Kier-La Janisse Moves Her Spectacular Optical Label Into Distribution Spectacular Optical, the indie publishing imprint of Canadian genre veteran Kier-La Janisse, has expanded its remit to include distribution.

SPECTACULAR OPTICAL LAUNCHES FILM DISTRIBUTION BRANCH - First Slate of Titles Includes new restorations of Waris Hussein’s MELODY (1971), Bert Deling’s PURE SHIT (1975) and Andrew Horn’s DOOMED LOVE (1984), plus BAFTA Award Winning Documentarian Christopher Morris’ A YEAR IN A FIELD (2023) and more

Secret Museums: The Films of Arthur Lipsett - Paperback Book By Stephen Broomer Arthur Lipsett’s first film was nominated for an Academy Award in 1962, marking the arrival of an influential new voice. The film’s dark humour and dancing rhythms had captured the

Happy to see @stephenbroomer.bsky.social's critical biography of the great Canadian experimental filmmaker Arthur Lipsett finally available at an affordable price:
vinegarsyndrome.com/collections/...

A PLACE TO STAND: Authorship and Activism in YOU ARE ON INDIAN LAND Spectacular Optical Media is a Canadian small-press publisher of film and pop culture books and independent film producer/distributor.

Now live on spectacularoptical.com - The newest episode of @stephenbroomer.bsky.social's NORTHERN LIGHT video essay series on Canadian classics, hits and misfits, this time focused on Mike Kanentakeron Mitchell's YOU ARE ON INDIAN LAND (1969). spectacularoptical.com/video-essays...

Image of small plane plummeting toward the ground against a blue sky with the text "FALLING FROM THE SKY: ACCIDENT AS TESTIMONIAL DOCUMENTARY"

Now live on spectacularoptical.com - the latest instalment of @stephenbroomer.bsky.social 's video essay series on Canadian classics, hits and misfits, NORTHERN LIGHT - this time focused on Martin Duckworth and Pat Crawley’s ACCIDENT (1973).

Next month on @stephenbroomer.bsky.social 's video essay series NORTHERN LIGHT: FALLING FROM THE SKY: ACCIDENT (1973) AS TESTIMONAL DOCUMENTARY - see it February 1 at spectacularoptical.com

Screening last night in CMPF207 - my studio course in collage filmmaking. 1. A La Mode (Stan Vanderbeek, 1961). 2. Very Nice, Very Nice (Arthur Lipsett, 1961). 3. Aleph (Wallace Berman, 1958-1976). 4. Odds and Ends (Jane Conger Belson, 1959).

A special short film gets some love from @stephenbroomer.bsky.social in this month's NORTHERN LIGHT. I think I first saw it projected onto a wall on Winnipeg's Main Street, where it is set.

WAR AT HOME: MAINSTREET SOLDIER AS ANTI-EPIC Spectacular Optical Media is a Canadian small-press publisher of film and pop culture books and independent film producer/distributor.

New episode of @stephenbroomer.bsky.social 's NORTHERN LIGHT went live on Spectacular Optical today! This month the spotlight is on Leonard Yakir's 1972 Winnipeg documentary MAINSTREET SOLDIER: spectacularoptical.com/video-essays...

Next on @stephenbroomer.bsky.social 's Northern Light: WAR AT HOME: MAINSTREET SOLDIER AS ANTI-EPIC: "Broomer situates Leonard Yakir’s celebrated short film in the context of CanLit’s disillusioned anti-heroes, and the tensions of performance in cinema verité." Jan 1 @ spectacularoptical.com

Never sleep on a Derek Jenkins screening. He and Eugenia Zuroski have made my favourite film of 2025!

THE TRAGEDY OF THE VIKING
The new video essay in @stephenbroomer.bsky.social 's monthly series NORTHERN LIGHT focused on Canadian classics, hits and misfits. Now live at spectacularoptical.com

THE TRAGEDY OF THE VIKING Spectacular Optical Media is a Canadian small-press publisher of film and pop culture books and independent film producer/distributor.

