Music Documentary Film Schedule
LIMEHOF Music Doc Festival Schedule: September 25th – 27th
Day 1: Friday, September 25th
11:30 am-1:37 pm
Long Island Premiere
Whistle
Feature | Australia | 84 Minutes | English, Japanese, Spanish
In WHISTLE, an eccentric group of international whistlers descend on Hollywood to compete in the Masters of Musical Whistling, the world’s most prestigious whistling competition. Egos clash, notes soar and tears flow, but only one can be crowned the best whistler of the whole entire planet. The competitors go head to head, vying for the ultimate prize of World Champion. As tensions build, and judges look on, this eccentric ensemble of musical outsiders compete not just for glory, but for acceptance. Among them: Lauren, a New York theatre actress battling anxiety; Ayna, a fiercely ambitious Spanish circus performer; Yuki, a musical prodigy from Japan who always comes in second; Molly, the breakout whistling pop star; Davitt, a volunteer who shares his passion for music with Alzheimer’s patients: and finally Jay, a teacher who gave up on Broadway, now hoping to make his students proud. Presiding over it all is ‘The Whistling Diva’ herself, Carole Anne Kaufman – a suburban hairdresser and the visionary producer behind the competition. Theater B
Long Island Premiere
Drive Through The Smoke – A Night With John Popper
Short | United States | 13 Minutes | English
One musician, Dave Kellan, faces down a once-in-a-lifetime studio session with harmonica virtuoso John Popper, the Grammy-winning frontman of Blues Traveler and one of rock’s most celebrated harmonica players, amidst a string of tragic events. Director: William Saunders After the screening: A live conversation with Director William Saunders.
After the screening: A live conversation with Director William Saunders and subject of film, musician Dave Kellan, plus a short musical performance by Mr. Kellan.
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11:05 am-1:02 pm
Symphony For the Future
Feature | Germany, Japan, Austria | 100 Minutes | English, German and Japanese
Japan’s most renowned student orchestra, the Waseda Symphony Orchestra Tokyo, brings its concert tour back to life. One hundred and fifty students, restless, ambitious, and none of them actually studying music, step into grand halls such as Vienna’s Musikverein and the Berlin Philharmonie. Performing works by Mahler, Korngold, Bernstein, Strauss, and Ishii Maki, they confront both the grandeur of the repertoire and the intimacy of their shared journey. Written and produced together with the students, SYMPHONY FOR THE FUTURE captures how music becomes a vessel for connection, resilience, and quiet transformation. A meditative portrait of a generation learning to breathe, and play together again, it is a rehearsal for their journeys ahead. Director: Lars Ostman. Theater A
The Final Bow
Short | United States | 17 Minutes | English, Portuguese
THE FINAL BOW follows master bow maker Christophe Landon, celebrated cellist Coleman Itzkoff, and Brazilian conservationists, united by a struggle over pernambuco – a rare tree found only in Brazil’s Atlantic Forest and essential to the world’s finest stringed instrument bows. As the government moves to upgrade the species to the highest level of international protection, conservationists fight illegal logging while musicians fear losing the tool that connects their souls to their music, while not actually helping to save the species. The film explores the clash of regulation, conservation, and art. It questions the effectiveness of the proposed upgrade, and asks what will happen to classical music if one of its most vital tools is banned across borders. Directors: Iona Horton and Luisa Barone.
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1:15 pm-2:26 pm
New York Premiere
RECOLLECTIONS: Val Shively and 50 Years of Collecting Records
Feature | United States | 51 Minutes | English
Val Shively has been collecting and selling records for well over 50 years. His store has 4 million records, but his real treasure is his personal collection of 11,000 group harmony or “doo wop” 45’s and it’s the best of its kind in the world. Records are how he finds his friends, and the journey leads to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and beyond. Director: Christopher Plant. Theater A
After the screening: A live conversation with Director/Producer Christopher Plant, Executive Producer Chris Fralic and Subject Val Shively
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2:10 pm-4:15 pm
The Last Seat in the House
Feature | United States | 105 Minutes | English
THE LAST SEAT IN THE HOUSE explores the life and legacy of Bill Hanley, the pioneering sound engineer known as the “Father of Festival Sound.” Best remembered for creating the sound of Woodstock in 1969, Hanley revolutionized live music by introducing clarity and scale to concerts at a time when large audiences were thought impossible to manage. Through extensive research and firsthand accounts from artists such as Arlo Guthrie(LIMEHOF Inductee), Melanie(LIMEHOF Inductee) and John Sebastian, as well as industry insiders, including concert promoter Michael Lang and record producer Artie Kornfeld (both LIMEHOF inductees), the film traces Hanley’s innovations, his role in founding the sound reinforcement industry, and the personal and professional costs of building an industry that ultimately moved beyond him. Theater B
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2:35 pm-4:05 pm
Long Island Premiere
The Banjo Boys
Feature | Germany, Malawi, United Kingdom | 76 Minutes | English
