Zeitgeist Films is a New York-based distribution company founded in 1988 which acquires and distributes films from the U.S. and around the world. In 2017, Zeitgeist entered into a multi-year strategic alliance with film distributor Kino Lorber.
Zeitgeist has distributed early films by directors such as Todd Haynes, Christopher Nolan, Francois Ozon, Laura Poitras, Atom Egoyan, and the Quay Brothers. Their catalog also includes filmmakers such as Marguerite von Trotta, Ken Loach, Guy Maddin, Derek Jarman, Nuri Bilge Ceylan, Peter Greenaway, Yvonne Rainer, Andrei Zyvagintsev, Astra Taylor, and Raoul Peck. Previous Zeitgeist Films releases in association with Kino Lorber include Ken Loach's Sorry We Missed You, Ric Burns’ Oliver Sacks: His Own Life, and M.C. Escher: Journey to Infinity.
Five Zeitgeist films have been nominated for Academy Awards, of which Nowhere in Africa (2001) won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. Their films have been featured in various film festivals including Cannes, Berlin, Sundance, Tribeca, and IDFA in Amsterdam. The Museum of Modern Art honored Zeitgeist with a month-long, 20th anniversary retrospective of their films in 2008. Founders Russo and Gerstman received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Art House Convergence in 2020.
Selected films YearTitleNotesRef1991PoisonSundance Grand Jury Prize, directed by Todd Haynes1992CarefulDirected by Guy Maddin1993BlueFinal feature film of director Derek JarmanManufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the MediaFeaturing Noam Chomsky1997See the Sea2002DerridaSan Francisco Film Festival Golden Gate AwardNowhere in AfricaAcademy Award for Best Foreign Language Film2004The Corporation2005Ballets RussesSophie Scholl – The Final DaysAcademy Award for Best Foreign Language Film nominee2006Into Great SilenceSundance Film Festival Special Jury PrizeManufactured LandscapesMy Country, My CountryDocumentary about Iraq under U.S. occupation by Laura Poitras2007Billy the KidWinner South by Southwest Jury PrizeChris & Don: A Love StoryJellyfishCamera d'Or2008Examined LifeDirected by Astra Taylor, featuring Cornel WestFadosHarlan – In the Shadow of Jew SüssLouise Bourgeois: The Spider, the Mistress and the TangerineStranded: I've Come from a Plane that Crashed in the MountainsThree MonkeysTurkey's Academy Award submission for Best Foreign Language Film, directed by Nuri Bilge Ceylan, Best Director Award Cannes Film Festival 2008Trouble the WaterAcademy Award for Documentary Feature nomineeTulpanKazakhstan's Academy Award submission for Best Foreign Language FilmUp the Yangtze2008 Best Feature Documentary San Francisco International Film Festival, 2009 Canadian Oscar Genie Award for Best Documentary, and 2008 Asian Oscar Golden Horse Film Festival and Awards for Best Documentary2009Act of GodHot Docs Opening Night GalaAfghan StarSundance Film Festival People's Choice Award (the World Cinema Audience Award for a Documentary) and Best Director for a Documentary (the World Cinema Directing Award)A Town Called PanicCannes Film Festival Official Selection, Fantastic Festival Audience AwardEarth DaysSundance Film Festival Closing Night FilmThe Horse BoyWinner South by Southwest Audience AwardThe Sun Behind the CloudsWinner Palm Springs International Film Festival Best of the Fest award2010Last Train HomeSundance Film Festival Official SelectionMid-August LunchVenice Film Festival Best First Film, Best Italian Film Award. London Film Festival Satyajit Ray AwardThe OathSundance Film Festival Best Cinematography Award: US Documentary, Berlin International Film Festival Official SelectionVisionToronto International Film Festival Official Selection2011Bill Cunningham New YorkNew Directors/New Films Festival Official Selection, Sydney Film Festival Best Documentary FilmPaul Goodman Changed My LifeOctober 19, 2011 U.S. theatrical release dateQueen to PlayTribeca Film Festival Official Selection, Palm Springs International Film Festival Special Mention for John Schlesinger Award for Outstanding First FeatureSomething VenturedPremiered April 24, 2011 at the San Francisco International Film FestivalThe Tree2010 Cannes Film Festival Closing Night Film, Premiered at the 2010 Sydney Film Festival!Women Art RevolutionToronto International Film Festival Official Selection, Sundance Film Festival Official Selection, Berlin International Film Festival Official Selection2012China HeavyweightJanuary 20, 2012 premiere at Sundance Film