Experimental film is a polarizing genre. Some love its abandonment of traditional story-telling components like linear narrative and character.

Others would rather have their teeth drilled than sit through an avant-garde flick.

But love it or hate it, it's an artform with serious Bay Area roots. Gregory Zinman, an adjunct Professor at New York University, would like to make it easier for you to love it.

Zinman is trying to help people appreciate a segment of experimental film that he's calling "Handmade Cinema", and has set up a great new website to promote it. The site features biographies of important practicioners of Handmade Cinema, explorations of important themes, an interactive timeline and—most importanly—lots of examples of the work, including numerous luminaries from the Bay Area. Everyone from the legendary Stan Brakhage to more recent artists like the collective Silt make an appearance.

"I knew that relatively few people were going to read my overly-long thesis," Zinman explained, "But I also knew that a lot of the work I was writing about was strange and beautiful, and would appeal to a wider audience of cinephiles and art-lovers."

Asked for his favorite Bay Area artist on the site, Zinman responded "Tough one, but I might have to nominate Jordan Belson. His ability to transmit his mind to film is unparalleled. I recently reflected on his passing for the Brooklyn Rail."

Along with the background information and the numerous wonderful films, the Handmade Cinema site can also help you fill your calendar with screenings around the Bay.

For example, the San Francisco Cinematheque will be featuring a film by Jennifer Reeves in March. Check out her section on Handmade Cinema to discover why this event should not be missed.