THE BANJO BOYS follows the electrifying rise of Madalitso Band, a Malawian duo, Yobu Maligwa and Yosefe Kalekeni, who transform scavenged materials into a banjo, a one-stringed babatone, and a foot drum, crafting a raw, joyous sound that defies the odds. Once dismissed as madmen for their relentless street performances in Lilongwe’s bustling markets, they catch the ear of Neil Nayar, a British musician captivated by Malawi’s vibrant, soulful rhythms. What begins as a chance meeting in a dusty car park ignites an unlikely trio, catapulting them from local streets to the world’s most iconic stages with their infectious energy. The fi lm traces their evolution from busking for survival during Malawi’s 2002 famine to captivating audiences at festivals like Sauti za Busara in Zanzibar, WOMAD in the UK, and Joshua Tree in California. Director: Johan R Nayar. Theater A
Forced Symphony
Short | Iran | 14 Minutes | Persian
Mohammad, known by his stage name Neon, is an emerging artist from the new generation of the Persian underground music scene. He spends his last day of freedom wandering the city with his friends before leaving for mandatory military service. Director: Parisa Tavassoli
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4:15 pm-5:57 pm
World Premiere
For the Love of the City
Feature | United States | 57 Minutes | English
FOR THE LOVE OF THE CITY explores the legendary after-hours music scene surrounding the New Orleans Jazz Fest and the real magic after the festival grounds close. Through interviews and performances featuring artists like Warren Haynes, John Popper, Widespread Panic, Galactic, Michael Franti and Mickey Hart, the film captures how these night shows became the heartbeat of the city’s musical community. Spanning the years before and after Hurricane Katrina, the documentary celebrates the resilience, culture, and deep devotion that musicians and fans share for the soul of New Orleans. Because in this city, the music is never just music. It’s done for the love of the city. Director: Michael Lacy. Theater A
After the screening: A live conversation with Director Michael Lacy
North American Premiere
Keeping Time: The Malta Jazz Festival Story
Short | 25 Minutes | English, Maltese
From its founding in 1991, to the present day, KEEPING TIME: THE MALTA JAZZ FESTIVAL STORY examines how the Malta Jazz Festival has navigated periods of change, uncertainty, and renewal. Through interviews, archival sources, and performance footage, the film explores how successive artistic directors and a dedicated local jazz community have shaped and sustained a festival that has played a key role in Malta’s cultural life while building an international reputation within the European jazz circuit. It showcases legendary jazz icons who shaped the festival from its inception, prominently featuring archival footage and mentions of legendary jazz drummer Elvin Jones, celebrated jazz pianist and composer Chick Corea, and renowned French jazz pianist Michel Petrucciani. It also highlights how a 1990 concert by pop and rock legend Tina Turner in Malta indirectly paved the way for the festival’s creation. Director: Cedric Vella.
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4:25 pm-6:40 pm
Long Island Premiere
Ann Wilson: In My Voice
Feature | United States | 75 Minutes | English
Told in Ann’s own words, IN MY VOICE traces her extraordinary 75-year journey, from a nomadic childhood to the stages of the world’s biggest arenas, and into a bold new creative chapter. Drawing from an extensive personal archive of home movies, photographs, journals, and never-before-seen footage, the film reveals the deeply personal experiences that shaped Wilson’s artistry and helped lay the foundation for the rise of Heart, the pioneering female-fronted hard-rock band she formed with her sister Nancy, whose groundbreaking career produced iconic hits including “Barracuda,” “Crazy on You,” “Magic Man,” “These Dreams,” and “Alone,” and ultimately earned the band induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. The documentary also features commentary from family members, bandmates, fellow artists, and industry figures who witnessed her singular path. “This film is my story in my own words, told the way I’ve always wanted to tell it,” says Ann Wilson. “It’s about finding my voice, keeping it alive, and sharing the journey with the people who’ve been part of it all along.” By interweaving past and present, IN MY VOICE explores Wilson’s life against the backdrop of a changing America, from the Vietnam War era and the rise of MTV to the enduring cultural power of rock and roll. The film reveals not only how Ann Wilson shaped the sound of a generation, but how her voice continues to evolve decades later. Director: Barbara Jean Hall (Wynonna Judd: Concert from My Place; Loretta Lynn: My Story in My Words).Theater B
After the screening: A live conversation with Director Barbara Jean Hall
1971: Billy Joel’s Lost Interview
Short | United States | 20 Minutes | English
In December 1971, just after releasing his debut solo album Cold Spring Harbor, a 22-year-old Billy Joel sat down for a candid college radio interview. Broadcast only once and then lost for over 50 years, the tape captures Joel’s humor, doubts, and ambition on the brink of stardom. Billy Joel’s Lost Interview resurrects this extraordinary recording through animation and archival audio, preserving a forgotten chapter of music history and revealing the young artist before he became the Piano Man. 1971: Billy Joel’s Lost Interview is not authorized by Billy Joel. Director: Adam Ripp
After the screening: A live conversation with Director Adam Ripp, Ed Mann and Irwin Mazur.
