Revolutionary, abstract, absurd, personal, weird, wild, intimate, expansive: experimental film is its own gorgeous family of beautiful strangers, connected by their unique artistic outputs in a world where the rules don’t matter and Hollywood has no sway. This Showdown celebrates essential experimental films and their extraordinary creators; all the assemblage and montage, direct-painting and reality-breaking, light-dancing and dialog-twisting, avant-garde and extraordinary-ordinary techniques. List the ten most essential experimental works that have moved you or changed your world view. (Rest in peace, Eli.)
Most mentioned
![Sally Jane Black](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/6/3/3/6/2/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=41fcd43888)
Sally Jane Black 403 films
![Des de Moor](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/twitter/3/8/7/0/3/8/shard/http___pbs.twimg.com_profile_images_604978139522056192_q6V2hksD-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=708f9645c6)
Des de Moor 199 films
![Dr. Benway](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/66e37976f11a0182a248408daa383f8c?rating=PG&size=32&border=&default=https%3A%2F%2Fs.ltrbxd.com%2Fstatic%2Fimg%2Favatar32.09445e73.png)
Dr. Benway 9 films
![Paco Casado](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/1607bde6e3fde864a2f4bcba466ba1a9?rating=PG&size=32&border=&default=https%3A%2F%2Fs.ltrbxd.com%2Fstatic%2Fimg%2Favatar32.09445e73.png)
Paco Casado 159 films
![Dr. Benway](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/66e37976f11a0182a248408daa383f8c?rating=PG&size=32&border=&default=https%3A%2F%2Fs.ltrbxd.com%2Fstatic%2Fimg%2Favatar32.09445e73.png)
Dr. Benway 35 films
![PUF](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/1/3/5/7/9/4/9/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=1bd9d8d276)
PUF 102 films
![Yasmina Tawil](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/twitter/1/0/4/0/9/8/7/shard/http___pbs.twimg.com_profile_images_1349395840696246273_9BWqgkAF-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=c81fcfab54)
Yasmina Tawil 7 films
![ghazal](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/5/3/7/7/1/8/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=999dc7b765)
ghazal 269 films
![Gabriel Linhares Falcão](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/4/5/2/4/5/8/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=1e620855ce)
Gabriel Linhares Falcão 54 films
![Liam Kenny](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/5/2/8/3/7/1/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=9aaa1445fc)
Liam Kenny 20 films
![Travis D. Johnson](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/a13028f7bde7fd7fbb0e73b5785fa4ac?rating=PG&size=32&border=&default=https%3A%2F%2Fs.ltrbxd.com%2Fstatic%2Fimg%2Favatar32.09445e73.png)
Travis D. Johnson 10 films
![Zayne](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/5/2/8/8/4/1/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=5b741fc4e3)
Zayne 10 films
![Mariner35](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/2/3/2/0/4/4/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=3781a6b194)
Mariner35 52 films
![Jo Brennan](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/6/3/3/7/0/5/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=51a43078aa)
Jo Brennan 45 films
![Zane](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/twitter/8/0/5/3/8/shard/blob-0-32-0-32-crop.png?v=258f080161)
Zane 8 films
![Jake Price](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/1/1/8/1/8/0/4/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=c9d16774fd)
Jake Price 10 films
![vidence](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/twitter/1/1/5/6/2/9/7/shard/http___pbs.twimg.com_profile_images_1193201500966866944_42wHjrJ7-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=c704e8d047)
vidence 10 films
![JTFX](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/twitter/8/4/8/0/4/5/shard/blob-0-32-0-32-crop.png?v=33337c5da1)
JTFX 10 films
![Rod T](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/1/3/6/1/2/3/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=09d9e9e7f9)
Rod T 10 films
![Matthew Brown](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/8/6/0/0/1/5/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=c0fc060f1f)
Matthew Brown 12 films
![Tom Cleveland](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/twitter/2/2/7/5/4/2/9/shard/blob-0-32-0-32-crop.png?v=11fe96419f)
