NYC PREMIERE Thirteen years after their Oscar-nominated animated collaboration Chico & Rita, Spanish artists Fernando Trueba and Javier Mariscal reunite to explore the origin story of bossa nova, the universally beloved Brazilian music movement. With gorgeous hand-drawn frames and vivid colors, THEY SHOT THE PIANO PLAYER examines the 1976 disappearance of Brazilian piano virtuoso, Francisco […]
WORLD PREMIERE The Lunachicks, an all-female punk band renowned for their unabashed humor and unwavering pro-women ethos, made their mark on NYC’s underground music scene in the ‘90s. A rollercoaster of drugs, romances, and creative conflicts ultimately led to their 2000 breakup, but can love of the music reunite them for one last show? Buoyed […]
NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE Manuel Gagneux, a mixed-race Swiss musician, fuses American Negro work songs and heavy metal music to create “Black Death Metal,” an explosive new genre that confronts societal ills. A year-long global tour with his band, Zeal & Ardor, is a raging success with their die-hard fans, yet reveals Manu’s aversion to authority […]
NEW YORK PREMIERE Charting the remarkable journey of poet and wordsmith Paul Muldoon, this film weaves his life’s chapters through the artistry of renowned actors, musicians, and artists. From his humble roots in Ireland through prestigious positions at institutions like Oxford and Princeton, Muldoon’s story unfolds like a vivid tapestry. The lyrical narrative features a […]
WORLD PREMIERE Garland Jeffreys, the mixed-race Brooklyn native whose music defied industry norms, receives long-overdue recognition in this enlightening documentary. His unique fusion of folk, soul, and rock earned him accolades abroad, yet left him underrated at home. Jeffreys’ story, narrated from his NYC home and featuring interviews with fans like Harvey Keitel, Laurie Anderson, […]
NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE This documentary illuminates the overlooked life of a remarkable composer, Fanny Mendelssohn. Born in 1800’s Berlin, hindered by societal constraints on women, her talents remained buried until feminist scholars uncovered her impressive body of work. Overshadowed by her brother Felix, she was confined at home while he soared to fame. The film, punctuated […]
INTERNATIONAL PREMIERE A captivating journey through the history of the essential African drum, the djembe, as seen through the remarkable life of revered Guinean percussionist Famoudou Konate. From his childhood playing the once-sacred instrument to his globe-trotting days with Les Ballets Africains, the film celebrates Konate’s unique role in African culture. An uplifting and gorgeous […]
NYC PREMIERE Hailing from the African nation of Cape Verde, and gifted with an indisputable talent, singer-songwriter Cesária Évora rose to global fame later in life. Peppered with colorful anecdotes of this generous, down-to-earth, fiercely independent “Barefoot Diva,” this charming documentary follows “Cize” at home on her native island of São Vicente, backstage with beloved […]
NYC PREMIERE A drum master from Japan and a Korean adoptee from Minnesota boldly convene an all-female troupe to perform Taiko, the Japanese drumming art that has been off-limits to women for centuries. As the early menace of Covid rumbles in the background, the group faces down hurdles to prepare for a historic performance in […]
NYC PREMIERE If you listen to 1970s pop music, you’ve undoubtedly heard these guys play, but do you know their names? This documentary highlights five talented men—Danny, Leland, Rus, Waddy, and Steve— who shunned the spotlight for themselves yet enjoyed decades of success as session musicians on iconic tracks. Interviewees include their collaborators James Taylor, […]