Jonas Mekas

director • cinematographer • editor

Jonas Mekas was born in 1922 in the farming village of Semeniškiai, Lithuania. In 1944, he and his brother Adolfas were taken by the Nazis to a forced labor camp in Elmshorn, Germany. After the War he studied philosophy at the University of Mainz. At the end of 1949 the UN Refugee Organization broug...

Born: December 24, 1922 in Semeniškiai, Lithuania

Died: January 23, 2019 (age 96)

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Known For

7.9

The Velvet Underground

Movies & TV Credits

192 total credits across film and television

Title	Rating	Job	Role(s)	Year
Nam June Paik: Moon Is the Oldest TV Movie	6.7	Actor	Self (archive footage)	2023
Film: The Living Record of Our Memory Movie	7.7	Actor	Self	2022
Vertigo Short Film	7.9	Actor	—	2022
Fragments of Paradise Movie	7.3	Actor	Self (archive footage)	2022
Please Leave a Message: Anthology Film Archives Voicemails Through the Ages Movie	—	Actor	—	2022
The Velvet Underground Movie	7.4	Actor	Self	2021
The Invisible Father Movie	—	Actor	Self (archive footage)	2021
Tiny Tim: King for a Day Movie	6.6	Actor	Himself	2020
Tapes Short Film	—	Actor	—	2020
Tapes Short Film	—	Directing	Director	2020
Self Discovery for Social Survival Movie	7.8	Actor	Narrator (voice)	2019
Cinema and Sanctuary Movie	—	Actor	Self	2019
Makeshift (For Mekas) Short Film	6.1	Actor	—	2019
Last Interview Film of Jonas Mekas/version 1 Short Film	—	Actor	Self	2019
Self Discovery for Social Survival Movie	7.8	Writing	Writer	2019
Requiem Movie	5.3	Directing	Director	2019
George: The Story of George Maciunas and Fluxus Movie	8.7	Actor	Self	2018
Beyond the Bolex Movie	7.3	Actor	Self	2018
Barbara Rubin and the Exploding NY Underground Movie	7.2	Actor	—	2018
Gena Rowlands: A Life on Film Movie	7.0	Actor	Self	2018
I Don't Know Which Tree It Comes From that Fragrance Movie	—	Actor	Self	2017
I Don't Know Which Tree It Comes From that Fragrance Movie	—	Directing	Director	2017
I Had Nowhere to Go Movie	7.1	Actor	Himself	2016
On the Holy Spirit Movie	—	Actor	—	2016
EXPRMNTL Movie	7.6	Actor	himself	2016
Reminiscences of Jonas Mekas Movie	—	Actor	Self	2016
On the Holy Spirit Movie	—	Directing	Director	2016
Yoko Ono Lennon's Courage Awards 2016: Laurie Anderson, Mohammad el Gharani, Eileen Boxer, RoseLee Goldberg, LoftOpera Movie	—	Directing	Director	2016
A Day in the Life of Andy Warhol Movie	7.0	Actor	Self	2015
My Bolexes Short Film	4.3	Directing	Director	2015
River of Fundament Movie	6.0	Actor	Wake Guest	2014
Diaries, Notes, and Sketches Movie	7.1	Actor	self	2013
My Conversations on Film Movie	8.7	Actor	Himself	2013
What Is Cinema? Movie	5.9	Actor	Self	2013
Reminiszenzen aus Deutschland Short Film	7.8	Actor	Himself	2013
Diaries, Notes, and Sketches Movie	7.1	Directing	Director	2013
Reminiszenzen aus Deutschland Short Film	7.8	Directing	Director	2013
Out-Takes from the Life of a Happy Man Movie	6.9	Actor	Jonas Mekas	2012
Maya Deren, Take 0 Short Film	7.1	Actor	Himself	2012
