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The American independent filmmaker Les Blank (1935–2013) was based in Berkeley for the majority of his professional career. An important figure in the Bay Area film community, Blank was also a devoted audience member at BAMPFA from the late 1960s, when he was a young filmmaker, to the end of his life.
His sensitive eye as a cinematographer is at the heart of his filmmaking, and it is this talent that allowed him the ability to capture the essence of people, activities, and landscapes as a poet-filmmaker. He trusted his instincts and emotional response to the moment and made exceptionally perceptive films. His body of work as a filmmaker represents an extremely important perspective on American regional cultures.
Blank’s achievements as a filmmaker have been recognized and honored by numerous institutions (American Film Institute’s Maya Deren Award, Edward MacDowell Medal, International Documentary Association Lifetime Achievement Award, and Hot Docs Outstanding Achievement Award). Now, more than a decade since his death, his son Harrod Blank has worked tirelessly to preserve his films. This summer, BAMPFA showcases many of the remastered films, including the Bay Area premiere of the new 4K restoration of Burden of Dreams. We present two films that were completed or released posthumously: Thailand Moment (1967/2015) and A Poem Is a Naked Person (1974/2015). We also look forward to hosting filmmakers who collaborated with Blank, as well as several individuals who were subjects in his films.
—Susan Oxtoby, Director of Film and Senior Film Curator