experimental movie examples

• Film Theory

What is Experimental Film — History, Examples & Movements

W hat is an experimental film? This elusive and niche genre can be difficult to define, and there are many common misconceptions about experimental filmmaking, but we’ll be sorting through the fact and the fiction to provide a comprehensive overview of what it means for a film to be “experimental”. We’ll get started with a definition, then dig deeper into experimental filmmaking as a genre, and finally close things out by taking a look at some notable examples.

Avant garde film definition

First, let’s define experimental film.

There are many film terms and phrases that could use simple definitions, and we’ve compiled them all in our ultimate guide to filmmaking terminology . You can also look up definitions for every genre of film in our ultimate guide to movie genres .

EXPERIMENTAL FILM DEFINITION

What is an experimental film.

An experimental film is a project bucks the trends of conventional cinema and pushes the medium of film in unexplored ways. The spectrum of experimental films is extremely broad; this genre encompasses a great many types of projects of varying lengths, styles, and goals.

There are experimental feature films, though more experimental projects have shorter runtimes. This is due in part to many experimental films being made for low budgets and/or the fact that the majority of experimental films are never intended for mainstream appeal or traditional distribution.

AVANT GARDE FILM CHARACTERISTICS

• Can be any length
• Niche and often artsy
• Pushes boundaries and tries new things

Experimental filmmakers

Digging deeper into experimental film.

Let’s dig a little deeper into what it means for a project to be classified as an experimental film. There is a modicum of debate over what exactly constitutes an experimental film, and some projects blur the line between traditional cinema and experimental filmmaking by including elements of each. Experimentation can be found in the editing, in the filming, in the subject matter, or in the manipulation of the camera and celluloid’s chemical and mechanical processes.

A beginner’s guide to experimental cinema

There are many misconceptions about what experimental filmmaking is, so let’s dispel a couple. One common belief is that experimental films have no story. While some experimental films certainly lack anything that could be considered a traditional narrative, that does not hold true for all experimental films.

Another commonly held notion is that experimental films are weird for the sake of being weird or that they are simply filmed nonsense. This is quite a reductive stance to take on the entire genre, but it is an opinion shared by many. The audience for experimental films can be extremely niche, and experimental filmmakers are aware of this. They are not made for everyone.

Surreal = experimental is another common misconception. Containing an element of surrealism does not automatically make a project experimental in nature. However, there is an intrinsic linkage between surrealism and experimental cinema, so the misconception is understandable. Let’s clarify this point with an example.

Sexy Beast  •  dream sequence

This dream sequence from the gangster flick Sexy Beast is undoubtedly surreal yet there is nothing experimental at play. The surrealism is conjured through traditional filmmaking means only. So, while surrealism and experimental cinema often go hand-in-hand, surrealism alone is not enough to constitute a film being labeled as experimental; the filmmaking methods and the pushing or warping of boundaries play important roles as well.

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The history of experimental cinema

Experimental filmmaking over the years.

Since the first camera was invented , artists have been experimenting with the tool. At the dawn of cinema, everything was an experiment. It was only through the intervention of time that certain techniques and methods became standard.

While many of the techniques used in Voyage dans la Lune seem antiquated by modern filmmaking standards, they were absolutely boundary shattering way back in 1902. Radical experimentation was necessary to pull off so many things that had never before been seen or created in the medium of film.

A Trip to the Moon

As cinematic techniques improved and became seen as standards, there were still filmmakers willing to experiment and push the envelope. 1929’s Un Chien Andalou was an early masterpiece of both surrealism and experimental filmmaking. Many of the techniques used in Un Chien Andalou were experimental at the time but have since been integrated into more standard filmmaking techniques as the decades have passed. Salvador Dalí and Luis Buñuel were two master surrealists and played an important role in the common linkage between surrealism and experimentation through their boundary pushing methods.

Un Chien Andalou

By the 1940s, surrealism and experimental filmmaking were further linked through the work of Maya Deren. Over time, she has proven to be one of the most influential experimental filmmakers of all time. She created a number of experimental short films, the first of which, Meshes of the Afternoon , is often credited as a turning point for experimental and avant garde cinema. The short remains a highlight of the genre more than 70 years after it was first released.

If you are interested in making your own short films, check out our how to make a short film guide first.

Meshes of the Afternoon  •  Maya Deren

Andy Warhol is a name well known in the pop art world, but he made numerous contributions to the experimental film world as well. Warhol made nearly 150 experimental short films throughout his lifetime, and a number of them made throughout the 1960s were considered important contributions to the form. Below is a compilation of six of Warhol’s shorts made between 1964 and 1966.

