The American Film Institute (AFI) announced that a new documentary about John Williams will open AFI FEST 2024 this October.
‘Music by John Williams’
“Music by John Williams” is a documentary from Lucasfilm Ltd, Amblin Documentaries, and Imagine Documentaries providing a comprehensive look at the prolific life and career of legendary composer John Williams. The film’s world premiere will be at the 38th edition of AFI FEST presented by Canva on Wednesday, October 23, 2024.
AFI says of the documentary:
From his early days as a jazz pianist to his 54 Oscar® nominations and five wins, the documentary celebrates Williams’ countless contributions to the moving image arts, music for the concert stage as well as his indelible impact on popular culture.
Williams’ famous film scores include those of “Star Wars,” “Indiana Jones,” “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial,” “Home Alone,” “Hook,” “Jurassic Park,” “Saving Private Ryan,” “Harry Potter,” and “Jaws.”
“Music by John Williams” is directed by Laurent Bouzereau. Bouzereau has directed dozens of behind-the-scenes documentaries, including several for Steven Spielberg films. He directed the Disney+ special “Timeless Heroes: Indiana Jones & Harrison Ford” (2023) and “Steven Spielberg & John Williams: The Adventure Continues” (2017).
Bouzereau said the following about Williams and the upcoming project.
Growing up in France, I discovered the soundtracks I bought on vinyl ahead of most American movies that would come out months after the U.S. release. John Williams was the composer I immediately identified with; his scores made me fall in love with music, and made me realize at a very young age, the power that a score had on cinematic storytelling. This was an important story to tell, not only because it is about one of the greatest composers of all time, but because of the message it carries about the survival of orchestral music, and musicians.
The documentary will include interviews with Steven Spielberg, Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall, Kate Capshaw, Gustavo Dudamel, J.J. Abrams, Chris Martin, Ron Howard, Chris Columbus, George Lucas, Itzhak Perlman, Lawrence Kasdan, Yo-Yo Ma, Ke Huy Quan, James Mangold, Alan Silvestri, David Newman, Thomas Newman, Seth MacFarlane, Anne-Sophie Mutter, and Branford Marsalis.
Bob Gazzale, AFI President and CEO, said the following about the premiere of the new documentary.
John Williams is an American icon with a true and timeless global impact. One could say we are ‘over the moon’ to host the World Premiere of the film, but that sentiment would hardly soar without the music of E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL.”
Following its world premiere, “Music by John Williams” will have a limited theatrical release. Beginning on November 1, it will be available on Disney+.
In 2016, AFI presented Williams with their AFI Life Achievement Award. He was the first composer to receive this honor. This year, Williams was named a Disney Legend.
AFI FEST takes place October 23 – 27 at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. Passes are available at FEST.AFI.com.
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