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6:10pm-7:42pm
VIVO 76: Alive in ’76
Feature | Brazil | 104 Minutes | Portuguese
VIVO 76: ALIVE IN ’76 delves into the culture, influences, birth, and interpretation of the songs that make up the album Vivo!, the third album by Pernambuco composer and singer Alceu Valença, released in 1976. Now an 80-year-old Brazilian music legend with a career spanning more than five decades, Valença has released nearly 70 albums and established himself as one of the most significant and distinctive figures in Brazilian popular music. The film focuses on the formative period when he helped create a uniquely Pernambuco sound, blending regional traditions, rock, psychedelia, poetry, and experimental music. His work from this era helped lay the groundwork for a musical movement that would influence generations of Brazilian artists and ultimately contribute to the cultural lineage that produced the Manguebeat movement. A portrait of the birth of the Pernambuco psychedelic scene in its visual arts, fantastical characters, and its first flights to Rio de Janeiro and to national success, the film centers on the explosive 1975 performance of “Vou Danado pra Catende” and the recording of Vivo!, a landmark album that captured Alceu at the beginning of his extraordinary career. The documentary premiered at É Tudo Verdade, Latin America’s major documentary film festival, and has subsequently been featured at In-Edit Brasil and the 21st Mostra de Cinema de Ouro Preto, where it received significant attention. In 2026, as Alceu celebrates his 80th birthday and Vivo! marks its 50th anniversary, VIVO 76: ALIVE IN ’76 offers a psychedelic journey to the 1970s through the lens of today and the eyes of tomorrow. Director: Lírio Ferreira. Theater A
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6:50 pm-8:51 pm
Kenny Loggins: Conviction of the Heart
Feature | United States | 101 Minutes | English
Kenny Loggins, multi-platinum, Grammy and Emmy-winning songwriter and recording artist, was a shy, gawky kid with low self-esteem who thought he had to create a persona to do the rock star thing. Over the subsequent 50 years, Kenny has continually reinvented himself, turning a deeply personal journey into a remarkable career defined by authenticity, resilience and musical versatility. Kenny Loggins: Convictions of the Heart follows his life and career, from his breakthrough as half of the enormously successful duo Loggins & Messina, whose albums sold more than 16 million copies, to his extraordinary solo career and his emergence as perhaps the defining movie-soundtrack hitmaker of his generation. With iconic songs including “I’m Alright,” “Footloose” and “Danger Zone,” Loggins helped define the musical identity of some of the most beloved films of the 1980s.
“Footloose” reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and has since surpassed one billion Spotify streams, while “Danger Zone” became a cultural phenomenon through Top Gun and found a remarkable second life nearly four decades later in Top Gun: Maverick. Along the way, Loggins also established himself as a major songwriter, co-writing the Grammy-winning “What a Fool Believes” with Michael McDonald, and expanded his audience through his acclaimed family music, including Return to Pooh Corner. Having sold more than 25 million albums worldwide, his five-decade career is ultimately a story about finding the confidence to stop playing a role and become yourself. Director: Dori Berinstein (Gotta Dance; Carol Channing: Larger Than Life; Marvin Hamlisch: What He Did for Love; A Man with Sole: The Impact of Kenneth Cole). Theater B
After the screening: A live conversation with Director Dori Berinstein
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Day 2: Saturday, September 26th
11 am-12:43 pm
The Rose: Come Back to Me
Feature | United States | 103 Minutes | English, Korean
The Rose: Come Back To Me is a documentary showcasing the dramatic rise of The Rose, the Korean indie rock band with roots in the K-pop training system. In 2017, THE ROSE built a millions-strong global fanbase as a breakout Korean indie rock band. In the film, after a turbulent three-year hiatus, THE ROSE is making their comeback with an electrifying tour – on their own terms and with a focus on healing and mental health. THE ROSE COME BACK TO ME is an intimate, all-access view of the band’s audacious bid for redemption, independence, and a second chance for glory. The Rose has performed high-profile sets at international music festivals including Coachella, Lollapalooza and the Montreux Jazz Festival. They made history as a high-charting Korean alt-rock group on Billboard charts following their emotional full-length return album “Heal” and performed at Madison Square Garden last July. The film had its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival. Director: Eugene Yi (Free Chol Soo Lee; The A List: 15 Stories from Asian and Pacific Diasporas). Theater B
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11:05 am-12:04 pm
Shorts Block
Hallelujah, I’m Thin and Beautiful Again
Short | Canada | 4 Minutes | English
Does Leonard Cohen have an eating disorder? “I got fat on pasta and the starch of loneliness,” he wrote of one Italian sojourn. Did In this animated musical-documentary, a taste of Cohen’s statements about food and his body are served up and permitted to speak for themselves. The quotations are performed over an eccentric brass version of Cohen’s most famous tune – restoring some of Cohen’s pain and gravitas to its overused melodies. Director: Lucas Crawford. Theater A
Long Island Premiere
The Blind Reggaetonera
Short | United States | 27 Minutes | English
THE BLIND REGGAETONERA chronicles the journey of Precious Perez, a young woman redefining what it means to live with a disability while giving back to her community. Through her story, we explore the intersection of music, vision, romance, disability rights, and the fight for equal access to education. As Precious pursues her dream, she also dedicates herself to educating and inspiring the next generation of blind children, showing them that the sky is the limit. Director: River Zhihui Zhang. Theater A
The Art of Being Different
Short | United States | 8 Minutes
“I’m a 15 year old girl with autism. The overwhelming pressure of junior high, unrealistic demands, sensory overload, bullying, isolation and constant need to mask caused me to completely shut down. During my grueling episode of burnout, I temporarily dropped out of school, took time to heal. When I returned, I found the strength to unmask and embrace my true self. My passion for drumming, my special interest, became a powerful source of inspiration that helped me move forward. However, unmasking isn’t so easy when you no longer are sure who you are underneath after years of pretending and society is still not ready for those who are different,” – Director Marlow Jean Paniccia “THE ART OF BEING DIFFERENT will not only shed light on the realities of being an autistic teen in today’s world, but also highlight the power of resilience and self-acceptance. By sharing my journey, I hope to inspire others to embrace their authentic selves, no matter the obstacles. I am not a professional filmmaker, just a motivated teen that picked up my iphone and told a story to inspire change.” Director: Marlow Jean Paniccia (student at Ward Melville High School in Setauket) Theater A
After the screening: A live conversation with Director and Subject Marlow Jean Paniccia.
