Jonas Mekas: Movies & Box Office

**Jonas Mekas** (December 24, 1922 – January 23, 2019) was a Lithuanian‑American *poet, filmmaker and visual artist* widely regarded as the “godfather of American avant‑garde cinema.” Born in the village of Semeniškiai, Lithuania, he survived the turbulence of World II, serving in controversial newspaper roles before fleeing to displaced‑persons camps in Germany and eventually emigrating to the United States in 1949 with his brother Adolfas. In New York City he quickly immersed himself in the burgeoning underground film scene, buying his first Bolex 16 mm camera just weeks after his arrival and founding the influential journal *Film Culture* in 1954. His diary‑style films such as *Walden*, *Reminiscences of a Journey to Lithuania* and *Lost, Lost, Lost* captured intimate moments of everyday life while pioneering a personal, poetic cinematic language that inspired generations of artists.

Beyond his own prolific output, Mekas co‑founded the Film‑Makers’ Cooperative (1962) and Anthology Film Archives (1970), institutions that preserved and showcased experimental works and helped legitimize avant‑garde film in the cultural mainstream. He championed freedom of expression, organizing anti‑censorship campaigns in the 1960s and mentoring figures like Ken Jacobs, Peter Bogdanovich, Yoko Ono and Martin Scorsese. A prolific writer, his poetry appeared in multiple languages and his criticism shaped early discourse in *The Village Voice* and *The SoHo Weekly News*. Recognized with numerous honors—including the Lithuanian National Prize (1995), a Guggenheim Fellowship (1977) and the Austrian Decoration for Science and Art (2008)—Mekas remained active until his death in Brooklyn at age 96, leaving a legacy that continues to influence film, poetry and contemporary art.