Stan Brakhage is one of the most influential filmmakers in American avant-garde cinema, noted for his unflinching social commentaries and technical innovations. Over his nearly 40-year career, he has made over 200 films of varying length. He made his first film, Interim (1952) at age 18 after dropping out of college. Brakhage films seek to change the way we see. They encourage viewers to eschew traditional narrative structure in favor of pure visual perception that is not reliant on naming what is seen; rather his goal is to create a more visceral visual experience, for he believes that a "stream-of visual-consciousness could be nothing less than the pathway of the soul." To this end, his films are shot in highly sensual colors and utilize minimal soundtracks.
His work can be divided into distinct periods. His first short films explored the properties and possibilities of light. In many of his experimental ventures, Brakhage has forgone traditional cinematography in favor of working directly with the film stock itself. He has occasionally painted, inked, scratched and dyed images onto it; he has also tried pasting organic objects on the film. His most famous example is the 1963 short Mothlight in which he glued moth wings onto the stock. Some of his early films were based on his most intimate experiences that included making love to his new bride--depicted on negative film--in Wedlock House: An Intercourse (1959), and an attempt to bring his dead dog back to life with a camera in Sirius Remembered (1959). During the 1960s, Brakhage's iconoclastic views were celebrated for their poetry, but during the '70s, his focus changed to social issues and he alienated many supporters with such disturbing film series as the "Pittsburgh documents" in which he presented many gruesome views of inner city life with films such as Act of Seeing with One's Own Eyes (1971) which was shot in a morgue. He also continued with autobiographical material with the "Sincerity/Duplicity series. During the 1980s, Brakhage's focus again changed--this time he became intrigued with creating truly "abstract" films such as Arabics (1982) which consists of brilliant bursts of colored light which he claims, represent "envisioned music." In addition to filmmaking, Brakhage also wrote books about films and filmmaking and also served as a teacher.
| 2012 | 20 Little Films - Director |
| 2011 | Drawings by Billy and His Friends - In Memory Of |
| 2010 | By Brakhage: An Anthology, Volume Two - Director |
| 2009 | Sweetgrass - Thanks |
| 2003 | By Brakhage: An Anthology, Volume One - Director |
| 2003 | Chinese Series - Director |
| 2003 | Stan's Window & Work in Progress - Director |
| 2002 | Panels for the Walls of Heaven - Director |
| 2002 | Resurrectus Est - Director |
| 2002 | SB (One Minute for Vienna) - Director |
| 2002 | Seasons... - Director |
| 2002 | Ascension - Director |
| 2002 | Song of the Mushroom - Director |
| 2002 | Max - Director |
| 2001 | Persian Series #13 - Director |
| 2001 | Persian Series #14 - Director |
| 2001 | Persian Series #15 - Director |
| 2001 | Persian Series #16 - Director |
| 2001 | Persian Series #17 - Director |
| 2001 | Persian Series #18 - Director |
| 2001 | Micro Garden - Director |
| 2001 | Garden Path - Director |
| 2001 | Lovesong 5 & 6 - Director |
| 2001 | Dark Night of The Soul - Director |
| 2001 | Lovesong 4 - Director |
| 2001 | Lovesong - Director |
| 2001 | Lovesong 3 - Director |
