CPH:DOX 2026 - Nova '78

Everyone was there. And if you weren't, you finally have the chance to sit in the front row as all the iconic artists of the New York avant-garde gathered with William S. Burroughs at the center. ‘Nova ’78' rewinds the reel all the way back to New York's East Village in 1978, where the legendary three-day Nova Convention was held. An event that took its cue from Burroughs' revolutionary ideas and let the most iconic artists of the time interpret them in their medium of choice.

‘Nova '78’ brings the legendary event to life through never-before-seen and newly restored 16mm reels from three intense days. Here, Burroughs is celebrated by the most uncompromising voices of the time - Patti Smith, Allen Ginsberg, John Cage, Philip Glass, Laurie Anderson, and the rest of the gang - in an electric mix of readings, concerts, and performances. A deep dive into the counterculture of the 1970s. A sensory journey through time to the heyday of the underground. And a film that captures the raw energy of the late avant-garde in its purest form. Only Burroughs' frown betrays a quiet skepticism as if he were already light years ahead of everyone else.