In Between
Director
(1978)
Notes for Jerome
Director, Cinematography
(1976)
Lost, Lost, Lost
Director, Writer, Cinematography, Editor
(1972)
Elvis Live at Madison Square Garden
Director, Camera Operator, Writer
(1970)
The Song of Moscow
Director
(1969)
Time & Fortune Vietnam Newsreel
Director, Cinematography
(1967)
Notes on the Circus
Director, Cinematography, Editor
(1967)
Hare Krishna
Director
(1967)
The Italian Notebook
Director
(1967)
The Song of Avila
Director
(1967)
The Song of Italy
Director
(1967)
The Song of Assisi
Director
(1967)
For Life, Against the War
Director
(1966)
Cassis
Director of Photography, Editor, Director
(1966)
Report from Millbrook
Director
(1966)
The Velvet Underground: Psychiatrist's Convention, NYC, 1966
Camera Operator
(1966)
European Diaries
Sound Designer
(1965)
Award Presentation to Andy Warhol
Director, Director of Photography, Editor
(1965)
Film Magazine of the Arts
Director, Editor, Cinematography
(1965)
Empire
Cinematography
(1964)
The Brig
Director, Cinematography, Director of Photography
(1963)
Hallelujah the Hills
Assistant Director
(1962)
Senseless
Writer
(1961)
Guns of the Trees
Director, Writer, Cinematography, Editor