Maya Deren Award

The American Film Institute Award for Independent Film and Video Artists, subtitled and generally known as the Maya Deren Award, was an award presented to filmmakers and video artists by the American Film Institute to honor independent filmmaking. Named for the avant-garde experimental film artist Maya Deren, it was given from 1986 through 1996.[1]

History

Created by the American Film Institute in 1985,[2] the Maya Deren Award was first presented on January 30, 1986, at the Tower Gallery in Manhattan, New York City. The inaugural recipients were video artist Nam June Paik, experimental filmmaker Stan Brakhage and animator Sally Cruikshank.[1] The initial co-chairpersons of the AFI's committee for the award were two board members, actress Marsha Mason and independent film exhibitor Karen Cooper.[3]

The award included a $5,000 honorarium.[3]

Recipients

• 1986: Nam June Paik, Stan Brakhage, Sally Cruikshank. Presented January 30, 1986.[3]
• 1987: Dara Birnbaum, Robert Breer, Ed Emshwiller[4]
• 1988: Bruce Conner, Yvonne Rainer, Bill Viola.[5] Presented February 3, 1988.[6]

Citation given to J. Hoberman, film critic for The Village Voice, for contributions to independent film and video.[5]

• 1989: James Broughton,[7] Shirley Clarke,[8] Joan Jonas[9][10]
• 1990: Les Blank,[11] Ernie Gehr,[12] Edin Velez[13]
• 1991: Bruce Baillie, Charles Burnett, Trinh T. Minh-ha. Presented at the Angelika Film Center.[2]
• 1992: George Kuchar, Marlon Riggs, Steina Vasulka[14]
• 1993: Julie Dash,[15] Pat O'Neill,[16] Bruce and Norman Yonemoto[17]
• 1994: Ken Jacobs,[18][19] Barbara Kopple,[20] Julie Zando[21]
• 1995: Richard Leacock[22] Victor Masayesva,[23] Shigeko Kubota[24][25]
• 1996: Kenneth Anger,[26] Leslie Thornton,[27][28] Chick Strand[1]

References

1. Underground Film History: AFI’s Maya Deren Award|Underground Film Journal
2. "Film Institute Honors 3 Filmmakers". Associated Press via Deseret News. February 15, 1991. Archived from the original on November 27, 2012.
3. Taylor, Clarke (February 1, 1986). "AFI Gives 1st Award For Independent Film Makers". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on November 27, 2012.
4. "3 Film Institute Award Recipients". Los Angeles Times. December 19, 1986. Archived from the original on November 27, 2012.
5. "3 Visual Artists Win $5,000 Film Awards". The New York Times. February 1, 1988.
6. "Arts Scene". The Christian Science Monitor. January 22, 1988. Archived from the original on November 27, 2012.
7. Nelson, Emmanuel S., ed. (2003). Contemporary Gay American Poets and Playwrights: An A-To-Z Guide. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 45. ISBN 978-0313322327.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
8. "Shirley Clarke - dob 02/10/1919 > Awards". Turner Classic Movies UK. Archived from the original on November 27, 2012.
9. "Video Artists Joan Jonas and Kate Gilmore Discuss Similarities, Influences and Inspirations in Their Work as Part of National Academy's ARTalks Series" (PDF) (Press release). New York City: National Academy Museum & School. February 16, 2012. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 27, 2012.
10. "Joan Jonas". Tribeca Film Institute. Archived from the original on November 27, 2012.
11. Traub, Barbara Fischman (2006). Desert to Dream: A Decade of Burning Man Photography. Immedium. p. 157. ISBN 978-1597020039.
12. "Exhibition: Ernie Gehr: Picture Taking > About the Artist". Carpenter Center for the Visual Arts, Harvard University. February 1, 2012. Archived from the original on November 27, 2012.
13. "Edin Velez". Electronic Arts Intermix. n.d. Archived from the original on November 27, 2012.
14. The 1992 Maya Deren Awards for Independent Film and Video Artists. Los Angeles: American Film Institute. 1992.
15. "Julie Dash". Tribeca Film Institute. Archived from the original on November 28, 2012.
16. "Pat O'Neill". Tribeca Film Institute. Archived from the original on November 28, 2012.
17. "Bruce and Norman Yonemoto". Japanese American National Museum. Archived from the original on November 28, 2012.
18. "October 17/18 – Ken Jacobs and Azazel Jacobs – Two Different Shows". Los Angeles Film Forum. October 12, 2009. Retrieved November 27, 2012.
19. "Ken Jacobs". Experimental Television Center. Archived from the original on November 28, 2012.
20. "Barbara Kopple - dob 30/07/1946". Turner Classic Movies UK. Archived from the original on November 28, 2012.
21. "Julie Zando". Video Data Bank. Archived from the original on November 28, 2012.
22. "Richard Leacock - dob 18/07/1921". Turner Classic Movies UK. Archived from the original on November 28, 2012.
23. Hirschfelder, Arlene B.; Molin, Paulette F. (2012). The Extraordinary Book of Native American Lists. Scarecrow Press. pp. 366–367. ISBN 978-0810877092.
24. Hallmark, Kara Kelly (2007). Encyclopedia of Asian American Artists. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 100. ISBN 978-0313334511.
25. "Shigeko Kubota". Experimental Television Center. Archived from the original on November 28, 2012.
26. Austin, Tom (February 15, 1996). "Swelter". Miami New Times. Archived from the original on January 24, 2018. Retrieved January 24, 2018. The night before his dinner at the Foundlings, Anger received the Maya Deren award for independent film and video artists from the American Film Institute in New York ("a Tiffany crystal star and $5000....
27. Petrolle, Jean; Wexmanpage, Virginia (2005). Women and Experimental Filmmaking. University of Illinois Press. p. 19. ISBN 978-0252030062.
28. "Faculty Profile: Leslie Thornton > Grants and Awards". The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. Archived from the original on January 4, 2013. Retrieved November 27, 2012.