Jackson Cooper has been named executive director of American Genre Film Archive. The Austin-based nonprofit preserves, restores and shares a collection of more than 3,000 35mm feature films.
Additionally, AGFA oversees restoration and home video releases for 12 projects every year and runs a theatrical catalogue of 1,800+ genre and cult features for global distribution to theaters, festivals and museums.
Cooper said of his new position, “I’m thrilled to be joining the American Genre Film Archive as its next Executive Director. I look forward to building upon the incredible work the staff and board have done and to continue to keep genre film alive through the preservation, restoration, and presentation of these great film experiences. Whether through donating, partnerships, or volunteering, AGFA is for all and I’m honored to work alongside the incredibly talented staff, board, our partners, and the community to move the organization into this exciting new chapter.”
Cooper has more than 15 years of experience in the nonprofit arts world, having previously worked at Pacific Northwest Ballet, the North Carolina Museum of Art, Chamber Music Raleigh and North Carolina Theatre, among other institutions. In addition to programming for Alamo Drafthouse Raleigh and writing for Arrow Video home releases, Cooper has been a part of boards and juries for the Seattle International Film Festival, the North Carolina Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, Seattle Queer Film Festival, and The Cinema Inc.
Some of AGFA’s current projects include booking screenings for Severin Film’s 4K restoration of the Italian horror film “Cemetery Man” and restoring the filmography of underground icons George and Mike Kuchar. AGFA is also celebrating its 15th anniversary with a screening series in partnership with USC School of Cinematic Arts and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Ava DuVernay Receives Kodak’s Auteur Award
Ava DuVernay received the Auteur Award at the Kodak Film Awards Friday night.
DuVernay was recognized for her body of work and her latest feature “Origin.” The filmmaker brought her cinematographer Matthew Lloyd up to the podium with her and mentioned how “Origin” marked the first time she had shot on film. “We shot in 37 days on three continents, it spans seven time periods and covers 400 years.”
Talking about her experience of shooting on film for the first time, DuVernay said, “I learned that throughout the history of cinema, some of my favorite films ever made, the filmmakers can’t see what they’re shooting.” DuVernay continued she and Lloyd would project dailies in the evening on a hotel room wall. “Now I can’t imagine doing it any other way.”
“Past Lives” filmmaker Celine Song, “Oppenheimer” cinematographer Hoyte Van Hoytema and producer Christine Vachon were also among the other honorees.
Van Hoytema who was bestowed with the Lumeire Award thanked producers Emma Thomas and Christopher Nolan. Speaking to their advocacy for shooting on film. Kodak developed 65 mm film for Van Hoytema to deliver “Oppenheimer’s” black-and-white sequences. He said: “I could be sure if we would still be shooting on analog film today. I feel deeply that their stubbornness and commitment has been the single greatest gift to us analog film purists.”
