Summer of Soul Doc Lands with Searchlight Pictures & Hulu

Searchlight Pictures and Disney General Entertainment’s BIPOC Creator Initiative have picked up Summer of Soul (…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised), which is set for a theatrical release and will stream on Hulu in the U.S. and internationally on Star and Star+.

Directed by Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, Summer of Soul (…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised) charts how in 1969, during the same summer as Woodstock, the Harlem Cultural Festival took place 100 miles away with more than 300,000 people in attendance. It was filmed, but after that summer, the footage sat in a basement for 50 years and has never been seen until now.

Part concert film, part historical record, Summer of Soul features interviews with historic personalities like Harlem “Ambassador” Musa Jackson as well as interviews and performances by such artists as B.B. King, Cal Tjader, The Harlem Calypso Band, Hugh Masekela, Mongo Santamaria, Nina Simone, Sly & the Family Stone, Stevie Wonder, Mahalia Jackson and Mavis Staples.

Summer of Soul is a Vulcan Productions production in association with Concordia Studio, Play/Action Pictures, LarryBilly Productions and produced by Mass Distraction Media and RadicalMedia.

Tara Duncan, who leads Disney General Entertainment’s BIPOC Creator Initiative, said: “It’s rare to find a film that captures the breadth of the Black American experience and also makes you want to dance, testify and sing out loud. Ahmir has gifted us with a brilliantly crafted, nearly forgotten gem from our history, and we are honored to help bring Summer of Soul to audiences.”

Searchlight Chairmen Nancy Utley and Steve Gilula said: “Ahmir has crafted an incredible and inspiring debut film that is both timeless and relevant. We’re very proud to be involved in bringing this cultural celebration to the widest audience possible both in theaters and at home.”

Rebecca Campbell, chairman of international operations and direct-to-consumer, part of Disney Media Entertainment Distribution, said: “Summer Of Soul (Or, When The Revolution Could Not Be Televised) is both a joyous and revelatory documentary helmed by one of the most gifted artists of his generation. We’re honored Hulu and our upcoming Star and Star+ offerings will be the exclusive streaming homes around the world to this groundbreaking film.”

Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson said: “I’m so honored to be allowed to manifest my dreams after all this time. This is truly an honor. Summer of Soul is a passion project and to have it resonate with so many people on so many levels has been incredibly rewarding. I am very happy to begin this new chapter with the team at Searchlight/Disney/Hulu and look forward to sharing the important story behind the film with audiences worldwide.

David Dinerstein and Robert Fyvolent said: “It was a dream to work with Ahmir on bringing this long-buried treasure back into the world. It’s been overwhelming to watch audiences rediscover this lost piece of history and fall in love with our film. As people are struggling to restore their lives in the midst of a pandemic, we feel this film will bring joy, together with a needed reexamination of important social issues. We could not have asked for a better launch from the Sundance Film Festival, and we are deeply excited to partner with Searchlight Pictures, Hulu and the Disney family on an epic global release.”

Jon Kamen, executive producer at CEO of RadicalMedia, said: “It was a joy to support Ahmir and bring this story to life. We’re incredibly proud of the reaction the film has gotten from audiences and the Sundance Grand Jury, and we’re excited to share this story with viewers across the globe.”