Tom Cleveland 10 films
![Sam Holdren](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/3/6/8/1/8/8/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=bfed307023)
Sam Holdren 10 films
![Cassie Kimbrel](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/2/5/4/7/4/9/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=e7d6f5ca36)
Cassie Kimbrel 18 films
![festerwretch](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/twitter/6/0/0/3/4/6/shard/http___pbs.twimg.com_profile_images_1060458231263305728_Me8o3NLb-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=f36746cf38)
festerwretch 10 films
![V. Vargas](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/4/3/8/0/8/1/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=4c4bc57056)
V. Vargas 10 films
![Forrest With2Rs](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/d34f58987a539bd594091ba43719c347?rating=PG&size=32&border=&default=https%3A%2F%2Fs.ltrbxd.com%2Fstatic%2Fimg%2Favatar32.09445e73.png)
Forrest With2Rs 10 films
![Benjamin Luke Mitchell](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/twitter/3/6/2/6/0/4/shard/http___pbs.twimg.com_profile_images_1041585446634094592_xNgJOdzX-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=c89bf86e06)
Benjamin Luke Mitchell 161 films
![louferrigno](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/4/1/8/7/2/5/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=e42d10e709)
louferrigno 10 films
![Niall Hassett](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/4/2/1/3/9/2/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=b320e4a5a3)
Niall Hassett 10 films
![Benjamin Büscher](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/523ad1c36cd0e38ee6f23dd7a072af0d?rating=PG&size=32&border=&default=https%3A%2F%2Fs.ltrbxd.com%2Fstatic%2Fimg%2Favatar32.09445e73.png)
Benjamin Büscher 21 films
![filmplanet](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/ddb88fa87e1b79e6afb5fe4664b5af91?rating=PG&size=32&border=&default=https%3A%2F%2Fs.ltrbxd.com%2Fstatic%2Fimg%2Favatar32.09445e73.png)
filmplanet 10 films
![Fannar Kristinsson](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/twitter/8/3/9/1/2/6/shard/http___pbs.twimg.com_profile_images_1025511654631657472_9H77d6ba-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=c7e22928b6)
Fannar Kristinsson 6 films
![EmilyAvocado](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/1/6/5/3/7/2/9/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=ba5b66e577)
EmilyAvocado 12 films
![chevronhuberd](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/twitter/2/0/4/7/2/8/shard/http___pbs.twimg.com_profile_images_917437699950125056_n3pvrIVo-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=5aa0532ac9)
chevronhuberd 10 films
![Alex](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/6/5/6/2/4/4/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=f5cbb279c1)
Alex 59 films
![Godard_Knocks](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/42f916793e1b3c7f812afb5190df7594?rating=PG&size=32&border=&default=https%3A%2F%2Fs.ltrbxd.com%2Fstatic%2Fimg%2Favatar32.09445e73.png)
Godard_Knocks 10 films
![Hamish J. Newcombe](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/5/2/6/8/0/1/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=69e6efd920)
Hamish J. Newcombe 10 films
![Tucker](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/3/6/7/2/7/4/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=2328d41473)
Tucker 10 films
![azumukupoe](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/b5ed84ff654b5ad8f7ef536c4a7aeab0?rating=PG&size=32&border=&default=https%3A%2F%2Fs.ltrbxd.com%2Fstatic%2Fimg%2Favatar32.09445e73.png)
azumukupoe 10 films
![Rory](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/7/8/4/7/5/1/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=23639ccc3b)
Rory 10 films
![Lyle](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/1/2/5/6/5/6/1/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=1d454afee0)
Lyle 12 films
![Danny Fain](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/twitter/2/3/5/1/5/2/2/shard/http___pbs.twimg.com_profile_images_1218658816805539841_lmmy6RkZ-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=1cec543c2d)
Danny Fain 10 films
![Jordan](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/9/1/3/5/0/9/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=a54d8f06e2)
Jordan 14 films
