This year, the remarkable independent distributor Milestone -- founded in 1990 by Dennis Doros and Amy Heller -- turns 20. Their impressive catalogue of films will be showing throughout the country all year long, starting this month at the Austin Film Society. But for those who don't live near a big city, TCM will be spending an entire evening, this Wednesday, June 23, paying tribute to the intrepid distributor.

It begins at 8 p.m. with Word Is Out (1977), an extraordinary documentary that was recently released on DVD. With no frills or fat, it interviews 26 gay men and women about their experiences coming out, falling in love, and simply getting through life. It was, of course, filmed before the outbreak of AIDS and other modern problems, but the stories contained therein are still timely and emotionally resonant, to anyone of any orientation who has a beating heart. After that comes the jewel in Milestone's crown, Charles Burnett's Killer of Sheep (1977), which I reviewed for Cinematical back in 2007. It is, without question, one of the greatest African-American features ever made, but also one of the greatest films ever made.

Next up is the amazing Legong: Dance of the Virgins, which was released in 1935 as one of the last silent features. Paramount used it to experiment with two-strip Technicolor, and Milestone has restored this unique look to the film. Filmed in Bali with Balinese actors, it tells a very simple love triangle story, featuring dancing, cockfighting and lots of topless natives. The quaint paintings on the title cards alone are worth it.

Then comes Kent Mackenzie's The Exiles (1961), which received a theatrical release in 2008. It's perhaps less artistically sound than Killer of Sheep, but just as historically and culturally essential; it tells the story of a group of American Indians in Los Angeles. But don't think this is going to be a boring sermon; the movie really packs an emotional wallop. Finally, we get Roland West's The Bat Whispers (1930), a kind of "old dark house" mystery with comedy overtones, filled with secret panels and "ghosts." The movie is notable for an early attempt at a widescreen presentation.

Over the years, Milestone has been responsible for dozens of theatrical re-releases and DVDs, including titles by Jane Campion, Merian C. Cooper & Ernest B. Schoedsack, Manoel de Oliveira, Alfred Hitchcock, Takeshi Kitano, Gillo Pontecorvo, Michael Powell, Luchino, Visconti, Orson Welles, as well as films like Beyond the Rocks (1922), The Phantom of the Opera (1925), The Adventures of Prince Achmed (1926), Night Tide (1961), I Am Cuba (1964), Why Has Bodhi-Dharma Left for the East? (1989), Maborosi (1995), and The Big Animal (2000). They truly are a company worth celebrating. Mr. Doros and Mrs. Heller promise that more films will be rolling out all summer long. Sign up with Milestone's Facebook page for more info, or check Milestone's official page.