'AGFA' continues to thrive after preserving, protecting, and promoting the greatest genre films for 15 years.

"Satan War" screens at Fantastic Fest courtesy of AGFA

For those attending or following Fantastic Fest (FF), one of the highlights is the AGFA selections. Now in its 19th year, FF is proud to showcase another stellar lineup as AGFA celebrates 15 years! AGFA, the world’s largest archive dedicated to genre films, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit formed in 2009, committed to preserving the legacy of genre cinema. Through archival work, home video releases (distributed by OCN/Vinegar Syndrome), and theatrical distribution, AGFA continues to champion genre films.

This year at FF, we’re treated to three incredible titles: Ray Dennis Steckler’s "The Incredibly Strange Creatures Who Became Mixed-Up Zombies" (restored by Severin Films), "Carnival of Blood", and "Satan War", which will be released on home video by AGFA in January 2025. Additionally, AGFA will present a rare 35mm print of Johnnie To’s "The Mission".

We’re also working on an interview with AGFA’s first Executive Director, Jackson Cooper, to dive into the organization's 15th anniversary. Stay tuned for more updates!

The American Genre Film Archive (“AGFA”) is celebrating its 15th Anniversary of preserving, protecting, and promoting the greatest genre films of all time this year. AGFA is the world’s largest archive dedicated to genre movies and filmmakers, and one of the only known 501(c)(3) non-profit genre film distributors. Formed in 2009, AGFA is committed to preserving the legacy of genre films through our archival work, sharing these movies through our home video label distributed by OCN/Vinegar Syndrome, and promoting the power of genre through our theatrical distribution arm which includes theatrical titles of restorations by Arrow Video, Severin, Shout Factory, and the film libraries of Something Weird Video and Film Masters. AGFA’s archives house over six thousand 35mm film prints, a 4K scanner, and prestigious libraries such as the Something Weird archive. The Anniversary year has been marked by new restorations of films such as Amanda and the Alien, Santa Claus Conquers The Martians, an uncut version of the lost exploitation film Love Goddesses of Blood Island (restored from original film negatives courtesy of the Library of Congress and Harvard Film Archive), AGFA-produced found footage mixtapes including The Cult of AGFA Trailer Show (coming soon in October 2024) and Hey Folks! It’s an Intermission Time Video Party. In February 2024, AGFA hired its first Executive Director, seasoned nonprofit and film executive Jackson Cooper to head this transformative next chapter.

“AGFA has always been a leader in preserving and promoting the power of outsider art and the importance of genre cinema to film history,” says Executive Director Jackson Cooper. “AGFA’s work carves out new chapters of film history and elevates the voices of artists who have long been underseen and forgotten, preserving their vision and telling their stories to inspire new generations of filmgoers and, hopefully, filmmakers. AGFA believes in the power that genre film has to unite audiences and artists in discovering their inner weirdo and celebrating artistic freedom.”

Since its inception, AGFA has rescued over one-hundred features from the void, including the works of exploitation pioneer Doris Wishman, underground trash-art king Jon Moritsugu, Riot Grrrl icon Sarah Jacobson, and found-footage founder Joe Dante. AGFA prioritizes the work of underrepresented filmmakers (BIPOC, LGBTQ+, Asian, feminist), carving out a new film history of underrepresented filmmakers using genre film as an expression of artistic freedom and liberation.

At Fantastic Fest this year, AGFA will present three restorations from the AGFA archives including Ray Dennis Steckler’s The Incredibly Strange Creatures Who Became Mixed Up Zombies (restoration courtesy of Severin Films), Carnival of Blood, and Satan War which will be released by AGFA on Home Video in January 2025. AGFA will also present a rare 35mm print of Johnnie To’s The Mission from an archival print.

In December 2024, AGFA will present a new 4K DCP of Bob Clark’s Black Christmas in theaters across the country in honor of the film’s 50th Anniversary.

For more information visit

https://www.americangenrefilm.com/