![Daniel Charchuk](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/bdaf97e5ec488d6f1490bccf2a674126?rating=PG&size=32&border=&default=https%3A%2F%2Fs.ltrbxd.com%2Fstatic%2Fimg%2Favatar32.09445e73.png)
Daniel Charchuk 25 films
![Dylan Medlock](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/7/8/9/0/1/1/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=55f4589e14)
Dylan Medlock 10 films
![Shane Barlow](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/9b69177fd8ca53d09efa4f5fae12167c?rating=PG&size=32&border=&default=https%3A%2F%2Fs.ltrbxd.com%2Fstatic%2Fimg%2Favatar32.09445e73.png)
Shane Barlow 9 films
![Lexi](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/989d56d1d760428061ce173ba7bca5be?rating=PG&size=32&border=&default=https%3A%2F%2Fs.ltrbxd.com%2Fstatic%2Fimg%2Favatar32.09445e73.png)
Lexi 10 films
![miserypop](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/1/1/5/7/7/8/8/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=7200018bb0)
miserypop 9 films
![funnybair](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/ac0869835ba630761a0ab926693fc609?rating=PG&size=32&border=&default=https%3A%2F%2Fs.ltrbxd.com%2Fstatic%2Fimg%2Favatar32.09445e73.png)
funnybair 1 film
![maddy](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/2/4/2/9/9/5/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=8c676265c0)
maddy 10 films
![Jessica D](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/2/3/1/9/9/6/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=a1bcf29261)
Jessica D 32 films
![Thibaut](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/2/1/9/8/2/9/2/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=09d190c166)
Thibaut 4 films
![Flicks With Friends](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/twitter/1/1/2/2/0/9/6/shard/http___pbs.twimg.com_profile_images_806516138305687553_797Y9zWM-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=faaded1a27)
Flicks With Friends 10 films
![G M](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/1/1/1/4/0/5/6/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=e98246a748)
G M 25 films
![G M](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/1/1/1/4/0/5/6/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=e98246a748)
G M 30 films
![León ⚡ Serratos](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/twitter/1/2/1/3/2/shard/http___pbs.twimg.com_profile_images_1127433227537473536_PticE3Sf-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=3b44b5ef5c)
León ⚡ Serratos 50 films
![Marek](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/6/2/9/1/9/8/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=ea2478f10d)
Marek 10 films
![kevin sharon](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/twitter/1/2/1/5/shard/http___pbs.twimg.com_profile_images_905176498772029440_peP1D7YE-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=3f60d877f2)
kevin sharon 16 films
![Mathias Mørch](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/14cb18389f50aa681f721baa36c8f30c?rating=PG&size=32&border=&default=https%3A%2F%2Fs.ltrbxd.com%2Fstatic%2Fimg%2Favatar32.09445e73.png)
Mathias Mørch 10 films
![Kyle Bailey](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/twitter/2/4/1/6/9/5/shard/http___pbs.twimg.com_profile_images_529136873403580416_U_KoiguH-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=6dc1e87fd3)
Kyle Bailey 5 films
![soopie](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/90d33a932e2f33e9089736a18ff381b2?rating=PG&size=32&border=&default=https%3A%2F%2Fs.ltrbxd.com%2Fstatic%2Fimg%2Favatar32.09445e73.png)
soopie 10 films
![GonDaddy](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/6d84d0f4901a2410af0f6a2d0c4ce42b?rating=PG&size=32&border=&default=https%3A%2F%2Fs.ltrbxd.com%2Fstatic%2Fimg%2Favatar32.09445e73.png)
GonDaddy 10 films
![Pedro Petriche](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/1/6/3/7/3/2/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=1a471bc13d)
Pedro Petriche 70 films
![Luke](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/twitter/1/6/8/3/8/3/2/shard/blob-0-32-0-32-crop.png?v=9c0fd4458c)
Luke 10 films
![Hoggfather93](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/568f575b5c657f0be741b630c7dbf1d9?rating=PG&size=32&border=&default=https%3A%2F%2Fs.ltrbxd.com%2Fstatic%2Fimg%2Favatar32.09445e73.png)
Hoggfather93 23 films
![David Leeds](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/twitter/9/8/0/3/2/7/shard/http___pbs.twimg.com_profile_images_1104466976469147652_1nD9FbHx-0-32-0-32-crop.png?v=b81f3b776a)
David Leeds 10 films