Andy Warhol’s Screen Tests

David Lynch is perhaps the most well-known filmmaker to consistently experiment in his films. He earned a spot on our list of the best directors of all time . Some Lynch projects explore a blend between experimental cinema and traditional filmmaking, while other Lynch projects comfortably fall into the “wholly experimental” category. Since his debut feature in 1977 with Eraserhead , Lynch has continued to employ experimental techniques in his feature films to this day. A significant degree of Eraserhead’s experimentation can be found in the atmospheric sound design . Listen closely to the trailer below.

Eraserhead  •  trailer

Now that we’ve explored a brief history of experimental filmmaking, let’s see if we can sort experimental films into a few distinct categories.

Experimental film examples

Types of experimental films.

Though experimental films in general can be a bit difficult to categorize as they defy convention by their very nature, there are a few common types we can examine from a bird’s eye view . The first type is: experimental films that challenge the form of filmmaking . This includes projects that defy the expectation of what a film is and manipulate the creation process, like Stan Brakhage’s Dog Star Man .

Dog Star Man  •  complete

This piece of experimental filmmaking was originally produced as four shorts before being compiled as a singular project. Dog Star Man is often hailed as an experimental masterpiece and was made through various manipulations to the film stock, experimenting with different exposure types, and radical editing techniques.

Another film that lands in the “challenges the form” category is Derek Jarman’s Blue . This one-hour-19-minute experimental film features just a single, unchanging visual for the entire duration: a solid blue screen. An intricately orchestrated audio track underscores the static visual, and the two combine to form a highly emotional experience.

Blue  •  Derek Jarman

Our next type of experimental film is the experimental documentary . Check out our list of the best documentaries to set a baseline for traditional documentary filmmaking before we jump into the experimental side of the genre. This experimental category encompasses projects like the nearly century old Soviet-produced Man With a Movie Camera . The full documentary is available to watch below.

Man With a Movie Camera

Another experimental documentary found in this category comes from none other than Orson Welles with For for Fake . This documentary, essay-film hybrid blurs the lines between fact and fiction in a fascinating way.

F for Fake Video Essay

Experimental Animation is a tried and true category of experimental filmmaking with many worthwhile and envelope pushing entries. Again, you can set a baseline for the non-experimental side of this genre by checking out our list of the best animated films ever made . As for the experimental side of the medium, first, we can return to David Lynch for his contribution to the category.

Six Men Getting Sick

The above short film, Six Men Getting Sick , was David Lynch’s very first foray into filmmaking. He began his journey into the arts as a painter, and you can see him bridging the gap with this painted filmmaking experiment.

For further examples of experimental animation, we can look to the Quay Brothers. Their shorts utilize a dreamy blend of stop-motion animation and puppetry. A number of their shorts are in the criterion collection; here is a highlight reel for four of their shorts.

Criterion teaser for the Quay Brothers

And for one last example of experimental animation found in a recent film, we can look to 2018’s German-Chilean production La Casa Lobo . Sculpture, stop-motion, traditional animation, and other artistic techniques were blended together in jaw dropping fashion that utilized life-size sets and dizzying camerawork. This experimental production pushes the boundaries of animation and accomplishes things never before seen in the medium. It gives the absolute best stop-motion films a run for their money.

The Wolf House  •  trailer

Experimental filmmaking remains alive and well in the modern filmmaking age. As long as there are boundaries left to push, filmmakers will continue to experiment.

What Was Dogme 95?

If you’re interested in experimental filmmaking, the Dogme 95 cinematic vow of chastity makes a fascinating case study into a radical filmmaking experiment. Learn about the movement, why and how it was created, the films that comprise it, and more, up next.

Up Next: What was Dogme 95? →

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What are the Best Experimental Films of All Time?

It's time to check out the other side of filmmaking..

Endless Poetry by Jodorowsky

Sometimes I get so caught up in narrative cinema that I forget there's a whole realm of artists out there doing beautiful and interesting work on the experimental side of things.

Experimental film is so much fun. It's a place where all artistic representation matters, and it's somewhere I go when I want to be challenged.

If you've never fully indulged in the weirder, artsier side of cinema—or are already a fan and want to celebrate it—I want to take you through the world of experimental movies, with some history and characteristics, and dig into some of the greatest to ever grace our screens.

Sound good?

Let's dive in.

What is Experimental Film?

The experimental genre in film and TV refers to productions that deviate from the traditional narrative structure and style of mainstream entertainment.

These productions often challenge viewers to think outside the box and explore unconventional ideas and perspectives.

It's sort of an anything goes genre.

The Characteristics of Experimental Film

Experimental films sort of feelsl ike you can do anything, and that's mostly true. So what are some things I've seen over and over again that may make up some characteristics?

Key Characteristics:

• Non-linear Narrative: Experimental films often lack a traditional plot or linear narrative structure. They may be abstract, fragmented, or entirely devoid of a storyline.
• Visual and Sound Experimentation: These films often experiment with visual and sound elements, using techniques like collage, montage, superimposition, slow motion, and distorted or manipulated sounds.
• Exploration of Themes: Experimental cinema can explore a wide range of themes, including the subconscious, dreams, memory, perception, identity, and social and political issues.
• Personal Expression: Many experimental films are deeply personal works, reflecting the filmmaker's unique vision and artistic expression.
• Found Footage: Using pre-existing film or video footage in a new context.
• Direct Animation: Scratching or painting directly onto film strips.
• Structural Film: Focusing on the material properties of film, such as light, movement, and time.

A Brief History of Experimental Film

film-grab.com

The roots of experimental cinema can be traced back to the early days of filmmaking, with people like Georges Méliès experimenting with visual effects and trick photography in the late 19th century.

However, it was during the early 20th century, with the rise of Dadaism and Surrealism, that experimental cinema truly began to flourish. These art movements, with their emphasis on challenging conventions and exploring the subconscious, found a natural expression in the medium of film.

In the 1920s and 1930s, filmmakers like Luis Buñuel and Salvador Dalí created surrealist films that shocked and bewildered audiences with their dreamlike imagery and unconventional narratives.

These early experiments paved the way for a wave of avant-garde filmmakers in the postwar era, who pushed the boundaries of cinema even further.

The 1960s and 1970s saw a surge in experimental filmmaking, with filmmakers like Stan Brakhage, Maya Deren, and Kenneth Anger exploring new techniques and pushing the limits of what was considered possible in film.

These filmmakers often worked outside of the mainstream film industry, creating films that were personal, challenging, and often deeply political.

The Impact of Experimental Film Across the Globe

Experimental cinema challenges viewers to rethink their expectations of what a film can be. It encourages critical thinking, provokes emotional responses, and opens up new possibilities for artistic expression.

They have influenced mainstream filmmakers, inspired new artistic movements, and sparked important conversations about the nature of reality, perception, and human experience.

Global Impact of Experimental Film:

• Latin America: The Third Cinema movement in Latin America in the 1960s and 1970s was heavily influenced by experimental film. Filmmakers used cinema as a tool to challenge political oppression and social injustice.
• Japan: The Japanese avant-garde film movement in the 1960s and 1970s produced a wealth of experimental films that challenged traditional Japanese aesthetics and explored new forms of expression.
• Europe: European experimental film has a long and rich history, with filmmakers pushing boundaries and experimenting with new technologies. The European avant-garde has inspired filmmakers around the world.
• Africa: African experimental filmmakers have used film to document social and political struggles, challenge stereotypes, and express unique cultural identities.

The Best Experimental Films

I wanted to make a list of experimental films I thought were great, that everyone should check out.

So, here you go:

