Since 1981, the Black Maria Film + Video Festival, named after Thomas Edison's motion picture studio, is known for its annual roster of bold contemporary works by award-winning independent film and video-makers that give insight to the human condition, political, social and environmental issues, and aesthetic investigations.

Every program presentation in the tour is custom curated to specific audiences and is presented in person by Festival Director, John Columbus.

For more information about the BMFF: http://www.blackmariafilmfestival.org/




Words from the Director:

"The Black Maria Film Studio was the world’s first purpose built motion picture studio.  It was erected in 1893 by Thomas Edison to facilitate the production of the earliest moving images known to exist.  Edison’s motion picture technology allowed previously unimagined expressive possibilities and freed creative individuals to interpret and represent, and audiences to experience the world as never before.  It is the pioneering and adventuresome spirit of innovation and pursuit of fresh, bold, insightful, passionate, and diverse and independent filmmaking that drives the Festival’s work.

We welcome the opportunity to share the works found in the Festival with audiences and earnestly thank all of the independent film and videomakers who have shared their creative output with The Black Maria Film + Video Festival.

We also thank our longstanding, as well as, our new host institutions and sponsors without whose resources and facilities - the Festival could not exist.

Each year, we publish an informative essay to accompany the program notes found in our annual catalog.  Our aim is to make a contribution to the body of thought on film, video, media, aesthetics, politics, and exhibition."