NEW episode of @stephenbroomer.bsky.social 's video essay series NORTHERN LIGHT is up! This one exploring the tragic tale of George Melford and Lewis Varick Frissell’s The Viking (1931)
spectacularoptical.com/video-essays...

One of the things I'm proudest of is this restoration and its presentation on this disc: a video essay, a speculative reconstruction of a lost film, an audio commentary, and a bonus 'sequel' film. I'm so glad I've been able to share this genuinely original and imaginative film.

Thanks for coming, Justin!

NEW on Spectacular Optical: NORTHERN LIGHT - a monthly video essay series on the classics, hits and misfits of Canadian cinema hosted by @blackzerodisc.bsky.social 's Stephen Broomer. First episode "The Invasion Will Be Televised" now online at spectacularoptical.com/video-essays...

TRUTH & SOUL Spectacular Optical Media is a Canadian small-press publisher of film and pop culture books and independent film producer/distributor.

TRUTH & SOUL: A ROBERT DOWNEY SR. READER now available. 23 essays, 332 pages, full colour! spectacularoptical.com/product/trut...

'In the Dark' (2000): Temptation and the Willing Victim - Split Tooth Media A film about coercion that is itself coercive, 'In the Dark' draws on cultural anxieties as a woman accepts a challenge from a Master of Games

A film about coercion that is itself coercive, 'In the Dark' (2000) draws on imminent cultural anxieties as a young woman accepts a challenge from an unknown Master of Games. Read the latest October Horror piece from @stephenbroomer.bsky.social!

The Way Things Go is a work of absolute machined precision. Check out our video essay about it. Below is an excerpt!

At Black Zero, we rely on Canada Post for all of our shipping needs. As of September 25, 2025, Canada Post has gone on strike. As a result, we must pause all shipments until their operations resume.

We apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for your patience and support.

Next Thursday, September 11, at Innis Town Hall, as part of the ongoing Ad Hoc programming - our new restoration of Larry Kardish's Slow Run! With the filmmaker in person. Don't miss this hidden gem of the New York Underground. Discs will be for sale at the launch.

If you are in the U.S. and want some Black Zero discs, order them by Wednesday 5PM! I am not at all sure how long we will be pausing but it might be for a while.

Hard at work on my newest series, Northern Light, on Canadian cinema. It’ll be my most traditional and straightforward series yet - but by these standards, that means, get ready for near-death experiences, docudramas about nude cults, and Lacanian interpretations of hoser/loser masterpieces.

The Invasion Will Be Televised: Countdown Canada as Anticipatory Docudrama YouTube video by artandtrash

ESSENTIAL VIEWING: Filmmaker and @blackzerodisc.bsky.social founder @stephenbroomer.bsky.social just posted a very timely and disturbing video essay for Canada Day on Rob Fothergill's 1970 film COUNTDOWN CANADA: youtu.be/57oCoeb9mYw

Secret Museums: The Films of Arthur Lipsett Arthur Lipsett’s first film was nominated for an Academy Award in 1962, marking the arrival of an influential new voice. The film’s dark humour and dancing rhythms had captured the spirit of his times...

Out this June: "Secret Museums: The Films of Arthur Lipsett", by @stephenbroomer.bsky.social . Pub. Wilfrid Laurier University Press expcinema.org/site/en/book...

Fragile Systems: The Media Hybrids of Christine Lucy Latimer YouTube video by artandtrash

A video essay on the films and videos of contemporary Canadian experimental media artist Christine Lucy Latimer.

Keith Lock’s Everything Everywhere Again Alive. Available now on Blu-Ray Disc from Black Zero! #canadiancinema #canadianfilm #experimentalfilm #cinema #environmental #physicalmedia

Join us next Thursday, April 3rd at 8pm for AD HOC #73. Lulu Faustine with filmmaker @stephenbroomer.bsky.social. Free and open to all!

Great to see you, Will! Thanks for coming!

Tonight’s Stan Brakhage screening is a sellout! The people love Stan Brakhage!!!