Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)

Includes A Conversation with Questlove
  • Sly Stone singing
  • Mahalia Jackson singing

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Film Info
Runtime:117
Copyright:2021
Country Listing:USA
Premiere Status:Canadian Premiere
Festival Info
Festival Year:2021
Language:English
Accessibility:Closed Captions
Program Category:Special Presentations
Film Subjects:Race & Racism
Popular Culture
Musicians & Performers
Cast/Crew Info
Director(s):Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson
Producer(s):Joseph Patel, p.g.a.
Robert Fyvolent, p.g.a.
David Dinerstein, p.g.a.
Executive Producer(s):Jen Isaacson
Jon Kamen
Dave Sirulnick
Jody Allen
Ruth Johnston
Rocky Collins
Jannat Gargi
Beth Hubbard
Davis Guggenheim
Laurene Powell Jobs
Jeffrey Lurie
Marie Therese Guirgis
David Barse
Ron Eisenberg
Sheila Johnson
Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson
Co-Producer(s):Cora Atkinson
Inuka Bacote-Capiga
Gregory A. Thomson
Co-Executive Producer(s):Jonathan Silberberg
Nicole Stott
Archive Producer(s):Lizzy McGlynn
Associate Producer(s):Ashley Bembry-Kaintuck
Cherice Hunt
Zarah Zohlman
Editor(s):Joshua L. Pearson
Cinematography:Shawn Peters
Music Supervisor(s):Randall Poster
Production Manager(s):Corey DeStefano

Description

Closed Captions Icon  Streaming with closed captions

In his acclaimed debut as a filmmaker, Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson presents a powerful and transporting documentary—part music film, part historical record created around an epic event that celebrated Black history, culture and fashion. Over the course of six weeks in the summer of 1969, just one hundred miles south of Woodstock, The Harlem Cultural Festival was filmed in Mount Morris Park (now Marcus Garvey Park). The footage was never seen and largely forgotten—until now. Summer of Soul shines a light on the importance of history to our spiritual well-being and stands as a testament to the healing power of music during times of unrest, both past and present. The feature includes never-before-seen concert performances by Stevie Wonder, Nina Simone, Sly & the Family Stone, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Ray Baretto, Abbey Lincoln & Max Roach and more.

Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised) is the first official project under the recently announced Onyx Collective brand. The winner of both the Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award at Sundance Film Festival will be released theatrically by Searchlight Pictures and will begin streaming exclusively on Disney+ featuring Star in Canada on July 2, 2021.

Includes A Conversation with Questlove, where Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson speaks with NOW Magazine's culture editor Radheyan Simonpillai about why he chose to document this story that has been ignored and forgotten for far too long.

MEDIA COVERAGE

  • exclaim - Summer of Soul Is a Political Snapshot Wrapped Up in a Concert Film
  • NOW Magazine - Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson's doc about the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival is essential viewing for music fans 
  • Film Threat - "Makes you think...will also make you laugh and dance" 

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