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12:15 pm-2:02 pm
Till the Last Note
Feature | Netherlands | 60 Minutes | Dutch, English, French & German
TILL THE LAST NOTE is a deeply moving film exploring the later stages of life and career for four internationally renowned opera singers: Charlotte Margiono, Sandrine Piau, Doris Soffel, and the late Roberta Alexander. Margiono has appeared in opera houses all over the world and is famous for her interpretation of the “Four Last Songs” by Richard Strauss. Piau is a French soprano and is particularly renowned in Baroque music although also excels in Romantic and modernist art songs. She has the versatility to perform works from Vivaldi, Handel, Mozart to Schumann and Debussy, Soffel is a German mezzo-soprano with an international career, singing in works by Gioachino Rossini, Gaetano Donizetti, and Vincenzo Bellini. In 1994, she performed at the Nobel Prize Award ceremony. Alexander was an American operatic soprano celebrated for her performances of Mozart characters like Elettra, Fiordiligi, and Countess Almaviva and was a leading soprano at the Metropolitan Opera from 1983 to 1991. The film delves into what happens when these seasoned sopranos and mezzos must navigate the aging of their voices and bodies while confronting the notoriously high-pressure, perfectionist standards of the opera world. It highlights how they shift from the pursuit of flawless perfection toward embracing their natural, lived experiences as an artistic strength. Director: Marlou van den Berge Theater A
World Premiere
Naumburg at 100: A Legacy of Greatness
Short | United States | 27 Minutes | English
For 100 years, the Walter W. Naumburg Foundation has been a quiet force behind the world’s great classical musicians. Founded in New York City, the Foundation’s storied competition has launched extraordinary young artists onto the global stage. This film captures the thrill of discovery, the intensity of competition, and the enduring legacy of a foundation that continues to shape the sound of classical music worldwide. Flutist Carol Wincenc, who serves on the faculty of our local Stony Brook University, and a Naumburg competition winner, is featured in the film along with the Emerson String Quartet which also has strong ties to Stony Brook University’s Music Dept. Other notables in the film include acclaimed Grammy-winning soprano Julia Bullock; Academy Award and Pulitzer Prize Winning composer John Corigliano; one of the finest living violinists, Leonidas Kavakos; celebrated concert pianist Sir Stephen Hough and many more. Director: Catherine Tambini.
After the screening: A live conversation with Director Catherine Tambini
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12:55 pm-3 pm
The Best Summer
Feature | United States | 84 Minutes | English
In January 2025, while evacuating her home during the Palisades fires, director Tamra Davis found a box of videotapes she shot in 1995 on the Summersault tour, an Australian festival that brought together Beastie Boys, Sonic Youth, Foo Fighters, Pavement, Rancid, Beck, The Amps, and Bikini Kill at the height of their alt-rock moment. Newly married to Beastie Boy Mike D, Davis had full access everywhere and her camera caught it all: blistering performances, backstage banter, candid interviews conducted by Kathleen Hanna, and all the unguarded moments that don’t survive in the age of smartphones. Director: Tamra Davis (Billy Madison; Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child) Theater B
Changes: The Story of Sugar
Short | United States | 21 Minutes | English
On the heels of their first live shows together in decades, CHANGES: THE STORY OF SUGAR chronicles the history of the groundbreaking band, from their first practice sessions in the early 1990s to their three sold-out Webster Hall shows this past May. Sugar may have existed for barely three years, but their impact was enormous: their debut album, Copper Blue, was named NME’s 1992 Album of the Year, reached the Top 10 in the UK, and became a landmark of ’90s alternative rock. Beaster and File Under: Easy Listening followed, giving Sugar two more acclaimed albums and cementing their reputation as one of the era’s most powerful and inventive guitar bands. At the heart of Sugar’s story is Bob Mould, one of the most influential figures in American alternative rock. As the frontman and principal songwriter of Hüsker Dü, Mould helped lay the groundwork for the alternative-rock explosion before forming Sugar and creating some of the most enduring guitar-driven music of the ’90s. The film features archival footage, sit-down interviews with Mould, David Barbe and drummer Malcolm Travis, excerpts from Mould’s memoir, See a Little Light: The Trail of Rage and Melody, and special guest appearances. Director: Rob Hatch-Miller (Other Music, Syl Johnson: Any Way the Wind Blows)
After the screening: A live conversation with Director of Photography Paul Yee.
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2:15 pm-4:05 pm
Long Island Premiere
The Song of Hiawatha: The Life and HIGH Times of the First Black Hippie
Feature | United States | 93 Minutes | English
THE SONG OF HIAWATHA: THE LIFE AND HIGH TIMES OF THE FIRST BLACK HIPPIE chronicles the life and (high) times of Hiawatha Bailey, a queer political activist and musician of African-American and Native–American (Creek) ancestry, and arguably the first black hippie. The film traces Hiawatha’s path as part of the African-American “great migration” from the deep South to Detroit in the 1950s, “turning on” to LSD and joining a commune in 1965, getting busted and serving a four-year prison term, forming a musical outfit in prison, and his adventures as vocalist of the Cult Heroes since 1978. The cast features a select array of rockers, including Iggy Pop and Patti Smith. Director: Jeffrey Wengrofsky. Theater A
After the screening: A live conversation with Executive Producer Steven Blush
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3:10 pm-4:52 pm
Summer Tour
Feature | United States | 82 Minutes | English
SUMMER TOUR follows a group of young Deadheads who are driving across the country to catch every show of Dead & Company’s 2023 goodbye tour. Dead & Company are an American rock band that formed in 2015 with a lineup of former Grateful Dead members Bob Weir (guitar and vocals), Mickey Hart (drums), and Bill Kreutzmann (drums), along with John Mayer (guitar and vocals), to basically keep the music of The Grateful Dead alive for both older fans and a younger audience. Their final tour was attended by over 840,000 fans, with the final show taking place in San Francisco, the birthplace of the Grateful Dead. The film offers a surprisingly complex and nuanced portrait of this music-loving nomadic commune, defying stereotypes and offering real insight into the appeal of their way of life. Shot in 16mm and echoing the Dead’s surprising, unconventional sense of form in the edit, the filmmaker’s affection for and understanding of this ragtag group of devotees is present in every frame. The film was produced by actress, director, fashion designer, and former model, Chloë Sevigny. Though not rated, there is some nudity in a few of the scenes. Director: Mischa Richter. Theater B
After the screening: A live conversation with Director Mischa Richter
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4:15 pm-5:42 pm
East Coast Premiere
Nash the Slash Rises Again!
