Written by Kianna Best on Jan 13, 2025. Posted in Production News

Questlove to debut SLY LIVES! at Sundance

Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson from The Roots steps back into his directorial shoes for SLY LIVES! (aka The Burden of Black Genius) set for debut at the Sundance Film Festival this year. Following his Oscar-winning success in 2021 for Summer of Soul, the new documentary tells the story of Sly & the Family Stone. Key interviews include Chaka Khan, Nile Rogers and Clive Davis. The premiere will take place on 23 January with release for streaming on 13 February on Hulu.

 

Photo by Stephen Paley

 

SLY LIVES! (aka The Burden of Black Genius) captures the rise of American Funk band Sly and the Family Stone. Started in 1966 in San Francisco, California, the band was fronted by instrumentalist Sly Stone and became one of the first to feature an racially and gender integrated lineup. Known for their energetic performances and socially conscious lyrics, they fused funk, soul, rock, and psychedelia into timeless hits like Everyday People, Dance to the Music, and Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin). Their innovative sound influenced countless artists and helped shape the evolution of funk, paving the way for future musical revolutions.

 

Recounting the impact of the band on their own careers and lives, a number of influential individuals in the music industry feature in the documentary, including Andre 3000, D’Angelo, Chaka Khan, Q-Tip, Nile Rogers, Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis, George Clinton, Ruth Copeland and Clive Davis. Additional guests include those closest to Sly, including his band members Jerry Martini, Greg Errico, Larry Graham and Cynthia Robinson and family Sylvette Phunne Robinson, Novena Carmel and Sylvester Stewart Jr., who offer the best insights into Sly’s life by sharing anecdotes from their time together.

 

The film is led by the creatives behind Onyx Collective’s Oscar-winning documentary Summer of Soul (…Or When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised), including director Thompson, producer Joseph Patel and editor Josh Pearson. The film hails from MRC, Network Entertainment Inc,. Two One Five Entertainment Inc., RadicalMedia, Stardust Films LLC and ID8 Multimedia, Inc., in association with Sony Music Entertainment.

 

First look HERE

Image courtesy of Onyx Collective 

 

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