09/08/2025
How long does it take to make a documentary film?
Shot in 1978, Nova '78 was completed in 2025. The film is built from never-before-seen footage of the legendary Nova Convention and has finally been seen by an audience today for its world premiere at the Locarno Film Festival.
Directed by Aaron Brookner (Uncle Howard) and Rodrigo Areias (The Worst Man in London), it draws from the personal archive of the late Howard Brookner featuring original cinematography by Brookner and Tom DiCillo with direct sound recorded by Jim Jarmusch.
The Nova Convention was held in New York in December 1978 as a landmark celebration of William S. Burroughs’ return to the US after more than two decades living in Latin America, North Africa, Paris, and London. The event brought together a remarkable constellation of writers, musicians and artists including Patti Smith, Frank Zappa, Laurie Anderson, Timothy Leary, Philip Glass, Allen Ginsberg, Merce Cunningham, John Cage, John Giorno, Brion Gysin, Terry Southern and many others in a multi-disciplinary exploration of literature, politics, music and performance.
Almost 50 years later, the long-lost 16mm footage recovered and restored by Aaron Brookner and Pinball London Ltd for over a decade, resonates with renewed urgency, capturing backstage moments, candid exchanges and fierce political debate on subjects ranging from the Iran crisis to Proposition 6, described at the time as a prelude to repressive action targeting gay and le***an teachers. Far from being a retrospective, I think Nova '78 is a radical cinematic time-capsule that bridges Beat literature and the post-punk generation. Special mention to the original score by The Legendary Tigerman.
Stay tuned to watch it at festival/cinema and platform near you in the coming months. A Pinball London Ltd production with Portugal's Bando a parte.