| 2001 | Occam's Thread - Director |
| 2001 | Lovesong 2 - Director |
| 2001 | Night Mulch - Director |
| 2001 | Rounds - Director |
| 2001 | Very - Director |
| 2000 | Jesus Trilogy and Coda - Director |
| 2000 | Persian Series #10 - Director |
| 2000 | Persian Series #11 - Director |
| 2000 | Persian Series #12 - Director |
| 2000 | Persian Series #6 - Director |
| 2000 | Persian Series #7 - Director |
| 2000 | Persian Series #8 - Director |
| 2000 | Persian Series #9 - Director |
| 2000 | The God of Day Had Gone Down Upon Him - Director |
| 2000 | Water for Maya - Director |
| 2000 | Dance - Director |
| 1999 | The Lion and the Zebra Make God's Raw Jewels - Director |
| 1999 | Moilsome Toilsome - Director |
| 1999 | Persian Series #1 - Director |
| 1999 | Persian Series #2 - Director |
| 1999 | Persian Series #3 - Director |
| 1999 | Persian Series #4 - Director |
| 1999 | Persian Series #5 - Director |
| 1999 | The Earthsong of the Cricket - Director |
| 1999 | The Birds Of Paradise - Director |
| 1999 | Cloud Chamber - Director |
| 1999 | Coupling - Director |
| 1999 | Cricket Requiem - Director |
| 1999 | Stately Mansions Did Decree - Director |
| 1999 | The Dark Tower - Director |
| 1999 | Worm and Web Love - Director |
| 1998 | "..." Reel 3 - Director |
| 1998 | "..." Reel 1 - Director |
| 1998 | "..." Reel 2 - Director |
| 1998 | "..." Reel 4 - Director |
| 1998 | "..." Reel 5 - Director |
| 1998 | The Female Mystique and Spare Leaves (for Gordon) - Director |
| 1997 | Self Song/Death Song - Director |
| 1997 | Yggdrasill: Whose Roots Are Stars in the Human Mind - Director |
| 1997 | Divertimento - Director |
| 1997 | Last Hymn to the Night - Novalis - Director |
| 1997 | The Cat of the Worm's Green Realm - Director |
| 1996 | Comingled Containers - Director |
| 1996 | Prelude 1 - Director |
| 1996 | Prelude 10 - Director |
| 1996 | Prelude 11 - Director |
| 1996 | Prelude 12 - Director |
| 1996 | Prelude 13 - Director |
| 1996 | Prelude 14 - Director |
| 1996 | Prelude 2 - Director |
| 1996 | Prelude 3 - Director |
| 1996 | Prelude 4 - Director |
| 1996 | Prelude 5 - Director |
| 1996 | Prelude 6 - Director |
| 1996 | Prelude 7 - Director |
| 1996 | Prelude 8 - Director |
| 1996 | Prelude 9 - Director |
| 1996 | Beautiful Funerals - Director |
| 1996 | Blue Value - Director |
| 1996 | Concrescence - Director |
| 1996 | Polite Madness - Director |
| 1996 | Prelude 15 - Director |
| 1996 | Prelude 16 - Director |
| 1996 | Prelude 17 - Director |
| 1996 | Prelude 18 - Director |
| 1996 | Prelude 19 - Director |
| 1996 | Prelude 20 - Director |
| 1996 | Prelude 21 - Director |
| 1996 | Prelude 22 - Director |
| 1996 | Prelude 23 - Director |
| 1996 | Prelude 24 - Director |
| 1996 | Sexual Saga - Director |
| 1996 | Shockingly Hot - Director |
| 1996 | The Fur of Home - Director |
| 1996 | Through Wounded Eyes - Director |
| 1996 | Two Found Objects of Charles Boultenhouse - Director |
| 1995 | I Take These Truths - Director |
| 1995 | I... - Director |
| 1995 | We Hold These - Director |
| 1995 | Earthen Aerie - Director |
| 1995 | In Consideration of Pompeii - Director |
| 1995 | Paranoia Corridor - Director |
| 1995 | Spring Cycle - Director |
| 1995 | The "Lost" Films - Director |
| 1995 | The 'b' Series - Director |
| 1994 | Black Ice - Director |
| 1994 | From: First Hymn to the Night – Novalis - Director |
| 1994 | Chartres Series - Director |
| 1994 | Alternating Currents - Director |