Feature | Canada, United Kingdom | 80 Minutes | English
An unearthly film about artistic integrity, courage and the price-tag that comes with it, NASH THE SLASH RISES AGAIN! uncovers the sinister Canadian electronic music innovator. An electronic pioneer and performance artist, Nash’s scorched-earth performances set him on a journey which brings the promise of international success but also threatens to detonate his deepest secrets. Over a remarkable four-decade career, Nash the Slash moved from co-founding the pioneering Canadian
electronic/progressive-rock band FM and co-writing its hit “Phasors on Stun” to becoming a singular one-man musical force whose influence reached far beyond Canada. He toured internationally with Gary Numan at the height of Numan’s fame, performed at Numan’s legendary Wembley Arena concerts, and was invited by Iggy Pop to open for him, while also appearing on bills with The Who, XTC, The Tubes and Devo. Nash the Slash took his name from the killer butler in a 1927 Laurel and Hardy silent film, covered his head in surgical bandages and performed a one-man show surrounded by half a ton of electronic sound processors and a couple of tape recorders. A classically trained violinist and multi-instrumentalist, he created music that was an unlikely combination of prog-rock, punk-rock, classic-rock, psychedelic with techno and industrial before they had names; high technology meets the age of horror, surreal and demented. He wrote, performed, engineered and produced much of his own music, earning a U-KNOW Award for Best Instrumental Artist and a Juno Award nomination, while his 1997 album Blind Windows reached No. 3 on the Canadian Indie chart. The end result is a life drenched in film history enveloped in a wall of sound. Nash also composed music for films including Roadkill, Highway 61, Blood & Donuts and Nosferatu, and became known for performing live scores to silent films. NASH THE SLASH RISES AGAIN! unwinds the bandages of a ground-breaking, mad musical scientist whose career decomposed before the world caught up—a four-decade career of international tours, acclaimed collaborations and cult recognition achieved largely outside the mainstream. The film includes appearances by the frontman of the proto-punk band the Stooges, Iggy Pop, and English new wave musician and pioneer of electronic music Gary Numan, along with rare archival footage and performances. Director: Tim Kowalski Theater A
Making Music From Monsters
Short | United States | 7 Minutes | English
MAKING MUSIC FROM MONSTERS follows the unexpected creative journey behind The Return of the Vampire Hustlers from Hell, a fictional 1970s-style exploitation film that exists only through its artwork and music. What began during the pandemic as a hand-crafted poster by artist Derek “D-WREX” Zimmerman, quickly inspired a full-length vintage-inspired soundtrack composed by Emmy-winning American composer Silas Hite, also a multi-instrumentalist and visual artist known for his genre-bending scores for film, television, documentaries, commercials, and video games. Blending cathedral organ, orchestral percussion, brass ensembles, and funky analog textures, Hite created a richly imagined soundtrack for a film that has not yet been made. Director: Mark Andrew Hamer
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5:05 pm-6:50 pm
Long Island Premiere
Billy Preston: That’s the Way God Planned It
Feature | United States | 105 Minutes | English
Mega-talented keyboardist, songwriter and legendary GRAMMY-winning musician Billy Preston was often referred to as “the best musician in the room.” A musical prodigy who was performing with Mahalia Jackson by age five and touring Europe with Little Richard at 15, Preston’s extraordinary career would take him from gospel and soul to the center of rock history. He became the only musician ever officially credited alongside The Beatles on a single, “The Beatles with Billy Preston,” played on their legendary final rooftop concert and contributed to Let It Be and Abbey Road. He was also one of the first artists signed to The Beatles’ Apple Records and went on to become a major solo star with multiple No. 1 hits, including “Will It Go Round in Circles” and “Nothing from Nothing.” Stylistically influenced by the Black church, Preston’s illustrious career also helped shape the sound of the Rolling Stones, while his extraordinary list of collaborators includes Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Sam Cooke, Little Richard, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Sly Stone and Elton John. He co-wrote the enduring classic “You Are So Beautiful,” won two GRAMMY Awards and became one of the first musical guests on Saturday Night Live. A private man who turned to drugs to dull the pain of personal trauma, his poignant story unfolds through insights from Billy Porter, Eric Clapton and Ringo Starr, complemented by rare footage. Director: Paris Barclay (NYPD Blue; In Treatment; The West Wing; Glee) Theater B
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5:55 pm-7:32 pm
James: Getting Away With It
Feature | United Kingdom | 97 Minutes | English
JAMES: GETTING AWAY WITH IT is the story of James, one of Britain’s most iconic and unlikely bands, told for the first time. Formed in Manchester in the early 1980s, a group of awkward misfits stumbled through a decade of false starts, bad decisions, and infamous missteps, joining a cult, turning down the chance to tour with The Smiths, and rejecting the legendary Factory Records before finally breaking through with their hit song, “Sit Down.” Fueled by an improvisational and chaotic approach to music, James went on to sell more than 25 million albums worldwide and build a remarkable catalog spanning more than 40 years, with 13 UK Top 10 albums, 19 Top 40 singles, and two UK number-one albums. “Sit Down” became one of Britain’s defining alternative-rock anthems, while albums including Laid, Gold Mother, Seven and Millionaires established James as far more than a one-hit band. Yet success only deepened the band’s internal dysfunction, leading to its collapse at the turn of the millennium. But the fans refused to let James fade away, and after mending their differences, the band reunited in 2007, finding new life, larger audiences, and, remarkably, a number-one album with Yummy in 2024 — 42 years after the band’s formation. Their enduring songwriting legacy was further recognized with the prestigious Ivor Novello Icon Award in 2023. The film features interviews with current and former members of James, along with Chris Martin, the frontman of Coldplay, whose generation of musicians has acknowledged the band’s profound influence. Director: Chris Atkins. Theater A