FestivalElenaMay 16, 2012 U.S. theatrical release dateGregory Crewdson: Brief EncountersOctober 31, 2012 U.S. theatrical release dateKochOctober 8, 2012 premiere at Hamptons International Film Festival, U.S. release in February 2013Let My People Go!January 11, 2013 U.S. theatrical release datePaybackJanuary 20, 2012 premiere at Sundance Film Festival, U.S. release in April 2012The Salt of LifeMarch 2, 2012 U.S. theatrical release dateUprisingDecember 2012 U.S. premiere and Golden Eagle winner at CINE competition2013Hannah ArendtMay 29, 2013 U.S. theatrical release dateLet the Fire BurnOctober 2013 U.S. theatrical release dateOne Track Heart: The Story of Krishna DasMay 8, 2013 U.S. theatrical release dateThe Pervert's Guide to IdeologyNovember 2013 U.S. theatrical release date2014Child's PoseFebruary 2014 U.S. theatrical release dateDiplomacyOctober 2014 U.S. theatrical release dateThe Galapagos AffairApril 2014 U.S. theatrical release dateRocks in My PocketsSeptember 2014 U.S. theatrical release dateSiddharthJune 2014 U.S. theatrical release dateZero MotivationDecember 2014 U.S. theatrical release date2015CourtJuly 2015 U.S. theatrical release dateEvery Last ChildJune 2015 U.S. theatrical release dateForbidden FilmsMay 2015 U.S. theatrical release dateMy Friend VictoriaDecember 2015 U.S. theatrical release date2016A Space ProgramMarch 2016 U.S. theatrical release dateCall Her ApplebroogJune 2016 U.S. theatrical release dateDon't Call Me SonNovember 2016 U.S. theatrical release dateEva HesseApril 2016 U.S. theatrical release dateInnsaeiOctober 2016 U.S. theatrical release dateOld StoneNovember 2016 U.S. theatrical release dateVita Activa: The Spirit of Hannah ArendtApril 2016 U.S. theatrical release date2017BombshellNovember 2017 U.S. theatrical release date—Acquired in Partnership with Kino LorberThe Divine OrderOctober 2017 U.S. theatrical release date—Acquired in Partnership with Kino LorberHarold and Lillian: A Hollywood Love StoryApril 2017 U.S. theatrical release date2018Love, CecilJune 2018 U.S. theatrical release date—Acquired in Partnership with Kino LorberStudio 54October 2018 U.S. theatrical release date—Acquired in Partnership with Kino LorberThe Doctor from IndiaJune 2018 U.S. theatrical release date—Acquired in Partnership with Kino Lorber2019The Garden (re-release)May 2019 U.S. theatrical release date—Acquired in Partnership with Kino LorberRecorder: The Marion Stokes ProjectNovember 2019 U.S. theatrical release date—Acquired in Partnership with Kino LorberWhat Is Democracy?January 2019 U.S. theatrical release date—Acquired in Partnership with Kino LorberWorking WomanMarch 2019 U.S. theatrical release date—Acquired in Partnership with Kino LorberZen for NothingJune 2019 U.S. theatrical release date—Acquired in Partnership with Kino Lorber2020Beyond the Visible -- Hilma af KlintApril 2020 U.S. theatrical release date—Acquired in Partnership with Kino LorberMy Wonderful WandaApril 2020 U.S. theatrical release date—Acquired in Partnership with Kino LorberSorry We Missed YouMarch 2020 U.S. theatrical release date—Acquired in Partnership with Kino LorberThe Woman Who Loves GiraffesJanuary 2020 U.S. theatrical release date—Acquired in Partnership with Kino Lorber2021Against the CurrentJune 2021 U.S. theatrical release date—Acquired in Partnership with Kino LorberHiveNovember 2021 U.S. theatrical release date—Acquired in Partnership with Kino LorberIn Balanchine's ClassroomSeptember 2021 U.S. theatrical release date—Acquired in Partnership with Kino Lorber2023The Old OakPremiered at Cannes Film Festival on May 26, 2023 (Main Competition); April 2024 U.S. theatrical release date—Acquired in Partnership with Kino Lorber
Awards Trouble the Water – 2008 Academy Award Nominee for Best Documentary Feature Tulpan – Kazakhstan's 2009 Academy Award submission for Best Foreign Language Film Three Monkeys – Turkey's 2009 Academy Award submission for Best Foreign Language Film Into Great Silence – 2006 Sundance Special Jury Prize Nowhere in Africa – 2002 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film Sophie Scholl – The Final Days – 2005 Academy Award nominee for Best Foreign Language Film Taste of Cherry – 1997 Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival Poison – 1991 Sundance Grand Jury Prize winner The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1996 re-release) – Academy Award nominee, Palme d'Or winner (1964)
References
External links Official website Zeitgeist Films at IMDb