Part of Fall 1993
Opium Den, a nomadic underground cine-club, grew out of the recent collapse of the ‘official’ downtown New York film scene. Roaming from one location to another, Opium Den presents a casual, communal, low-tech ‘salon’ allowing for maximum improvisation and hanging-out. Organized by such artists as Peggy Ahwesh, Jennifer Montgomery, Lewis Klahr, Bradley Eros, Jeannie Liotta and Jayne Austen the screenings include a variety of fragments, rushes, oddities, conspiracies, historical relics, live readings, inspirational clips, abandoned projects, and even the occasional finished film presented on super 8, 16mm and video. ‘…slightly goof-ball and occasionally profound, but always a curious surprise.’ (Manohla Dargis, The Village Voice) ‘A renegade group not part of the film culture.’ (Jonas Mekas)