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Project Detail

NOVA '78

Frank Zappa reads at The Nova Convention in New York City

Synopsis

NOVA '78 resurrects the legendary Nova Convention, the groundbreaking three-day gathering held in New York in 1978 to celebrate William S. Burroughs and the artistic revolution he inspired. Built from newly restored, previously unseen 16mm footage shot by Howard Brookner, the film captures extraordinary performances and intimate backstage moments featuring Patti Smith, Frank Zappa, Laurie Anderson, Allen Ginsberg, Philip Glass, John Cage, Merce Cunningham and many other defining voices of the era. More than a concert film or historical record, NOVA '78 is an immersive time capsule of a fleeting moment when literature, music, art and radical ideas collided to reshape contemporary culture.
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Details

Year
2025
Type of project
Features
Running time
78 min
Format
16mm
Director
Aaron Brookner, Rodrigo Areias
Producer
Paula Vaccaro
Co-Producer
Rodrigo Areias
Editor
Aaron Brookner, Tomas Baltasar
Screenwriter
Aaron Brookner
Director of Photography
Howard Brookner
Production Designer
N/A
Sound
Jim Jarmusch
Composer
Paulo Furtado (The legendary Tigerman)
Principal cast
William S Burroughs, Patti Smith, Laurie Anderson, Philip Glass, Allen Ginsberg, Frank Zappa

Genre

Music

Categories

Documentary

Production Status

Complete

Production Company

Pinball London Ltd

Paula Vaccaro
6th Floor Manfield House, 1 Southampton Street, London, England, WC2R 0LR

Sales Company

Pinball London Ltd

Paula Vaccaro
6th Floor Manfield House, 1 Southampton Street, London, England, WC2R 0LR

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See also

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Nova '78 Nova '78

Director: Aaron Brookner, Rodrigo Areias

Year: 2025

A time capsule from the underground. NOVA 78 resurrects the electrifying Nova Convention of 1978 featuring never-before-seen footage of William Burroughs, Frank Zappa, Patti Smith and other icons restored over a decade in the UK and reimagined as a cinematic event for today’s audiences. Official Selection Locarno Film Festival 2025 - World premiere

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