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7:00 pm-8:56 pm
The Long Island Underground Legends of Hip Hop
Feature | United States | 76 Minutes | English
Long Island, New York is home to many Hip Hop greats but the origins and the contributions from its early pioneers to the creation of the genre has been left out of history and severely overlooked. THE LONG ISLAND UNDERGROUND LEGENDS OF HIP HOP highlights pioneering, grassroots, and underground hip hop figures who laid the foundation of Long Island’s suburban rap scene, including JVC Force, famous for the classic anthem “Strong Island”, MC Glamours, celebrated as the first famous hip-hop artist from Long Island, Archie Snowden, AKA MC Amazon’ A and director of the film and more. While the documentary centers on the grassroots underground scene, it frames the rich network of specific black suburban communities that shaped global hip-hop history. If you trace these specific towns, they birthed iconic pioneers who started in the exact same local circuits, such as Rakim, Public Enemy, Biz Markie and Director: Archie Snowden. Theater B
After the screening: A live conversation with Director Archie Snowden and a special music performance to be announced.
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Day 3: Sunday, September 27th
11:00 am-1:02 pm
New York Premiere
Paquito D’Rivera: from Carne y Frijol to Carnegie Hall
Feature | United States | 73 Minutes | English, Spanish
This lively and heartfelt documentary traces the remarkable life and career of Paquito D’Rivera, a 16-time Grammy and Latin Grammy-winning artist whose boundless musical curiosity defies genre. A virtuoso clarinetist, saxophonist, and composer, D’Rivera left Cuba in 1980 at great personal risk, forging an immigrant success story defined by brilliance, humor, and reinvention. Filmed across New York, Boston, Miami, and Uruguay, the film features intimate performances and collaborations with D’Rivera’s longtime friend Chucho Valdes and world-renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma. Director: Juan Mandelbaum (Our Disappeared/Nuestros Desaparecidos; Caetano in Bahia; A New World of Music). Theater B
After the screening: A live conversation with Director Juan Mandelbaum.
Sunset and the Mockingbird
Short | United States | 29 Minutes | English
As the memory of jazz legend Junior Mance begins to fade, his soulmate, Gloria Clayborne, discovers that their connection is timeless through the music that shaped their love. Together, they redefine what love means as music becomes their enduring bond. Junior performed with jazz legends including Dizzy Gillespie, Dinah Washington, Cannonball Adderley, and many of the greatest artists of his era. But it was not until 1996 that he met the love of his life, Gloria Clayborne. They quickly married, she became his manager, and together they traveled the world with music at the heart of their relationship. Then, in 2012, Junior suffered a stroke and developed dementia. Although his extraordinary musical abilities remained remarkably intact, Gloria knew their time together was limited. She found herself asking profound questions: Who will he be without the music? Who will she be? And who will they become together? Director: Jyllian Gunther
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11:05 am-12:31 pm
A Gift for Ethan
Short | United States | 23 Minutes | English
Award-winning director, producer, and Tony-Nominated American actor Will Chase documents his childhood friend, Kentucky luthier T.J. Burch, as he builds a custom guitar for Ethan Hawke. The instrument was commissioned as a wrap gift by a producer on ‘Wildcat’, the film Hawke directed in Kentucky. As the process unfolds, the film moves beyond craftsmanship into a reflection on ego, artistry, connection, and legacy, suggesting that the meaning behind our work is shaped by the relationships that quietly link us all. Director: Will Chase (Alumni director at the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame Music Documentary Film Festival and winner of the 2025 Best Short for Coming Home: The Guggenheim Grotto Back in Ireland; Actor in Dopestick, Stranger Things, Nashville, The Crowded Room and many more.) Theater A
North American Premiere
Where the Water Meets the Land: At Home With Mark Fry
Short | Canada | 26 Minutes | English
Eschewing conventional music documentary tropes in favor of playful, Varda-esque experimentation, WHERE THE WATER MEETS THE LAND: AT HOME WITH MARK FRY is a richly textured multimedia portrait celebrating the rituals and routines of the reclusive English singer-songwriter and painter Mark Fry, who now resides in the Normandy countryside. The film unfolds as a thoughtful, contemplative journey through the landscapes of Fry’s life, art, and present-day existence, revealing an intimate portrait of an enduring creative spirit. Directors: Carmen Cookson-Hills and Tim Ursuliak
Four Hands
Short | France | 17 Minutes | French
FOUR HANDS is an intimate short that chronicles the profound relationship between Philippe Entremont, the legendary French classical pianist, and his 35-year-old Japanese protégé, Gen Tomuro. As Philippe, at 90, prepares to give his fi nal concert in Paris, the fi lm captures this emotional milestone. Together, the two pianists perform Schubert’s Fantaisie in F minor for four hands, followed by Philippe Entremont’s solo performance of Chopin’s Prelude, Op. 28: No 20 in C Minor which he chooses as his farewell piece. The fi lm follows Philippe and Gen’s shared journey, from rehearsals at a music conservatory to personal moments in Philippe’s home, all leading up to their fi nal performance together. It glimpses at how Entremont was mentored himself and recorded with Leonard Bernstein, and other maestros. Director: Hélène Sevaux.
