Once Upon a Time in Harlem Trailer: The Documentary of the Year Is Coming This October

      The only film to be showcased at Sundance, Cannes, Telluride, TIFF, NYFF, and London this year, Once Upon a Time in Harlem stands out as the best documentary of 2026. This remarkable time capsule features footage shot by the late William Greaves (Symbiopsychotaxiplasm) and his son David Greaves during a 1972 party hosted by Duke Ellington. The film includes key figures from the Harlem Renaissance engaged in an animated, extensive dialogue reflecting on their individual personalities and artistic pursuits that contributed to a historic movement. With a theatrical release from NEON set for October 16, the complete trailer and a new poster have been unveiled.

      Here’s the synopsis: “A decade after his passing, genre-bending filmmaker William Greaves presents one last remarkable project that he deemed the most significant event he recorded: a 1972 party that he orchestrated with the prominent figures of the Harlem Renaissance. Over four hours, this extraordinary assembly – many of whom had not reunited in half a century – shared memories, critiqued, debated, laughed, and drank as they navigated their place in an ever-evolving cultural environment. Shot on 16mm film, newly restored and now directed by Greaves’ son David, this pivotal film serves as both a self-exploration and an investigation into the essence of the dynamic energy known as the Harlem Renaissance. William Greaves aimed not just to document these artists and intellectuals discussing their lives and work but also to explore the significance of the remarkable creative era they experienced, fostering a deeper understanding of how culture is transmitted across generations and the vital role artists play in preserving it.”

      Kent M. Wilhelm remarked in his Sundance review, “Imagine this: it’s a cloudy day in August 1972. You’re at a cocktail party at Duke Ellington’s residence in Harlem. While awkwardly holding a glass of punch, you find yourself enveloped in a lively discussion about art, politics, and society amid one of the most vibrant intellectual and creative movements of modern times. This is the experience presented in William and David Greaves’ Once Upon a Time in Harlem, an immersive and masterfully crafted documentary that offers a living, breathing oral history of the Harlem Renaissance. Viewing it feels like discovering hidden treasure.”

      Check out the trailer and poster below: