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Ken Jacobs

Directing

Ken Jacobs

Born May 25, 1933 · Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New York, USA

Died October 5, 2025 · aged 92

A pioneer of the American film avant-garde of the 1960s and '70s, Ken Jacobs is a central figure in post-war experimental cinema. From his first films of the late 1950s to his recent experiments with digital video, his investigations and innovations have influenced countless artists. A New Yorker by birth, Jacobs graduated from City University to find himself in the midst of the downtown art scen…

Known For

60 Seconds of Solitude in Year Zero60 Seconds of Solitude in Year Zero · 2011
60 Seconds of Solitude in Year Zero
★ 4.22011
MovieDramaComedy
An anthology of one-minute films created by 51 international filmmakers on the theme of the death of cinema. Intended as an ode to 35mm, the film was screened one time only on a purpose-built 20x12 meter public cinema screen in the Port of Tallinn, Estonia, on 22 December 2011. A special projector was constructed for the event which allowed the actual filmstrip to be burnt at the same time as the film was shown.
Laboratorium AnthologyLaboratorium Anthology · 1999
Laboratorium Anthology
1999
MovieDocumentary
Scenes from the life and work at Anthology Film Archives. Much of the footage in this video was shot by Auguste Varkalis.
Celestial Subway Lines/Salvaging NoiseCelestial Subway Lines/Salvaging Noise · 2005
Celestial Subway Lines/Salvaging Noise
★ 5.92005
MovieDocumentary
A story told by director Ken Jacobs but without conventional storyline. Using a modified magic lantern, an early type of image projector developed in the 17th century, he morphs, flickering images that look like photo-negatives.
20 Little Films20 Little Films · 2012
20 Little Films
★ 6.02012
MovieDocumentary
Since 1995, the Viennale has invited renowned directors to create short, one-minute films as personal contributions to the festival. Ranging from home movies to political essays, musical sketches to abstract studies, these “little films” form a unique anthology of cinematic moments. 20 Little Films collects a selection of these works, premiering together for the Viennale’s 50th anniversary at the Locarno Film Festival.
Home Movies 1971-81Home Movies 1971-81 · 1985
Home Movies 1971-81
1985
MovieDocumentary
Home movies shot on Super 8mm by W+B Hein over 10 years.
Blonde CobraBlonde Cobra · 1963
Blonde Cobra
★ 3.01963
Movie
Jack Smith poses in elaborate costumes, plays with everyday objects, and performs for the camera while his disjointed voiceover unfolds through songs, personal reflections, and provocative stories. Assembled by Ken Jacobs from unfinished footage shot by Bob Fleischner, this experimental film blends performance, fantasy, and dark humor into an unconventional portrait of its subject.
Reminiscences of Jonas MekasReminiscences of Jonas Mekas · 2016
Reminiscences of Jonas Mekas
2016
Movie
A “Cinéma, de notre temps” series episode directed by french filmmaker Jackie Raynal, originally aired 29 May 2016.
Notes on the Buffalo Conference: “Autobiography in American Independent Cinema”Notes on the Buffalo Conference: “Autobiography in American Independent Cinema” · 1973
Notes on the Buffalo Conference: “Autobiography in American Independent Cinema”
1973
MovieDocumentary
During the 1970s I shot, helped to make, or commissioned about ten document films, mainly about film-makers. This film is one of them. It was made with Dan Ochiva, who acted as cameraman on about half of the footage. I shot the rest, and then edited the film. It is a record of a conference held at the State University of New York at Buffalo on March 22-25, 1973. Among the participants filmed were Gerald O'Grady (who organized the conference), Will Hindle, Stan Brakhage, Jonas Mekas, Robert Creeley, Bruce Baillie, Scott Bartlett, Hollis Frampton, Ken Jacobs, Ed Pincus, Stan Vanderbeek, Ed Emshwiller, Sally Dixon, James Cox. This footage will eventually become part of my film PEOPLE, PLACES, THE 1970S. –R. H.

Filmography

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Notes on the Buffalo Conference: “Autobiography in American Independent Cinema”Notes on the Buffalo Conference: “Autobiography in American Independent Cinema” · 1973
Notes on the Buffalo Conference: “Autobiography in American Independent Cinema”
1973
MovieDocumentary
During the 1970s I shot, helped to make, or commissioned about ten document films, mainly about film-makers. This film is one of them. It was made with Dan Ochiva, who acted as cameraman on about half of the footage. I shot the rest, and then edited the film. It is a record of a conference held at the State University of New York at Buffalo on March 22-25, 1973. Among the participants filmed were Gerald O'Grady (who organized the conference), Will Hindle, Stan Brakhage, Jonas Mekas, Robert Creeley, Bruce Baillie, Scott Bartlett, Hollis Frampton, Ken Jacobs, Ed Pincus, Stan Vanderbeek, Ed Emshwiller, Sally Dixon, James Cox. This footage will eventually become part of my film PEOPLE, PLACES, THE 1970S. –R. H.
Shelley Duvall is Olive OylShelley Duvall is Olive Oyl · 2017
Shelley Duvall is Olive Oyl
2017
MovieDocumentary
Description by Ken Jacobs: Shelley Duvall is Olive Oyl is the fourth in a series of shorts (Popeye Sees 3D; Pappy Sees 3D, Too; Sweepea’s Favorite Eternalisms. We’re crazy about both the original Popeye and the Robert Altman film but the point in evoking the one-eyed sailor was to bring attention to single-eye depth perception. The Eternalism is my name for moving screen-images that not only appear in depth on 2D monitors but can continue in place with no start and no repeat point forever, defying time as we know it but also with their impossible depths available to even a single eye. Time’n’space time’n’space, transformed by cinema! The unthinkable available as the new electronic greeting card.

Director