CRITERION LICENSES JONAS MEKAS' AWARD PRESENTATION TO ANDY WARHOL FOR BLU-RAY RELEASE OF TODD HAYNES' THE VELVET UNDERGROUND DOCUMENTARY

THE VELVET UNDERGROUND, a feature documentary from Academy Award-nominated director Todd Haynes (CAROL, FAR FROM HEAVEN, I’M NOT THERE) and Polygram Entertainment, produced by Motto Pictures and Killer Films in association with Federal Films.

GME provided this classic, 1964 short film to be included with the bonus material on the Criterion Blu-ray release of the Todd Haynes 2021 documentary THE VELVET UNDERGROUND. In addition, GME also provided an excerpt from Jonas Mekas’ WALDEN: DIARIES, NOTES, AND SKETCHES (1969), for the bonus materials.

GME previously licensed scenes from films by Jonas Mekas, Warren Sonbert, Gideon Bachman, and Peter Emmanuel Goldman for the feature production.

When Andy Warhol refused to appear in public to accept the 1964 Film Culture magazines annual Independent Film award, Jonas Mekas made this mock ‘documentary’ of Warhol and a group of his superstars at the Factory. They are presented a basket of fruit which they then consume in slow motion.