![swingpants](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/1/9/4/2/5/9/9/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=6cfbb02231)
swingpants 20 films
![Seth Montpelier](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/1/7/8/7/4/0/5/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=c751f1ca26)
Seth Montpelier 10 films
![VV](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/6/8/9/3/7/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=aa41a0b62e)
VV 11 films
![Angelo Cordeiro](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/3/6/8/2/6/5/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=27fb3292e7)
Angelo Cordeiro 10 films
![Blaze the Action Junkie](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/288acb9839f40584d7e2e9b083c1a7ee?rating=PG&size=32&border=&default=https%3A%2F%2Fs.ltrbxd.com%2Fstatic%2Fimg%2Favatar32.09445e73.png)
Blaze the Action Junkie 10 films
![Adam William](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/2/8/8/8/4/9/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=3893e83635)
Adam William 10 films
![Jason Szabo](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/7/0/7/1/1/4/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=eb88da6612)
Jason Szabo 4 films
![kjkirk](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/twitter/1/8/7/1/4/8/9/shard/http___pbs.twimg.com_profile_images_1227459171664134144_ZXTsNbnT-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=c7df894762)
kjkirk 10 films
![Logan Austin](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/2/2/7/5/9/5/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=3c1e751c97)
Logan Austin 10 films
![Sam Cogdon](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/1/1/6/6/9/5/5/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=1dd134749f)
Sam Cogdon 13 films
![Erkki Lindpere](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/983a1933160b289c4debbf3cd7820563?rating=PG&size=32&border=&default=https%3A%2F%2Fs.ltrbxd.com%2Fstatic%2Fimg%2Favatar32.09445e73.png)
Erkki Lindpere 10 films
![Filmique](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/twitter/2/3/1/1/3/8/4/shard/blob-0-32-0-32-crop.png?v=cf630b7051)
Filmique 10 films
![Jamie N.](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/twitter/4/5/7/7/7/0/shard/http___pbs.twimg.com_profile_images_986411002768969728___R5q77D-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=946671ff96)
Jamie N. 10 films
![elena](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/3/5/5/2/4/2/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=534c508568)
elena 34 films
![Jankin](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/3/4/9/7/6/6/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=d6ce50ee37)
Jankin 10 films
![kierstonwoodley](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/9a09ace4651abc525e4ec0dd274cbe46?rating=PG&size=32&border=&default=https%3A%2F%2Fs.ltrbxd.com%2Fstatic%2Fimg%2Favatar32.09445e73.png)
kierstonwoodley 12 films
![John Hensler](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/twitter/2/4/3/8/6/2/shard/http___pbs.twimg.com_profile_images_796221676098846721_w49zYWvg-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=970a842c7f)
John Hensler 9 films
![Andrew Swafford](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/1/2/3/1/1/9/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=b9f6d0a390)
Andrew Swafford 50 films
![Audrey Fridley](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/4/8/1/0/0/9/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=d32526efe8)
Audrey Fridley 13 films
![Evan Bylund](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/4/1/9/4/2/3/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=0bf3fca7d6)
Evan Bylund 10 films
![Zheddy](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/667c634138ebe836e53c38617884481b?rating=PG&size=32&border=&default=https%3A%2F%2Fs.ltrbxd.com%2Fstatic%2Fimg%2Favatar32.09445e73.png)
Zheddy 10 films
![Brian Bell](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/5/6/0/4/1/0/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=0e0cba657b)
Brian Bell 10 films
![Drew](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/upload/1/1/4/3/2/0/4/shard/avtr-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=b9a62bceea)
Drew 2 films
![Justin Joseph Hall](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/avatar/twitter/5/4/8/7/8/8/shard/http___pbs.twimg.com_profile_images_913826870218563584_Jr0DG487-0-32-0-32-crop.jpg?v=0c74fb2d5d)
Justin Joseph Hall 30 films