After the screening: A live conversation with Director Hélène Sevaux.
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12:45 pm-2:15 pm
United States Premiere
Until My Voice Breaks
Feature | Spain | 90 Minutes | Spanish
With all the emotional depths it entails, Spanish rock singer, musician and songwriter Leiva offers a raw, unfiltered first-person account of the whirlwind he’s currently living through, granting unprecedented access to his life at the peak of his career. An irreversible issue with one of his vocal cords constantly challenges both his present and future, yet he can’t imagine any path other than carrying on — until his voice breaks! One of Spain’s most successful and respected contemporary rock artists, Leiva has earned two Goya Awards for Best Original Song, nine Latin Grammy nominations, multiple Platinum and Multi-Platinum records, and multiple No. 1 albums in Spain. In 2026, he received eight nominations and won four awards at Spain’s Music Awards. His career spans both his years as a member of the hugely successful Spanish rock band Pereza and an acclaimed solo career that has taken him to major venues and festivals throughout Spain and Latin America. He has opened for The Rolling Stones at Madrid’s Santiago Bernabéu Stadium and sold out five consecutive concerts at Madrid’s WiZink Center. Critics often compare aspects of his songwriting and production to artists such as Tom Petty, Bruce Springsteen and Ryan Adams. As a songwriter and producer, he has also collaborated with major artists including Joaquín Sabina, for whom he produced the acclaimed album Lo niego todo. His achievements in music and film have made him one of the defining figures in contemporary Spanish rock — making the intimate story of a singer confronting the possibility of losing his voice all the more powerful. Directors: Mario Forniés and Lucas Nolla. Theater A
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1:15 pm-2:33 pm
Peter Gabriel: Sledgehammer Revealed
Feature | United Kingdom | 61 Minutes | English
The story behind the song “Sledgehammer” – one of the most groundbreaking and award-winning music videos ever created – is as bold as the film itself. This documentary pulls back the curtain on its production in 1986, blending never-before-seen footage with candid interviews from the crew and Peter Gabriel. From pioneering stop-motion techniques to the creative experimentation that defined its look, it’s an intimate, behind-the-scenes journey into a smash that rewrote the rule book on what music videos could be. Director: David Sproxton. Theater B
Oh Yeah!
Short | United States | 17 Minutes | English
The story of the iconic electronic music group Yello and their classic 1980’s hit song. “Oh Yeah” is one of the most recognizable songs of all time, made famous by FERRIS BUELLER’S DAY OFFf, and embodies 80’s American culture more than any other song. While not well known in the United States, the Swiss duo that founded Yello have been making avant-garde music and videos for over 45 years. This fi lm explores the cultural phenomenon of “Oh Yeah” and its enduring place in the American psyche, while introducing the unique artists behind the music. Premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival. Director: Nick Canfi eld (Alumni director at the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame Music Documentary Film Festival whose short fi lm, My Back Pages, played at our 2025 festival; The Reverend won the Audience Award at DOC NYC)
After the screening: A live conversation with Director Nick Canfield.
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2:25 pm-4:26 pm
Eraserheads: COMBO ON THE RUN
Feature | Philippines, United States | 101 Minutes | English, Tagalog
When the Eraserheads formed in 1989, their music swept the country. But the REAL story behind the group has remained untold. Until now. During a time of uncertainty and political upheaval, a most unlikely group of disbanded punks provide solace to a country, unknowingly needing healing themselves. Eraserheads: COMBO ON THE RUN explores the rise, rupture and record-breaking reunion of Filipino band Eraserheads. The film traces the band’s entire journey, from their origins as university students in the Philippines, emerging in aftermath of the EDSA People Power Revolution, to their rise as a generation-defining act and their 2022 “Huling El Bimbo” reunion concert that packed in close to 250,000 fans. The Eraserheads are one of the most important and successful artists in the history of Filipino rock music, often described as the Philippines’ own Beatles. Their first three albums, Ultraelectromagneticpop!, Circus and Cutterpillow, helped transform alternative rock into a mainstream force in the Philippines, with Cutterpillow eventually achieving 8× Platinum status and becoming one of the best-selling albums in Philippine music history. The band produced more than 20 singles, including the iconic “Ang Huling El Bimbo,” “Pare Ko,” “Alapaap,” “With a Smile,” “Ligaya” and “Spoliarium,” songs that became deeply embedded in the cultural consciousness of the Philippines. In 1997, they became the first Filipino artists to win the prestigious International Viewer’s Choice Award for Asia at the MTV Video Music Awards. Their extraordinary legacy has been recognized with numerous major Philippine music honors, including the NU Rock Awards Hall of Fame and MTV Pilipinas Lifetime Achievement Award. Even after their breakup, their popularity remained immense: their reunion concerts drew tens of thousands of fans, while their music has now surpassed one billion Spotify streams, proving that their influence continues to reach new generations. Director: Maria Diana Ventura. Theater A
After the screening: A live conversation with Director Maria Diana Ventura and lead singer and primary songwriter Ely Buendia.
