Summer of Soul
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 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 concert performances by Stevie Wonder, Nina Simone, Sly & the Family Stone, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Mahalia Jackson, B.B. King, The 5th Dimension and more. SUMMER OF SOUL premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, where it won both the Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award. It is streaming on Hulu in conjunction with Disney General Entertainment’s Onyx Collective; Searchlight Pictures released it theatrically.
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Directed By
Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson -
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Produced By
Jody Allen, Laurene Powell-Jobs, Joseph Patel, Marie-Therese Guirgis, Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson, David Guggenheim, Ron Eisenberg -
Cast
Sly & the Family Stone, B.B. King, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Stevie Wonder, Mahalia Jackson, Nina Simone, The 5th Dimension