Born in 1923 and a soldier in World War Two, artist Jeff Keen – now aged 85 – began making films at the age of 37 when his local art school film society needed things to show. And so began over forty years of unique, imaginative, irrepressible filmmaking that has outlived the various scenes in which it has thrived: the 60s counter-culture, punk and beyond.

On 17th, 19th, 25th and 27th February, BFI Southbank will present four special screening events, including Early Jeff Keen Films and Dr G's Home Movies and a touring programme will be shown at cinemas around the UK. Films like Marvo Movie, Mad Love and others look like post-apocalyptic home movies and point to the sublime subversion of Jack Smith and Kenneth Anger, to Keen's experiences in WW2 and to the trashy pop culture of B movies and comics. Progressing through various film stocks, though always preferring 8mm – more oppositional, more disposable, less of a sell-out – this self taught artist and pioneer of independent film impresses his very personal and highly individual stamp upon all his work.

On 23rd February 2009, the BFI is to release GAZWRX: The Films of Jeff Keen, an audacious 9 hours of restored and re-mastered titles by this visionary filmmaker on a 4-disc DVD and 3-disc Blu-ray. Presented within a series of punchy programmes on DVD and Blu-ray are 45 films which reveal an astonishingly tireless talent and a unique individual not afraid to grapple with sex and war and to experiment with multiple screens, visceral noise soundtracks and animation.  Massively inspiring, characters Silverhead and The Cat Woman and films like Blatzom and Victory Thru Film Power have been kept from view for far too long. This major BFI project, curated by William Fowler of the BFI National Archive, offers a new and criminally overdue opportunity to explore the alternative cinematic world of Brighton's very own, Dr. Gaz.

The special features are:

• Brand new interview with Jeff Keen;
• Art Flies Free (2000) – experimental documentary by Ian Helliwell;
• Jeff Keen Films (1983) – documentary with interview;
• 96-page booklet featuring paintings, drawings and collages by Jeff Keen plus articles by Tony Rayns, Ray Durgnat and Jack Sargeant.

The 4-disc DVD and 3-disc Blu-ray swet will both retail at £34.25.