| 1994 | Cannot Exist - Director |
| 1994 | Cannot Not Exist - Director |
| 1994 | Elementary Phrases - Director |
| 1994 | Naughts - Director |
| 1994 | The Mammals of Victoria - Director |
| 1993 | Stellar - Director |
| 1993 | Autumnal - Director |
| 1993 | Three Homerics - Director |
| 1993 | The Harrowing - Director |
| 1993 | Tryst Haunt - Director |
| 1993 | Boulder Blues and Pearls and... - Director |
| 1993 | Blossom-Gift/Favor - Director |
| 1993 | Ephemeral Solidity - Director |
| 1993 | Study in Color and Black and White - Director |
| 1992 | Interpolations 1-5 - Director |
| 1992 | Untitled (For Marilyn) - Director |
| 1991 | Christ Mass Sex Dance - Director |
| 1991 | Agnus Dei Kinder Synapse - Director |
| 1991 | Delicacies of Molten Horror Synapse - Director |
| 1991 | A Child’s Garden and the Serious Sea - Director |
| 1991 | Crack Glass Eulogy - Director |
| 1990 | Passage Through: A Ritual - Director |
| 1990 | Vision of the Fire Tree - Director |
| 1990 | Glaze of Cathexis - Director |
| 1990 | Babylon Series #2 - Director |
| 1990 | Babylon Series #3 - Director |
| 1990 | City Streaming - Director |
| 1990 | The Thatch of Night - Director |
| 1990 | Visions in Meditation #3: Plato's Cave - Director |
| 1990 | Visions in Meditation #4: D.H. Lawrence - Director |
| 1989 | Babylon Series #1 - Director |
| 1989 | Faust IV - Director |
| 1989 | Visions in Meditation #1 - Director |
| 1989 | Visions in Meditation #2: Mesa Verde - Director |
| 1988 | I... Dreaming - Director |
| 1988 | Faust 3: Candida Albacore - Director |
| 1988 | Faust's Other: An Idyll - Director |
| 1988 | Marilyn's Window - Director |
| 1988 | Matins - Director |
| 1988 | Rage Net - Director |
| 1987 | Loud Visual Noises - Director |
| 1987 | The Dante Quartet - Director |
| 1987 | Faustfilm: An Opera - Director |
| 1987 | Kindering - Director |
| 1986 | The Loom - Director |
| 1986 | Dance Shadows by Danelle Helander - Director |
| 1986 | Fireloop - Director |
| 1986 | Confession - Director |
| 1986 | Night Music - Director |
| 1986 | The Aerodyne - Director |
| 1985 | Jane - Director |
| 1985 | Jane - Director of Photography |
| 1985 | Jane - Editor |
| 1984 | Tortured Dust - Director |
| 1984 | Tortured Dust Part 1 - Director |
| 1984 | Tortured Dust Part 2 - Director |
| 1984 | Tortured Dust Part 3 - Director |
| 1984 | Tortured Dust Part 4 - Director |
| 1983 | Egyptian Series - Director |
| 1983 | Hell Spit Flexion - Director |
| 1982 | Arabic Numeral Series 14 - Director |
| 1982 | Arabic Numeral Series 15 - Director |
| 1982 | Arabic Numeral Series 16 - Director |
| 1982 | Arabic Numeral Series 17 - Director |
| 1982 | Arabic Numeral Series 18 - Director |
| 1982 | Arabic Numeral Series 19 - Director |
| 1981 | Nodes - Director |
| 1981 | Made Manifest - Director |
| 1981 | Unconscious London Strata - Director |
| 1981 | Aftermath - Director |
| 1981 | Arabic Numeral Series 0 + 10 - Director |
| 1981 | Arabic Numeral Series 11 - Director |
| 1981 | Arabic Numeral Series 12 - Director |
| 1981 | Arabic Numeral Series 13 - Director |
| 1981 | Arabic Numeral Series 7 - Director |
| 1981 | Arabic Numeral Series 8 - Director |
| 1981 | Arabic Numeral Series 9 - Director |
| 1981 | Arabic Numeral Series 1 - Director |
| 1981 | Arabic Numeral Series 2 - Director |
| 1981 | Arabic Numeral Series 3 - Director |
| 1981 | Arabic Numeral Series 4 - Director |
| 1981 | Arabic Numeral Series 5 - Director |
| 1981 | Arabic Numeral Series 6 - Director |
