Zeitgeist Films

by MovieMaker Staff | Published January 16, 2007

Zeitgeist, as defined by the Websterâ€™s College Dictionary, is â€œthe spirit of the time.â€ That is to say, those trends and opinions which characterize a particular culture in any given period. With this all-encompassing word as their moniker and mission statement, Nancy Gerstman and Emily Russo, co-founders and presidents of Zeitgeist Films, have made a point of capturing this spirit by distributing some of the best foreign and independent cinema of the last 20 years.

Founded in 1988, Zeitgeist has always focused on cultivating what they call the â€œauteur-driven film,â€ selecting works that might be overlooked or avoided by other companies. From Todd Haynesâ€™ Sundance award-winner Poison to the theatrical reissue of Jacques Demyâ€™s The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, Zeitgeist swiftly made a name for itself as a company with discriminatingâ€”and impeccableâ€”tastes.

Over the years, says Russo, â€œWe’ve maintained our mission by continuing to acquire and release auteur-driven and challenging foreign films and documentaries, which reflect the world we live in today.â€

Next up, Zeitgeist is set to release several exciting new films, including the three-hour acclaimed monastic epic, Into Great Silence by Phillip Groening, as well as Jennifer Baichwalâ€™s multiple award-winning Manufactured Landscapes, which explores the photography of artist Edward Burtynsky.

For more information on Zeitgeist and its upcoming projects, visit www.zeitgeistfilms.com.

Sound Off: Zeitgeist Films has devoted itself to exhibiting those films it feels capture â€œthe spirit of the times.â€ What recent films do you feel have captured the zeitgeist of the 21^st century? Talk back in the comments section!