Asbury Park’s vibrant arts scene is set to host a truly special cinematic event this July: The Jonas Mekas Film Festival. From July 17th to July 27th, 2025, The ShowRoom Cinema and Parlor Gallery will proudly present a captivating tribute to the unparalleled life and enduring legacy of Jonas Mekas (1922–2019), the Lithuanian-born filmmaker, poet, and undisputed pioneer of avant-garde cinema. This festival offers a rare and profound opportunity for film enthusiasts and curious minds alike to experience his deeply personal and poetic works on the big screen, right here in the heart of New Jersey.
Jonas Mekas arrived in New York City in 1949 as a war refugee, yet he quickly transformed his experiences into a powerful artistic voice that would shape American independent cinema for decades. He co-founded Film Culture magazine in 1954 and became a seminal film columnist for The Village Voice, offering sharp insights into the burgeoning underground film movement. His visionary efforts led to the establishment of the Film-Makers’ Cooperative and the Film-Makers’ Cinematheque, which later evolved into the renowned Anthology Film Archives – one of the world’s largest and most significant repositories of avant-garde film. Mekas’s influence stretched far and wide, inspiring generations of artists and filmmakers, including iconic figures like Jim Jarmusch, John Waters, and Chantal Akerman. His distinctive films and installations have graced prestigious institutions globally, from the Venice Biennale to MoMA and the Tate Modern.
The festival in Asbury Park promises a meticulously curated selection of films that trace Mekas’s lifelong exploration of cinema as a form of intimate expression. Viewers will journey through his evolution, from early, politically charged works like Guns of the Trees (1961) to the groundbreaking Walden (Diaries, Notes, and Sketches) (1969), which famously pioneered his unique “diary filmmaking” style. This deeply personal approach captures fleeting moments of everyday life, transforming them into rich, lyrical narratives. The program also includes poignant reflections on exile and belonging in Reminiscences of a Journey to Lithuania (1972) and Lost Lost Lost (1976), alongside fascinating portraits of fellow artists like Andy Warhol and Martin Scorsese, offering intimate glimpses into their creative worlds.
A highlight of the festival will be the screening of As I Was Moving Ahead Occasionally I Saw Brief Glimpses of Beauty (2000), a nearly five-hour epic compilation of Mekas’s home movies spanning three decades, lauded by The New York Times as “a first—the home movie as epic.” The series culminates with Sleepless Nights Stories (2011), a collection of late-night musings and unguarded moments with legendary friends such such as Yoko Ono, Björk, and Marina Abramović. Adding an even more personal touch, Sebastian Mekas, Jonas Mekas’s son, will be in attendance on several evenings to provide insightful introductory remarks.
The festival’s complete schedule at The ShowRoom Cinema (707 Cookman Avenue) includes:
- Thursday, July 17: Guns of the Trees (1961) – 86 min.
- Friday, July 18: Scenes from the Life of Andy Warhol (1990) – 35 min.; Happy Birthday to John (1996) – 24 min.; Zefiro Torna (1992) – 34 min.
- Saturday, July 19: Reminiscences of a Journey to Lithuania (1972) – 82 min.
- Sunday, July 20: Lost Lost Lost (1976) – 178 min.
- Thursday, July 24: Walden (Diaries, Notes, and Sketches) (1968-69) – 180 min.
- Friday, July 25: As I Was Moving Ahead Occasionally I Saw Brief Glimpses of Beauty (2000) – 228 min.
- Saturday, July 26: Notes on an American Film Director at Work – Martin Scorsese (2005) – 103 min.
- Sunday, July 27: Sleepless Nights Stories (2011) – 114 min.
In conjunction with the film screenings, Parlor Gallery, located just a block away at 717 Cookman Avenue, will feature an exhibition of Jonas Mekas’s captivating still-framed photographs. An opening reception will be held at the gallery on the festival’s inaugural evening, providing an additional dimension to this celebration of Mekas’s artistic vision. This collaboration is proudly presented with OUTPOST NYC DCG and Deborah Colton Gallery, highlighting the collective effort to bring this significant cultural event to New Jersey.
The ShowRoom Cinema, an independent theatre renowned for its selection of high-quality first-run films, documentaries, and classics, offers an intimate setting perfect for experiencing these unique cinematic works. Parlor Gallery, a driving force in Asbury Park’s artistic renaissance since 2009, continues to redefine the gallery experience with its diverse and thought-provoking exhibitions, seamlessly blending contemporary urban art with coastal charm.
This festival is not just an event; it’s an opportunity to immerse yourself in the world of a true cinematic visionary. Don’t miss this chance to explore the influential and deeply personal artistry of Jonas Mekas in the vibrant setting of Asbury Park. For more details on the Jonas Mekas Film Festival and other exciting events in New Jersey, visit: Jonas Mekas Film Festival.
Guns of the Trees (1961)
Dates with showtimes for Guns of the Trees (1961)
Thu, Jul 17
Director: Jonas Mekas Run Time: 86 min. Release Year: 1961
Jonas Mekas’s first feature—which he wrote, produced, directed, co-photographed and edited—is an entrancing snapshot of the counterculture in…
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Scenes from the Life of Andy Warhol (1990), Happy Birthday to John (1996), Zefiro Torna (1992)
Dates with showtimes for Scenes from the Life of Andy Warhol (1990), Happy Birthday to John (1996), Zefiro Torna (1992)
Fri, Jul 18
Director: Jonas Mekas Run Time: 93 min. Release Year: 1990
Three tributes to three key friendships in Mekas’s life: Scenes from the Life of Andy Warhol follows Warhol…
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Reminiscences of a Journey to Lithuania (1972)
Dates with showtimes for Reminiscences of a Journey to Lithuania (1972)
Sat, Jul 19
Director: Jonas Mekas Run Time: 82 min. Release Year: 1972
Documenting Mekas’s return to the Lithuanian village of his birth, Semeniškiai, for the first time since he and…
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Lost Lost Lost (1976)
Dates with showtimes for Lost Lost Lost (1976)
Sun, Jul 20
Run Time: 178 min. Release Year: 1976
Continuing where Walden and Reminiscences of a Journey to Lithuania left off—though moving backward in time—Lost Lost Lost…
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Walden (Diaries, Notes, and Sketches) (1968-69)
Dates with showtimes for Walden (Diaries, Notes, and Sketches) (1968-69)
Thu, Jul 24
Director: Jonas Mekas Run Time: 180 min. Release Year: 1968
Perhaps Mekas’s masterpiece and the work that best embodies his lifelong filmmaking project, this epic film-diary captures pivotal…
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As I Was Moving Ahead Occasionally I Saw Brief Glimpses of Beauty (2000)
Dates with showtimes for As I Was Moving Ahead Occasionally I Saw Brief Glimpses of Beauty (2000)
Fri, Jul 25
Director: Jonas Mekas Run Time: 228 min. Release Year: 2000
Mekas’s career-spanning project of documenting his life, times, and relationships finds perhaps its grandest expression in his most…
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Notes on an American Film Director at Work – Martin Scorsese (2005)
Dates with showtimes for Notes on an American Film Director at Work – Martin Scorsese (2005)
Sat, Jul 26
Run Time: 103 min. Release Year: 2005
A gem in the vast cosmology of Jonas Mekas’ career, Notes on an American Film Director at Work:…
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Sleepless Nights Stories (2011)
Dates with showtimes for Sleepless Nights Stories (2011)
Sun, Jul 27
Director: Jonas Mekas Run Time: 114 min. Release Year: 2011
For two hours we stroll with Jonas Mekas through New York nights, through apartments, studios, backstage rooms, bars…
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