The American Film Institute and the Cultural Politics of Experimental and Independent Cinema

This book examines the role that the American Film Institute had in supporting experimental and independent cinema at a key moment of change in the history of American film. Gracia Ramirez provides a rich contextualization of the institution’s history and offers a grounded assessment of its achievements and shortcomings.

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This book examines the role that the American Film Institute (AFI) had in supporting experimental and independent cinema at a key moment of change in the history of American film. Weaving a rich historical narrative, Ramirez argues that the Cold War struggle for cultural supremacy motivated the creation of the federally-funded AFI. Exploring the intersection of business interests and political objectives, Ramirez demonstrates how the AFI’s approach to experimental and independent cinema was marked by an interest in promoting innovative aesthetics and protecting the creative freedom of filmmakers but lacked the attention to distribution and exhibition that would strengthen the viability of experimental and independent filmmaking as professional practices. Scholars of film, history, and American studies will find this work particularly useful.