Jonas Mekas
Biography
Lithuanian-born Jonas Mekas became a central figure in American avant-garde cinema after settling in New York. He launched the journal Film Culture in 1954 and wrote a film column for The Village Voice starting in 1958. During the 1960s he helped create The Film-Makers' Cooperative and the Filmmakers' Cinematheque, which later became Anthology Film Archives, where he was director. His filmmaking included the early narrative Guns of the Trees and The Brig, but he was best known for personal diary films such as Reminiscences of a Journey to Lithuania (1972), Lost, Lost, Lost (1975), and As I Was Moving Ahead Occasionally I Saw Brief Glimpses of Beauty (2000). He also published poetry and taught film courses at several universities. Mekas received honors including a Guggenheim Fellowship, the Lithuanian National Prize, and National Film Registry recognition for Reminiscences of a Journey to Lithuania.
96years old at death
- Born Biržai
- Died Brooklyn
- Star sign: CapricornThe sign runs December 22 to January 19
Movie Career
- Films
- 6
- Career span
- 51 years1972 to 2023
Genres
- Documentary100%, 6 films
- Biography50%, 3 films
- Music17%, 1 film
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Behind the camera
Mekas helped start The Film-Makers' Cooperative in 1962, then the Filmmakers' Cinematheque in 1964. That later turned into Anthology Film Archives, a leading home for avant-garde film.
A first
In 2007, Mekas put out a film each day on his website, calling it "The 365 Day Project." The online diary is still ongoing on his official website.
Jonas Mekas movies on Netflix
Nam June Paik: Moon Is The Oldest TVas Himself
The Velvet Undergroundas Himself
In the Mirror of Maya Derenas Himself
As I Was Moving Ahead Occasionally I Saw Brief Glimpses of Beautyas Narrator (voice)
Imagineas Himself
Reminiscences of a Journey to Lithuaniaas Himself
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
- As I Was Moving Ahead Occasionally I Saw Brief Glimpses of Beauty2000 Biography, Documentaryas Narratorvoice
IMDb rating 8.11.7K votes
Most often with
Two actors appear in three of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.







Films together
Andy Warhol3 films together, 1972 to 2023
Andy Warhol's page Nam June Paik: Moon Is The Oldest TV2023IMDb rating 7.0Mekas as HimselfWarhol as Himself
As I Was Moving Ahead Occasionally I Saw Brief Glimpses of Beauty2000IMDb rating 8.1Mekas as NarratorvoiceWarhol as Himself
Imagine1972IMDb rating 7.3Mekas as HimselfWarhol as Himself
Allen Ginsberg3 films together, 2000 to 2023
Allen Ginsberg's page Nam June Paik: Moon Is The Oldest TV2023IMDb rating 7.0Mekas as HimselfGinsberg as Himself
The Velvet Underground2021IMDb rating 7.3Mekas as HimselfGinsberg as Himself
As I Was Moving Ahead Occasionally I Saw Brief Glimpses of Beauty2000IMDb rating 8.1Mekas as NarratorvoiceGinsberg as Himself
David Bowie2 films together, 2021 to 2023
David Bowie's page Nam June Paik: Moon Is The Oldest TV2023IMDb rating 7.0Mekas as HimselfBowie as Himself
The Velvet Underground2021IMDb rating 7.3Mekas as HimselfBowie as Himselfvoice
Yoko Ono2 films together, 1972 to 2023
Yoko Ono's page Nam June Paik: Moon Is The Oldest TV2023IMDb rating 7.0Mekas as HimselfOno as Himself
Imagine1972IMDb rating 7.3Mekas as HimselfOno as Himself
Stan Brakhage2 films together, 2000 to 2002
Stan Brakhage's page In the Mirror of Maya Deren2002IMDb rating 7.2Mekas as HimselfBrakhage as Himself
As I Was Moving Ahead Occasionally I Saw Brief Glimpses of Beauty2000IMDb rating 8.1Mekas as NarratorvoiceBrakhage as Himself
Adolfas Mekas2 films together, 1972 to 2000
Adolfas Mekas's page As I Was Moving Ahead Occasionally I Saw Brief Glimpses of Beauty2000IMDb rating 8.1Mekas as NarratorvoiceMekas as Himself
Reminiscences of a Journey to Lithuania1972IMDb rating 7.6Mekas as HimselfMekas as Himself
Also two films together2 more actors
- Nam June PaikNam June Paik: Moon Is The Oldest TV (2023) and As I Was Moving Ahead Occasionally I Saw Brief Glimpses of Beauty (2000)
- Peter KubelkaAs I Was Moving Ahead Occasionally I Saw Brief Glimpses of Beauty (2000) and Reminiscences of a Journey to Lithuania (1972)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.
Awards
Seven awards and honors from 1977 to 2013.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other honors | |||
| 2013 | Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres | Won | |
| 2011 | Honorary citizen of Biržai District Municipality | Honorary | |
| 2008 | Austrian Decoration for Science and Art | Won | |
| 1997 | Doctor Honoris Causa at the Vytautas Magnus University | Won | |
| 1996 | Lithuanian National Prize | Won | |
| 1977 | Guggenheim Fellowship | Won | |
| Order for Merits to Lithuania | Won | ||
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.


