Hey there! I’ve decided I want to try and watch more experimental, avant-garde and overall surrealist films this upcoming year, so, I thought it’d be fun to make a list. This isn’t necessarily made for the public; more so just for my use, but, if anyone wants to, feel free to join! I’ve provided links for many of the prompts, but some may call for some searching. 

Forewarning that some of these prompts may cause certain triggers (avoid the flicker film category if you are epileptic by any degree), so make sure you do your research before committing to certain films.

If you cannot participate in one of the prompts (either because you’ve seen everything from the list/director or can’t watch due to a certain trigger), just fill it in with any of the films included in the lists, The American Avant Garde Bible or How To Get Into Experimental, Underground And Avant Garde Films

Lastly, just wanted to say that short films are allowed and that the films must be able to possibly be considered experimental, avant-garde or surrealist (that’s right; no Straight Story for Lynch). 

1. Watch a film from the list, How To Get Into Experimental, Underground And Avant Garde Films
2. Watch a film by Stan Brakhage
3. Watch a film by Hollis Frampton
4. Watch a film by Kenneth Anger
5. Watch a film by Jonas Mekas
6. Watch a flicker film or strobe film. Here’s a few lists that could help:
- Warning! Stroboscope Effects - Flashes or Flickering Lights
- Stroboscopic Cinema
- Flash! Flicker Films and Strobe Light or: The Beauty of Seeing Things That Aren’t There
7. Watch a documentary
8. Watch a film by Suzan Pitt
9. Watch a short film
10 Watch a feature length film
11. Watch a Japanese film
12. Watch an Iranian film
13. Watch a film about trains
14. Watch a film by Peter Tscherkassky
15. Watch a horror
16. Watch a film by Doris Wishman
17. Watch a film by Derek Jarman
18. Use a random number generator to watch a random film from the list, The American Avant Garde Bible
19. Watch a film by Wang Bing
20. Watch one of Nicole Brenez’s avant garde recommendations 
21. Watch a film from the list, The Letterboxd Experimental Film Family’s Essentials List
22. Watch an experimental film that under 100 Letterboxd members have watched
23. Watch a Russian film
24. Watch a film from the list, The Ultimate Guide to Surreal Cinema
25. Watch a film by Fernando Arrabal
26. Watch a film by Bertrand Mandico
27. Watch a film by Hiroshi Teshigahara
28. Watch a film by a black filmmaker 
29. Watch a film by Gaspar Noé
30. Watch a black and white film
31. Watch a film in colour
32. Watch a film by David Lynch
33. Watch a violent film
34. Watch a film from the 50s
35. 60s
36. 70s
37. 80s
38. 90s
39. 2000s
40. 2010s
41. Watch a film by UMMMI.
42. Watch a film with an average rating lower than 3.0
43. Watch a film with an average rating higher than 4.0
44. Watch an animated film
45. Watch a film with a cast 
46. Watch a film without any people, animals or general living creatures in the movie (no animated characters either!)
47. Watch a film that is politically charged
48. Watch a film by Owen Land 
49. Randomly generate one letter. Watch a film that starts with that letter
50. Watch a film that is in the “Music” Letterboxd genre
51. Watch an LGBTQ+ film
52. Watch any experimental, avant-garde or surrealist film you want!

Participants: Aleks Normann, Luis Baia, Jayce Fryman, Mara 🦋, waybeyond451, melissy, TheRealGiggs, Daniel Racine ⚜️, Brett Doze, 😈 Charlotte 😈, dontevnlikmoove, Ray 💥

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My progress: 33/52

Top five:
1. Five Dedicated to Ozu
2. Love is the Message the Message is Death
3. Hapax Legomena I: (nostalgia)
4. Moonage Daydream
5. Mothlight