Spotlight
Wondering which films to watch? Spotlight presents thematically grouped, must see films, hand-picked by Fandor's curators.
The Battle of San Pietro
Daughters of the Dust
Intolerance
The Black Pirate
Princess Nicotine
Sherman's March
Meshes of the Afternoon
Dead Birds
Sherlock Jr.
The Great Train Robbery
The Lost World
Spotlight on the National Film Registry
After festivals, ad campaigns, and awards, which movies matter? Due to fire, decay, or simple oblivion, films are continually lost. Established as part of the U.S. Library of Congress in 1988, the National Film Registry annually selects up to 25 works as “culturally, historically or aesthetically significant,” earmarking them for preservation. Selections must be over a decade old, and reflect America "as a people and as a nation." These are films that matter not just for today, but for the future.
Selected Films
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Dickson Experimental Sound Film
This short film is the world's first known experiment in producing a motion picture with a recorded synchronized soundtrack. Although the kinetophone combined recorded sound with moving pictures, even approximate synchronization was elusive. Still, William K.L. Dickson and his...Watch Movie
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The Great Train Robbery
More than a crucial historical artifact, THE GREAT TRAIN ROBBERY reveals the foundation from which the styles and stories of the contemporary cinema would later arise. Known for using such innovative filming techniques such as double exposure, cross-cutting and camera...Watch Movie
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The Cry of the Children
THE CRY OF THE CHILDREN is the most famous and best documented of all Thanhouser films. In its day it was recognized as one of the most important expressions of the pre-World War One reform movement, in particular child labor. Perhaps because the uncompromising content drew...Watch Movie
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Sherman's March
When First Run Features released Ross McElwee’s Sundance Award-winning SHERMAN'S MARCH in 1986, it went on to become one of the largest grossing documentaries ever. After his girlfriend leaves him, McElwee takes a voyage along the original route followed by General William Sherman, but rather...Watch Movie
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Meshes of the Afternoon
One of the most important films in the history of American avant-garde cinema, Maya Deren's MESHES OF THE AFTERNOON is captivating and dream-like, filled with tinges of psychodrama, murder mystery, and film noir. In a seemingly ordinary Los Angeles home, the film's...Watch Movie