| 1981 | RR - Director |
| 1981 | The Garden of Earthly Delights - Director |
| 1980 | Murder Psalm - Director |
| 1980 | 4A - Director |
| 1980 | Duplicity III - Director |
| 1980 | Other - Director |
| 1980 | Roman Numeral: IV - Director |
| 1980 | Roman Numeral: IX - Director |
| 1980 | Roman Numeral: V - Director |
| 1980 | Roman Numeral: VI - Director |
| 1980 | Roman Numeral: VII - Director |
| 1980 | Roman Numeral: VIII - Director |
| 1980 | Salome - Director |
| 1980 | Sincerity - Director |
| 1980 | Sincerity V - Director |
| 1979 | Roman Numeral: I - Director |
| 1979 | Roman Numeral: II - Director |
| 1979 | Sincerity IV - Director |
| 1979 | Creation - Director |
| 1979 | @ - Director |
| 1979 | Roman Numeral: III - Director |
| 1978 | Burial Path - Director |
| 1978 | Thot-Fal'N - Cinematography |
| 1978 | Thot-Fal'N - Director |
| 1978 | Thot-Fal'N - Editor |
| 1978 | Bird - Director |
| 1978 | Centre - Director |
| 1978 | Duplicity I - Director |
| 1978 | Duplicity II - Director |
| 1978 | Nightmare Series - Director |
| 1978 | Purity and After - Director |
| 1978 | Sincerity III - Director |
| 1978 | Sluice - Director |
| 1977 | The Governor - Director |
| 1977 | Soldiers and Other Cosmic Objects - Director |
| 1977 | Tragoedia - Director |
| 1977 | The Domain of the Moment - Director |
| 1976 | Absence - Director |
| 1976 | The Dream, N.Y.C., The Return, The Flower - Director |
| 1976 | Desert - Director |
| 1976 | Highs - Director |
| 1976 | Rembrandt, Etc., and Jane - Director |
| 1976 | Trio - Cinematography |
| 1976 | Trio - Director |
| 1976 | Airs - Director |
| 1976 | Window - Director |
| 1976 | Gadflies - Director |
| 1976 | Sketches - Director |
| 1976 | Short Films 1976 - Director |
| 1975 | Short Films 1975 - Director |
| 1975 | Short Films 1975: #1 (Jane’s Memory) - Director |
| 1975 | Short Films 1975: #10 (Painted Lightning) - Director |
| 1975 | Short Films 1975: #2 (Dante’s Styx) - Director |
| 1975 | Short Films 1975: #3 (Hollis Frampton) - Director |
| 1975 | Short Films 1975: #4 (Lady in Glass) - Director |
| 1975 | Short Films 1975: #5 (Niagara Falls) - Director |
| 1975 | Short Films 1975: #6 (Stars, Chickens, Eyes, Candles) - Director |
| 1975 | Short Films 1975: #7 (Turning the Raccoon Loose) - Director |
| 1975 | Short Films 1975: #8 (Small Town Streets) - Director |
| 1975 | Short Films 1975: #9 (Forest Love Scene) - Director |
| 1975 | Sincerity II - Director |
| 1974 | The Stars Are Beautiful - Cinematography |
| 1974 | The Stars Are Beautiful - Director |
| 1974 | The Stars Are Beautiful - Editor |
| 1974 | The Stars Are Beautiful - Writer |
| 1974 | The Text of Light - Director |
| 1974 | The Text of Light - Director of Photography |
| 1974 | Hymn to Her - Director |
| 1974 | Star Garden - Director |
| 1974 | Aquarien - Director |
| 1974 | Clancy - Director |
| 1974 | Dominion - Director |
| 1974 | Flight - Director |
| 1974 | Skein - Director |
| 1974 | Sol - Director |
| 1974 | “He was born, he suffered, he died.” - Director |
| 1973 | Gift - Director |
| 1973 | Sexual Meditation: Open Field - Director |
| 1973 | Sincerity I - Director |
| 1973 | The Women - Director |
| 1972 | The Process - Director |
| 1972 | The Riddle of Lumen - Director |
| 1972 | Sexual Meditation: Faun's Room, Yale - Director |
| 1972 | Sexual Meditation: Office Suite - Director |
| 1972 | The Act of Seeing with One's Own Eyes - Director |
