Inspired by a simple yet persistent question familiar to any and everyone within the community "Link?" Chute Open presents a monthly curated selection of films sourced from open archives. In a playful reflection of a deeper-rooted issue, where, due to lack of easy accessibility many experimental works are labeled as "rare" or "hidden gems", his program aims to challenge this notion of scarcity.

 

This perceived rarity of experimental works has grown with the recent rise in popularity of social film networks and databases, as they've transformed how films are shared and discussed, exposing the struggle of its users in finding certain films and, in turn, reinforcing the idea that these works are rare. In reality, the scarcity of experimental cinema stems from artists within our field being offered limited to no distribution, as well as systemicly placed, industry driven limits to their work's accessibility. Chute Open seeks to address these barriers of access and availability that often define the distribution and exhibition of experimental cinema by highlighting the abundance of films that are stored in open archives. Shifting the focal point of the conversation on the abundance of available films that can be seen, rather than what can not be. Chute Open serves as a testament to the richness and importance of the archive, it aims to showcase how it serves as an invaluable, easily accessible resource, providing a space for experimental films that might otherwise remain hidden.