Discovering the World of Film

When we started Milestone in 1990, we dedicated ourselves to discovering and distributing films of enduring artistry from both yesterday and today - films that we loved and wanted to share. Our collection now ranges from the earliest days of the cinema, to the golden age of the silents, to the postwar foreign film renaissance, to brand-new American independent features, documentaries and foreign films.

Some of the films that we have had the privilege of distributing are by such masters of cinema as Alfred Hitchcock, Hiroshi Teshigahara, Luchino Visconti, Pier Paolo Pasolini, F.W. Murnau, Orson Welles, and Luis Bunuel. Others are the work of some of the best directors working today, including Takeshi Kitano, Jane Campion, Hirokazu Kore-eda, Alan Berliner and Philip Haas.

We take pride in presenting these great films in the best versions possible. Because we have a background in restoration and preservation, we treat films old and new with the same meticulous care. Our 35mm prints always come from the best source materials and our video masters are painstakingly created at the best film-to-tape studios in the country. Our subtitles are carefully translated by native speakers and are proofread again and again (and again)- often with the cooperation of the filmmakers themselves.

Please let us know what you think about this website, our catalog and any other films you think we should be releasing - we welcome your calls, e-mail and letters - your opinions matter a lot. In turn, we offer to help you whenever we can - whether you are searching for a "lost" film, looking for a more detailed description of a Milestone title, or just want to ask an obscure cinema question.

And don't hesitate to get in touch with us if you don't consider yourself a hardcore film enthusiast (or even if you do!). If you haven't yet seen a lot of classics or foreign films or documentaries, that only means that you have many great delights and discoveries in store. Enjoy! And if we can help you launch that voyage of cinema discovery, we would be delighted!

Cinema is one of the 20th century's great art forms, and we believe that great art has the power to transform and illuminate lives. Films have profoundly moved us, taught us about human nature, introduced us to other cultures and fundamentally changed the way we see the world. We hope that Milestone's titles will open your eyes, your hearts and your minds.

- Dennis Doros & Amy Heller, Co-founders