Summer of Soul

Playing in-person at the Smith Rafael Film Center

Winner Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award

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, Mahalia Jackson, B.B. King, The 5th Dimension and more.

Director: Questlove (as Ahmir-Khalib Thompson)

DocLands 2021 presents a conversation with Summer of Soul Director, Ahmir ‘Questlove’ Thompson and Music professional, Merl Saunders, Jr.