Documentary by Oscar Nominee Liz Garbus Has Netflix Release on June 26; Theatrical Premiere on June 24
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Film Chronicles Nina Simone's Journey from Child Piano Prodigy to Iconic Musician and Passionate Activist, Told in Her Own Words
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WHAT HAPPENED, MISS SIMONE?, a Netflix Original Documentary on music icon Nina Simone from Oscar®-nominated filmmaker Liz Garbus, will premiere in all territories where Netflix is available on Friday, June 26 at 12:01am PT. Netflix will also release the film theatrically on Wednesday, June 24 in New York and Friday, June 26 in Los Angeles. The film received its world premiere as the Opening Night film of the 2015 Sundance Film Festival.
Classically trained pianist, dive-bar chanteuse, black power icon and legendary recording artist, Nina Simone lived a life of brutal honesty, musical genius and tortured melancholy. In this epic documentary, director Liz Garbus interweaves never-before-heard recordings and rare archival footage together with Nina's most memorable songs, to create an unforgettable portrait of one of the least understood, yet most beloved, artists of our time.
The film uses recently unearthed audio tapes, recorded over the course of three decades, of Nina telling her life story to various interviewers and would-be biographers. From over 100 hours of these recordings, WHAT HAPPENED, MISS SIMONE? weaves together Nina's narrative, told largely in her own words. Rare concert footage and archival interviews, along with diaries, letters, interviews with Nina's daughter, Lisa Simone Kelly, friends and collaborators, along with other exclusive materials, make this the most authentic, personal and unflinching telling of the extraordinary life of one of the 20th century's greatest recording artists.
The documentary was directed by Academy Award®-nominated Liz Garbus (The Farm: Angola, USA; Bobby Fischer Against The World) and produced by RadicalMedia's Jon Kamen (The Fog of War), Justin Wilkes (Under African Skies), Tangerine Entertainment's Amy Hobby (Lucky Them), and Jayson Jackson of Seven Days Entertainment. The film was executive produced by Lisa Simone Kelly, Sidney Beaumont of RadicalMedia, and Netflix's Lisa Nishimura and Adam Del Deo. The film was produced in cooperation with the Estate of Nina Simone.
Alongside the film, Revive Music/RCA/Sony will be recording an album paying homage to Nina Simone. Key contemporary artists who are fans of Simone were asked to cover one of her many iconic songs. Artists participating include Lauryn Hill, Common, Mary J. Blige, Usher, and Lisa Simone Kelly, among others.
For more information,visit: www.netflix.com/misssimone
Twitter: @Netflix #MissSimone
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