Oona Is My Daughter's Name

"In 1972, Gunvor Nelson was invited to present a survey of her films at the Carnegie Institute Museum of Art in Pittsburgh. The invitation came from Sally Dixon, the museum's founder and first curator of film, a figure instrumental not only in shaping the culture of experimental film in Pittsburgh but also in actively supporting filmmakers and their projects...Pittsburgh filmmaker J.T. Vale documented Nelson's visit with a 16mm camera, creating the short film Oona Is My Daughter's Name . The film was long thought to be lost until a 16mm print was discovered in Nelson's apartment. It features rare moments in which Gunvor Nelson discusses her work, particularly My Name Is Oona , a masterpiece of editing whose soundscape is based on a loop of her daughter's voice." - Julia Mettenleiter, Il Cinema Ritrovato, 2026.

Directed by J.T. Vale, Oona Is My Daughter's Name leans on a strong ensemble — Gunvor Nelson — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about screen titles of 1974.