Kenneth Anger’s LUCIFER RISING : The Occult Saga of a Cursed Film — A Presentation & Screening by Brian Butler

Back by overwhelming demand after the sold-out April 11th event, this evening returns to one of the most mythic works in underground cinema: Kenneth Anger’s LUCIFER RISING (1980). Few films carry its mystique, controversy, and supernatural aura. Marked by betrayal, imprisonment, stolen footage, and an ever-shifting cast—including Mick Jagger, Marianne Faithfull, Jimmy Page, and Bobby Beausoleil—the film’s creation unfolded like a ritual in itself, steeped in magick, myth, and chaos.

Filmmaker, artist, and occultist Brian Butler, official representative of the Estate of Kenneth Anger, presents an exclusive deep dive into the mystical, cinematic, and personal odyssey behind Lucifer Rising. As Kenneth Anger’s longtime manager and collaborator, Butler worked with him for over twenty years — touring internationally, producing films, and preserving hidden fragments of his legacy. Featuring rare archival materials, filmed interviews, and firsthand accounts, the evening offers an unprecedented window into the film’s tumultuous yet legendary creation.

Part screening, part ritual transmission, the night culminates in a rare theatrical screening of Lucifer Rising — a chance to step inside its timeless spell, as it was meant to be seen on the big screen, in all its hypnotic and ritualistic power. We will be showing a rare 16mm reversal print of Lucifer Rising from the Kenneth Anger Archive.

Co-presented by the Estate of Kenneth Anger Photo credit © Estate of Kenneth Anger

Dir. Kenneth Anger, 1980, 30 mins, United States, Unrated (Adult Audiences), Color, 16mm.