Out-Takes from the Life of a Happy Man Movie	6.9	Directing	Director	2012
20 Little Films Movie	—	Directing	Director	2012
Free Radicals: A History of Experimental Film Movie	6.7	Actor	Himself	2011
Cinematic Correspondences: Jonas Mekas - J.L. Guerin Movie	7.4	Actor	Himself	2011
3.11 A Sense of Home Films Movie	5.7	Actor	Himself (voice) (segment "Mt. Ventoux")	2011
Guest Movie	6.8	Actor	Self	2011
Re: Maciunas and Fluxus Movie	—	Actor	—	2011
Cinematic Correspondences: Jonas Mekas - J.L. Guerin Movie	7.4	Directing	Director	2011
Sleepless Nights Stories Movie	6.7	Directing	Director	2011
3.11 A Sense of Home Films Movie	5.7	Directing	Director	2011
Re: Maciunas and Fluxus Movie	—	Directing	Director	2011
Visionaries Movie	7.1	Actor	Himself	2010
New York Conversations Movie	—	Actor	—	2010
Lavender Movie	—	Actor	Self	2010
Portrait Serie - Jonas Mekas Short Film	—	Actor	himself	2010
Lavender Movie	—	Camera	Director of Photography	2010
A Daydream Movie	—	Directing	Director	2010
WTC Haikus Short Film	7.5	Directing	Director	2010
42 One Dream Rush Short Film	5.5	Directing	Director	2010
It Came from Kuchar Movie	7.0	Actor	Self (archive footage)	2009
The Perfect Team: The Making of 'On the Bowery' Movie	5.9	Actor	Self	2009
Jonas Mekas in Kodachrome Days Short Film	6.0	Actor	Himself	2009
Notes on an American Film Director at Work Movie	7.1	Actor	Self	2008
Andy Warhol's Factory People... Inside the Sixties Silver Factory Movie	7.5	Actor	—	2008
Doc Movie	—	Actor	Himself	2008
Notes on an American Film Director at Work Movie	7.1	Directing	Director	2008
Jack Smith and the Destruction of Atlantis Movie	7.2	Actor	Self	2007
365 Day Project Movie	—	Actor	Self	2007
Sunday December 30, 2007 Movie	—	Actor	Self	2007
365 Day Project Movie	—	Directing	Director	2007
Monday April 16, 2007 Movie	—	Directing	Director	2007
Friday May 4, 2007: John Zorn – Cobra Part Two Movie	—	Directing	Director	2007
Sunday December 30, 2007 Movie	—	Directing	Director	2007
Anger Me Movie	6.8	Actor	Himself	2006
Notes on Marie Menken Movie	7.3	Actor	Self	2006
Who Gets to Call It Art? Movie	6.7	Actor	Self	2006
Meet The Kuchar Brothers Movie	—	Actor	—	2006
Bibi Hansen Movie	—	Directing	Director	2006
Carl Dreyer Movie	—	Directing	Director	2006
Velvet Underground's First Public Appearance Movie	—	Directing	Director	2006
Moires with Prof. Oster and Salvador Dalí Movie	—	Directing	Director	2006
Brakhage Crosses Central Park Movie	—	Crew	Cinematography	2006
A Visit to Stan Brakhage Movie	—	Directing	Director	2006
To John With Love Movie	—	Directing	Director	2006
John & Yoko Bed-In Movie	—	Directing	Director	2006
Warhol and Maciunas Movie	—	Directing	Director	2006
Poets at the Living Theater Movie	—	Directing	Director	2006
Andy at Work Movie	—	Directing	Director	2006
The Definition of Insanity Movie	7.1	Actor	—	2005
Excavating Taylor Mead Movie	7.5	Actor	Self	2005
Vies et morts d'Andy Warhol Movie	5.8	Actor	—	2005
A Letter from Greenpoint Movie	6.4	Actor	Mekas	2004
Kulturplatz TV Show	7.2	Actor	Self(1 Episode)	2004
A Letter from Greenpoint Movie	6.4	Directing	Director	2004
A Visit to Stan Brakhage Short Film	—	Directing	Director	2003
Williamsburg, Brooklyn Short Film	7.0	Directing	Director	2003
In the Mirror of Maya Deren Movie	7.1	Actor	Himself	2002
Zefiro Torna or Scenes from the Life of George Maciunas (Fluxus) Short Film	6.6	Actor	—	2002
Zefiro Torna or Scenes from the Life of George Maciunas (Fluxus) Short Film	6.6	Directing	Director	2002
Elvis Short Film	6.1	Directing	Director	2001
As I Was Moving Ahead, Occasionally I Saw Brief Glimpses of Beauty Movie	7.9	Actor	Narrator (voice)	2000
As I Was Moving Ahead, Occasionally I Saw Brief Glimpses of Beauty Movie	7.9	Directing	Director	2000
This Side of Paradise Short Film	6.2	Directing	Director	1999
Song of Avignon Movie	7.5	Actor	Self	1998
Song of Avignon Movie	7.5	Directing	Director	1998
A Poet from the Lower East Side Movie	8.5	Actor	Self	1997
Scenes from Allen's Last Three Days on Earth as a Spirit Movie	6.3	Actor	Self	1997
Birth of a Nation Movie	6.9	Directing	Director	1997
Scenes from Allen's Last Three Days on Earth as a Spirit Movie	6.3	Directing	Director	1997
Happy Birthday to John Short Film	6.1	Directing	Director	1997
Reminiscences of a Journey to Lithuania Movie	7.3	Actor	Self	1996
Reminiscences of a Journey to Lithuania Movie	7.3	Directing	Director	1996
Celebrate Cinema 101 Movie	—	Directing	Director	1996
Song of The Salamander Movie	—	Directing	Director	1996
Nico Icon Movie	7.0	Actor	Himself	1995
Jonas in the Desert Movie	6.9	Actor	Self	1994
Award Movie	3.6	Actor	Himself	1992
Just Visiting This Planet Movie	5.8	Actor	—	1991
Carl G. Jung or Lapis Philosophorum Short Film	8.1	Directing	Director	1991
Step Across the Border Movie	7.8	Actor	Butterfly Wing	1990
Superstar: The Life and Times of Andy Warhol Movie	6.7	Actor	Self	1990
Self Portrait Short Film	7.1	Actor	Himself	1990
Scenes from the Life of Andy Warhol: Friendships and Intersections Short Film	6.7	Directing	Director	1990
Self Portrait Short Film	7.1	Directing	Director	1990
Belladonna Short Film	7.1	Actor	—	1989
Warhol's Cinema 1963-1968: Mirror for the Sixties Movie	7.2	Actor	Self	1989
He Stands in a Desert Counting the Seconds of His Life Movie	7.8	Actor	Self (archive footage)	1986
Invocation: Maya Deren Movie	6.2	Actor	Himself	1986
Fire in the East - a Portrait of Robert Frank Short Film	—	Actor	Self	1986
He Stands in a Desert Counting the Seconds of His Life Movie	7.8	Directing	Director	1986
Home Movies 1971-81 Movie	—	Actor	—	1985
Persistence of Vision Movie	—	Actor	Self	1984
The Queen of Sheba Meets the Atom Man Movie	7.0	Actor	—	1981
Strong Medicine Movie	6.2	Actor	—	1981
The Song of Stockholm Short Film	6.0	Directing	Director	1981
Travel Songs Short Film	6.4	Directing	Director	1981
No. 18: Mahagonny Movie	7.0	Actor	Self	1980
ORG Movie	6.4	Actor	Self (archive footage)	1979
Paradise Not Yet Lost Movie	8.3	Actor	Himself	1979
Paradise Not Yet Lost Movie	8.3	Directing	Director	1979
Cinématon Movie	6.1	Actor	N°1590	1978
Notes for Jerome Movie	6.5	Actor	Self	1978
Four Shadows Movie	7.1	Actor	—	1978
Notes for Jerome Movie	6.5	Directing	Director	1978
In Between Movie	7.2	Directing	Director	1978
Lost, Lost, Lost Movie	7.1	Actor	Self	1976
Lost, Lost, Lost Movie	7.1	Directing	Director	1976
‘Rameau’s Nephew’ by Diderot (Thanx to Dennis Young) by Wilma Schoen Movie	6.4	Actor	—	1974
Going Home Movie	8.2	Actor	Himself	1972
Imagine Movie	7.1	Actor	Self	1972
Elvis Live at Madison Square Garden Movie	—	Directing	Director	1972
Journey to Lithuania Movie	—	Actor	Himself	1971
The Song of Moscow Short Film	6.3	Directing	Director	1971
Filmmakers Short Film	5.6	Actor	Himself	1969
Time & Fortune Vietnam Newsreel Short Film	6.2	Directing	Director	1969
Underground New York Movie	5.5	Actor	Self	1968
The Song of Avila Short Film	6.3	Actor	Narrator	1967
For Life, Against the War Movie	—	Directing	Director	1967
The Song of Italy Short Film	6.3	Directing	Director	1967
The Song of Avila Short Film	6.3	Directing	Director	1967
The Song of Assisi Short Film	5.8	Directing	Director	1967
The Love Merchant Movie	5.8	Actor	Lounge Patron	1966
Galaxie Movie	8.5	Actor	Self	1966
Screen Test [ST211]: Jonas Mekas Movie	—	Actor	himself	1966
Poem Posters Short Film	—	Actor	Self	1966
The Song of Central Park Short Film	6.3	Actor	Himself (voice)	1966
European Diaries Movie	—	Sound	Sound Designer	1966
Cassis Short Film	5.5	Directing	Director	1966
Hare Krishna Short Film	6.2	Directing	Director	1966
Notes on the Circus Short Film	6.2	Directing	Director	1966
The Velvet Underground: Psychiatrist's Convention, NYC, 1966 Short Film	4.3	Camera	Camera Operator	1966
Report from Millbrook Short Film	6.7	Directing	Director	1966
The Song of Central Park Short Film	6.3	Directing	Director	1966
Empire Movie	3.9	Actor	Self (uncredited)	1965
Andy Warhol Screen Tests Movie	—	Actor	Self	1965
Dirt Short Film	5.2	Actor	—	1965
Award Presentation to Andy Warhol Short Film	6.5	Actor	Self	1965
Empire Movie	3.9	Crew	Cinematography	1965
Award Presentation to Andy Warhol Short Film	6.5	Directing	Director	1965
Salvador Dali at Work Short Film	6.1	Actor	Self	1964
Jonas in the Brig Short Film	—	Actor	Himself	1964
The Brig Movie	6.8	Directing	Director	1964
Salvador Dali at Work Short Film	6.1	Directing	Director	1964
Hallelujah the Hills Movie	5.9	Directing	Assistant Director	1963
Film Magazine of the Arts Short Film	7.3	Directing	Director	1963
Diane the Zebra Woman Short Film	—	Actor	—	1962
The Sin of Jesus Short Film	6.2	Actor	—	1962
Senseless Short Film	7.7	Writing	Writer	1962
Guns of the Trees Movie	6.6	Directing	Director	1961
Jonas Mekas in Budapest Movie	—	Actor	Himself	—
Cinematheque Française Movie	—	Directing	Director	—
Thursday Jan. 4, 2007: Pedro (São Paulo) or The Right Way To Make Capirinha Movie	—	Directing	Director	—
When Movie	—	Directing	Director	—

Jonas Mekas

Known For

As I Was Moving Ahead, Occasionally I Saw Brief Glimpses of Beauty

Empire

Reminiscences of a Journey to Lithuania

The Velvet Underground

Movies & TV Credits