Criterion channel launches films exploring Black roots of electronic music

The Criterion Channel, a film streaming service, has partnered with the New York festival dweller to highlight a curated collection of films that pay homage to the Black origins of electronic music.

This selection, available for streaming on The Criterion Channel throughout February, includes 13 films chosen by dweller. Among them is the 1996 documentary The Last Angel Of History, which delves into the inception and importance of Afrofuturism in various artistic disciplines.

Another notable film is Maestro from 2003, which explores the origins of house music through the contributions of Black figures like Larry Levan and Frankie Knuckles, while Exhibitionist from 2004 presents a live turntable-based mix by Jeff Mills.

The selection also features Bring Down The Walls (2020), which frames the US prison industrial complex in the context of house music and nightlife.

13 FILMS PRESENTED BY @dwellerforever 🎶💙

The Dweller festival celebrates the Black roots of electronic dance music, spotlighting musicians, producers, and DJs who created the sound that spread to clubs across the world and amplifying the artists who carry on their legacy. pic.twitter.com/judwY9V9bz

— Criterion Channel (@criterionchannl) January 11, 2024

Access to these films is available through a subscription with The Criterion Channel starting in February and throughout the month.

Furthermore, dweller has released early tickets for its series of February events, celebrating its fifth year. The festival focuses on electronic music’s Black roots and showcases both local underground scenes and artists from diverse backgrounds.

For our fifth year we’d like to bring in another way to encourage adventure and spontaneity, so we’re doing a limited release of cheaper tickets on some of our events before we unveil our lineup. Read closely to get a sense of what we have in store.

The festival’s lineup will be announced soon.