• Un Chien Andalou (1929) - Luis Buñuel and Salvador Dalí
• Meshes of the Afternoon (1943) - Maya Deren and Alexander Hammid
• Entr'acte (1924) - René Clair
• Man with a Movie Camera (1929) - Dziga Vertov
• L'Age d'Or (1930) - Luis Buñuel
• A Movie (1958) - Bruce Conner
• Wavelength (1967) - Michael Snow
• Dog Star Man (1964) - Stan Brakhage
• The Blood of a Poet (1930) - Jean Cocteau
• Scorpio Rising (1963) - Kenneth Anger
• Inauguration of the Pleasure Dome (1954) - Kenneth Anger
• Flaming Creatures (1963) - Jack Smith
• Rose Hobart (1936) - Joseph Cornell
• Mothlight (1963) - Stan Brakhage
• La Jetée (1962) - Chris Marker
• Fuses (1964) - Carolee Schneemann
• The Dante Quartet (1987) - Stan Brakhage
• Line Describing a Cone (1973) - Anthony McCall
• Light Is Waiting (2007) - Michael Snow
• The Flicker (1966) - Tony Conrad
• Ballet Mécanique (1924) - Fernand Léger
• The Seashell and the Clergyman (1928) - Germaine Dulac
• Anemic Cinema (1926) - Marcel Duchamp
• Berlin: Symphony of a Great City (1927) - Walter Ruttmann
• Emak Bakia (1926) - Man Ray
• Ritual in Transfigured Time (1946) - Maya Deren
• At Land (1944) - Maya Deren
• A Study in Choreography for Camera (1945) - Maya Deren
• The Very Eye of Night (1958) - Maya Deren
• Window Water Baby Moving (1959) - Stan Brakhage
• Bridges-Go-Round (1958) - Shirley Clarke
• Serene Velocity (1970) - Ernie Gehr
• Zorns Lemma (1970) - Hollis Frampton
• The Act of Seeing with One's Own Eyes (1971) - Stan Brakhage
• The Girl Chewing Gum (1976) - John Smith
• Report (1967) - Bruce Conner
• Reassemblage (1982) - Trinh T. Minh-ha
• Tongues Untied (1989) - Marlon Riggs
• Handsworth Songs (1986) - Black Audio Film Collective
• Symbiopsychotaxiplasm: Take One (1968) - William Greaves
• The Clock (2010) - Christian Marclay
• The Grand Bizarre (2018) - Jodie Mack
• Leviathan (2012) - Lucien Castaing-Taylor and Véréna Paravel
• Sans Soleil (1983) - Chris Marker
• Decasia (2002) - Bill Morrison
• Blue (1993) - Derek Jarman
• Last Year at Marienbad (1961) - Alain Resnais
• Persona (1966) - Ingmar Bergman
• Tetsuo: The Iron Man (1989) - Shinya Tsukamoto
• Eraserhead (1977) - David Lynch

This list barely scratches the surface of the vast and diverse world of experimental cinema.

But maybe I left off your favorite. If so, I want to hear about it.

Let me know what you think in the comments.

• How Can You Get Narrative Ideas From Watching Non-Narrative Films? ›
• Charlie Cole's Experimental Short 'Waterfall' Reminds Us of The Importance of Form ›
• Experimental Filmmaking for Dummies (Part 1): Why You Should Be Making Experimental Films ›
• Where is a good online place for new experimental film/video? - Quora ›
• 50 Avant Garde and Experimental Cinema Gallery ›
• What are some good experimental films? : r/flicks ›

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The rf lens market is heating up with four new canon rf lenses being added to sigma’s contemporary line..

If you’re looking for lenses for a new (or perhaps well-used) Canon mirrorless camera, you’re going to be pleasantly surprised at the amount of options available these days. While the Canon R camera line is relatively new, so to speak, in the mirrorless market, there are now plenty of lenses to choose from for photo and video professionals alike.

The latest new lenses for RF APS-C cameras comes from Sigma with four new additions to the company’s Contemporary line.

Sigma has introduced new DC DN Contemporary lenses including 16mm f/1.4 DC DN, 23mm f/1.4 DC DN, 30mm f/1.4 DC DN, and 56mm f/1.4 DC DN focal lengths—which are set to combine with Sigma’s 10-18mm 2.8 DC DN Contemporary and 18-50mm F2.8 DC DN Contemporary lenses which were released earlier this year to give Canon creators more—and better, perhaps—options than ever before.

Sigma Adds Four Canon RF APS-C Lenses

These Sigma Contemporary lenses are well-designed to promote quality performance with compact and lightweight form factors. These new primes continue the legacy of Sigma’s Contemporary line and will offer a clear and bright f/1.4 maximum aperture across these four popular focal lengths.

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Price and Availability

So, these four new RF Contemporary prime lenses (along with the other two zoom options) are set to be available for several other mirrorless camera systems including Sony E-mount, L-Mount, and Fujifilm X Mount and are expected to start shipping here soon.

Here are purchase prices and links for these new Sigma DC DN Contemporary lenses.

Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary Lens (Canon RF)

Combining a comfortable wide-angle design with an ultra-fast maximum aperture, the 16mm f/1.4 DC DN is part of Sigma 's Contemporary series of lenses and designed for use with Canon RF-mount mirrorless cameras.

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Sigma 23mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary Lens (Canon RF)

A fast-aperture wide-angle prime for APS-C-format mirrorless cameras, the Sigma 23mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary Lens provides a field of view equivalent to 35mm on a full-frame camera.

Sigma 30mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary Lens (Canon RF)

A fast, versatile prime, this 30mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary Lens from Sigma is designed for use with Canon RF-mount mirrorless cameras.

Sigma 56mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary Lens (Canon RF)

An especially sleek portrait-length prime, the 56mm f/1.4 DC DN is part of Sigma 's Contemporary series of lenses, and is designed for use with Canon RF-M-mount mirrorless cameras.

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