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3:05 pm-5:02 pm
Peter Asher: Everywhere Man
Feature | United States, United Kingdom | 117 Minutes | English
Peter Asher’s extraordinary life has intersected with some of the greatest artists and musical moments of the last six decades. A child actor who became one half of the British Invasion duo Peter & Gordon—whose worldwide No. 1 hit “A World Without Love” was written by Paul McCartney—Asher went on to become head of A&R at the Beatles’ Apple Records, where he signed and produced a young James Taylor. He then moved to America and became Taylor’s manager and producer, helping establish him as one of the defining singer-songwriters of his generation. Asher also guided and produced the remarkable career of Linda Ronstadt, working on landmark albums including Heart Like a Wheel, Simple Dreams and What’s New. A multiple Grammy. Award winner and two-time Producer of the Year, Asher has worked with an extraordinary roster of artists while remaining a vital creative force to this day. Zelig-like in his ability to appear at pivotal moments in music history, Asher’s story connects the Beatles and Apple Records to the rise of the California singer-songwriter, the careers of Taylor and Ronstadt, and generations of artists who followed. Featuring intimate interviews with James Taylor, Linda Ronstadt, Carole King, Kate Taylor, Lyle Lovett, Natalie Merchant, Marianne Faithfull, Paul Jones, Danny Kortchmar, Waddy Wachtel, Lee Sklar, John Boylan, Paul Shaffer, and Paul McCartney [in voiceover], as well as cultural icons Steve Martin, Eric Idle, Twiggy, and Pattie Boyd. The soundtrack, woven from the timeless music of the artists whose lives intersected with Asher’s, creates a score as unforgettable as the story itself. Directors: Daniel Geller and Dayna Goldfine (Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen, a Journey, a Song; Ballets Russes). Theater B
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4:40 pm-6:52 pm
The Extraordinary Life of Robert Charlebois
Feature | Canada | 91 Minutes | French
THE EXTRAORDINARY LIFE OF ROBERT CHARLEBOIS is a film with psychedelic undertones and a reflection on creativity. Through an immersion into the mind of singer-songwriter Robert Charlebois, the film takes viewers on a journey that explores the paths of the imagination. In the 1960s, Charlebois revolutionized French-language music by blending rock, joual (a popular, non-standard variety of Quebec traditionally spoken by the working class in Montreal), and psychedelia, becoming widely regarded as Quebec’s first true rock star. Over a career spanning more than six decades, he has released more than 30 albums, performed thousands of concerts, and brought Quebec music to audiences across Canada, Europe and beyond. Through his own words, as the sole narrator, speaking as if directly to the viewer, and accompanied by archival footage, previously unseen material, and animated sequences, Charlebois discusses creativity, drugs, tenderness, freedom, encounters, the beat, and love. Along the way, we encounter Italian cinema pioneer Sergio Leone, director Alfred Hitchcock, Frank Zappa, and Janis Joplin. His groundbreaking “Lindberg” and the legendary “L’Osstidcho” helped define a generation, while his international career included performances at Paris’s legendary Olympia and a historic cross-Canada tour with Janis Joplin, The Band and the Grateful Dead. He has received some of the highest honors in Canada and France, including the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award, the Order of Canada, the National Order of Quebec, France’s Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, and the Victoire de la Musique for Best Francophone Album. In 1976, he performed before more than 300,000 people at Montreal’s 1 × 5 concert. This is a film that delves into the heart of the life and extraordinary creativity of a living legend whose influence helped transform Quebec’s musical identity and continues to resonate through generations of artists. Director: Louis-Philippe Eno. Theater A
After the screening: A live conversation with Director Louis-Philippe Eno
Recife Tem Um Coração (Recife Has a Heart)
Short | Brazil | 20 Minutes | Portuguese
Brega* singer Silvo Silva, known as a phenomenon in his genre in Recife, Brazil, finds himself with a broken speaker. He rallies his social media followers and performs a live broadcast with them to try to buy a new bluetooth speaker. *Brega is a Brazilian musical style and genre that encompasses a variety of rhythms, making it difficult to define a single musical aesthetic. Director: Rodrigo Sena.
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5:15 pm-7:14 pm
Newport & The Great Folk Dream
Feature | United States | 99 Minutes | English
Before Coachella and Woodstock, there was Newport. From 1963 to 1966, the Newport Folk Festival catalyzed America’s youth, creating a forum for the protest song to flourish, for a generation to find its voice, and for Bob Dylan to evolve from a political balladeer into a leather-jacketed rock ’n’ roller. NEWPORT & THE GREAT FOLK DREAM is an immersion into these transformative years, told by those who were there, including Johnny Cash, Joan Baez, Pete Seeger, the Freedom Singers, Noel “Paul” Stookey (Peter, Paul and Mary), Loudon Wainwright III, Theodore Bikel, Phil Ochs, Judy Collins and more. Like the festival itself, the film uses the draw of its stars to reveal a thrilling range of American musical styles, featuring performance clips by Dylan, Baez, Ochs, Collins and Seeger, as well as Tom Paxton, Peter Paul and Mary, Odetta, Bill Monroe, John Lee Hooker, Taj Mahal, Buffy Sainte-Marie, José Feliciano, The Chambers Bros, Howlin’ Wolf, The Lovin” Spoonful and many others. Director: Robert Gordon (Best of Enemies: Buckley vs. Vidal; Johnny Cash’s America). Theater B
After the screening: A live conversation with Producer Joe Lauro.
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Questions? Contact us directly at info@limusichalloffame.org
Be there for a celebration of music, film, and the stories that move us. LIMEHOF Music Doc Festival. September 25 – 27. Don’t miss a beat.