| 1972 | The Act of Seeing with One's Own Eyes - Director of Photography |
| 1972 | The Act of Seeing with One's Own Eyes - Editor |
| 1972 | Eye Myth Educational - Director |
| 1972 | Sexual Meditation: Hotel - Director |
| 1972 | The Presence - Director |
| 1972 | The Shores of Phos: A Fable - Director |
| 1972 | The Wold-Shadow - Director |
| 1972 | Wecht - Director |
| 1972 | Eye Myth Educational - Writer |
| 1971 | Deus Ex - Director |
| 1971 | Fox Fire Child Watch - Director |
| 1971 | The Trip to Door - Director |
| 1971 | Angels' - Director |
| 1971 | Door - Director |
| 1971 | Sexual Meditation: Room with View - Director |
| 1971 | The Peaceable Kingdom - Director |
| 1971 | Western History - Director |
| 1970 | Eyes - Director |
| 1970 | The Animals of Eden and After - Director |
| 1970 | The Machine of Eden - Director |
| 1970 | The Weir-Falcon Saga - Director |
| 1970 | Scenes from Under Childhood - Director |
| 1970 | Scenes from Under Childhood, Section Four - Director |
| 1970 | Sexual Meditation #1: Motel - Director |
| 1969 | Scenes from Under Childhood, Section Three - Director |
| 1969 | Scenes from Under Childhood, Section Two - Director |
| 1969 | Nuptiae - Director of Photography |
| 1969 | My Mtn. Song 27 - Director |
| 1969 | My Mtn. Song 27 Part II: Rivers - Director |
| 1969 | American 30s Song - Director |
| 1969 | Song 28 - Director |
| 1969 | Song 29 - Director |
| 1969 | Window Suite of Children's Songs - Director |
| 1968 | Lovemaking - Director |
| 1968 | Song 26 - Director |
| 1968 | The Horseman, the Woman, and the Moth - Director |
| 1967 | Eye Myth - Director |
| 1967 | Song 24 - Director |
| 1967 | Song 25 - Director |
| 1967 | Scenes from Under Childhood, Section One - Director |
| 1967 | For Life, Against the War - Director |
| 1967 | 23rd Psalm Branch: Part II - Cinematography |
| 1967 | 23rd Psalm Branch - Director |
| 1967 | 23rd Psalm Branch: Part I - Director |
| 1967 | 23rd Psalm Branch: Part II - Director |
| 1967 | 23rd Psalm Branch: Part II - Editor |
| 1966 | Song 16 - Director |
| 1966 | Song 17 - Director |
| 1966 | Song 18 - Director |
| 1966 | Song 19 - Director |
| 1966 | Song 20 - Director |
| 1966 | Song 21 - Director |
| 1966 | Song 22 - Director |
| 1966 | Pasht - Director |
| 1965 | Two: Creeley/McClure - Director |
| 1965 | Fire of Waters - Director |
| 1965 | Three Films: Blue White/Blood's Tone/Vein - Director |
| 1965 | 15 Song Traits - Director |
| 1965 | Song 11 - Director |
| 1965 | Song 12 - Director |
| 1965 | Song 13 - Director |
| 1965 | Song 14 - Director |
| 1965 | Black Vision - Director |
| 1965 | The Art of Vision - Cinematography |
| 1965 | The Art of Vision - Director |
| 1965 | The Art of Vision - Editor |
| 1965 | The Art of Vision - Producer |
| 1965 | Song 10 - Director |
| 1965 | Song 9 - Director |
| 1965 | Dog Star Man - Director |
| 1965 | Dog Star Man - Director of Photography |
| 1965 | Dog Star Man - Editor |
| 1965 | Dog Star Man - Writer |
| 1965 | Blood's Tone - Director |
| 1964 | Dog Star Man: Part III - Director |
| 1964 | Dog Star Man: Part IV - Director |
| 1964 | Song 1 - Cinematography |
| 1964 | Song 5 - Cinematography |
| 1964 | Song 1 - Director |
| 1964 | Song 2 - Director |
| 1964 | Song 3 - Director |
| 1964 | Song 4 - Director |
| 1964 | Song 5 - Director |
| 1964 | Song 6 - Director |
| 1964 | Song 7 - Director |
| 1964 | Song 8 - Director |
| 1964 | Song 1 - Editor |
| 1964 | Song 5 - Editor |
| 1963 | Mothlight - Director |
| 1963 | Oh Life - a Woe Story - the A Test News - Director |
| 1963 | Dog Star Man: Part I - Director |
| 1963 | Dog Star Man: Part II - Director |
| 1962 | Blue Moses - Cinematography |
| 1962 | Blue Moses - Director |
| 1962 | Blue Moses - Editor |
| 1962 | Blue Moses - Writer |
| 1962 | Prelude: Dog Star Man - Director |
| 1962 | Mr. Tompkins Inside Himself - Director |
| 1962 | Silent Sound Sense Stars Subotnick and Sender - Director |
| 1962 | Mr. Tompkins Inside Himself - Editor |
| 1962 | Mr. Tompkins Inside Himself - Writer |
| 1961 | Thigh Line Lyre Triangular - Cinematography |
| 1961 | Thigh Line Lyre Triangular - Director |
| 1961 | Thigh Line Lyre Triangular - Editor |
| 1961 | Sartre's Nausea - Director |
| 1961 | Ballad of the Colorado Ute - Cinematography |
| 1961 | Ballad of the Colorado Ute - Director |
| 1961 | Films by Stan Brakhage: An Avant-Garde Home Movie - Director |
| 1961 | Ballad of the Colorado Ute - Editor |
| 1960 | The Dead - Director |
| 1960 | Colorado Legend - Cinematography |
| 1960 | Colorado Legend - Director |
| 1960 | Colorado Legend - Director of Photography |
| 1960 | Colorado Legend - Editor |
| 1959 | Sirius Remembered - Director |
| 1959 | Window Water Baby Moving - Director |
| 1959 | Window Water Baby Moving - Director of Photography |
| 1959 | Window Water Baby Moving - Editor |
| 1959 | Wedlock House: An Intercourse - Director |
| 1959 | Pittsburgh - Cinematography |
| 1959 | Cat's Cradle - Director |
| 1958 | Anticipation of the Night - Director |
| 1957 | Daybreak and Whiteye - Director |
| 1957 | Loving - Director |
| 1956 | Flesh of Morning - Director |
| 1956 | Nightcats - Director |
| 1956 | Zone Moment - Director |
| 1955 | The Wonder Ring - Cinematography |
| 1955 | The Wonder Ring - Director |
| 1955 | The Wonder Ring - Editor |
| 1955 | Untitled Film of Geoffrey Holder's Wedding - Director |
| 1955 | Reflections on Black - Cinematography |
| 1955 | Reflections on Black - Director |
| 1955 | Reflections on Black - Editor |
| 1955 | Reflections on Black - Writer |
| 1955 | In Between - Cinematography |
| 1955 | Centuries of June - Director |
| 1955 | In Between - Director |
| 1955 | In Between - Editor |
| 1955 | In Between - Writer |
| 1954 | The Extraordinary Child - Cinematography |
| 1954 | The Extraordinary Child - Director |
| 1954 | The Extraordinary Child - Editor |
| 1954 | The Extraordinary Child - Writer |
| 1954 | The Way to Shadow Garden - Cinematography |
| 1954 | The Way to Shadow Garden - Director |
| 1954 | The Way to Shadow Garden - Editor |
| 1954 | The Way to Shadow Garden - Sound Designer |
| 1954 | The Way to Shadow Garden - Writer |
| 1954 | Desistfilm - Cinematography |
| 1954 | Desistfilm - Director |
| 1954 | Desistfilm - Editor |
| 1954 | Desistfilm - Writer |
| 1953 | Unglassed Windows Cast a Terrible Reflection - Cinematography |
| 1953 | The Boy and the Sea - Director |
| 1953 | Unglassed Windows Cast a Terrible Reflection - Director |
| 1953 | Unglassed Windows Cast a Terrible Reflection - Editor |
| 1953 | Unglassed Windows Cast a Terrible Reflection - Writer |
| 1952 | Interim - Cinematography |
| 1952 | Interim - Director |
| 1952 | Interim - Editor |
| 1952 | Interim - Writer |
| Arabic Numeral Series - Director |
| Cornell's Portrait of June - Director |
| Persian Series - Director |
| Persian Series 1-5 - Director |
| Visions in Meditation - Director |
| By Brakhage: An Anthology - Producer |
Duvar