ABRAMORAMA ACQUIRES NORTH AMERICAN THEATRICAL RIGHTS TO STANLEY NELSON’S MILES DAVIS: BIRTH OF THE COOL
Film Opens at The Film Forum in NYC August 23 and The Landmark in LA August 30; Additional Markets to Follow
New York, NY / Los Angeles, CA – July 30, 2019 – Abramorama announced today a deal with Eagle Rock Entertainment to theatrically release Stanley Nelson’s much anticipated documentary on the life of jazz trumpeter and composer Miles Davis. MILES DAVIS: BIRTH OF THE COOL, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2019, will start its theatrical run at The Film Forum in New York on Friday, August 23, followed by The Landmark in Los Angeles on Friday, August 30 and in additional markets beginning in September.
“The story of Miles Davis – who he was as a man and artist – has often been told as the tale of a drug-addled genius,” said the director Stanley Nelson. “You rarely see a portrait of a man that worked hard at honing his craft, a man who deeply studied all forms of music, from Baroque to classical Indian. An elegant man who could render ballads with such tenderness yet hold rage in his heart from the racism he faced throughout his life. I’ve been fascinated with Miles since my college years and have dreamed of telling his story ever since. I am beyond thrilled to be working with Abramorama on the release of this film that is very special to me.”
With full access to the Miles Davis Estate, the film features never-before-seen footage, including studio outtakes from his recording sessions, rare photos and new interviews. Quincy Jones, Carlos Santana, Clive Davis, Wayne Shorter and Ron Carter are just a few of the luminaries weighing in on Davis’ life and career. Following its Sundance world premiere, Variety said the film was “superbly crafted” and “a tantalizing portrait: rich, probing, mournful, romantic, triumphant, tragic, exhilarating, and blisteringly honest” and Rolling Stone called the film “essential.”
Abramorama’s Richard Abramowitz (CEO) and Evan Saxon (Head of West Coast Acquisitions and Business Development) added, “The opportunity to work with Stanley is an honor and to be able to do it on this film is particularly rewarding as we've long prided ourselves in presenting films about the greatest talents in musical history. Miles Davis is in the Pantheon along with The Beatles, Dylan, Coltrane and a very few others who've changed the sound of contemporary music and culture.”
MILES DAVIS: BIRTH OF THE COOL (2019, USA/UK, RT 1:54:58– English) ABRAMORAMA AND EAGLE ROCK ENTERTAINMENT PRESENT A STANLEY NELSON FILM. A FIRELIGHT, EAGLE ROCK FILMS, AND AMERICAN MASTERS PICTURES PRODUCTION IN ASSOCIATION WITH BBC MUSIC. FOR AMERICAN MASTERS PICTURES: EXECUTIVE PRODUCER MICHAEL KANTOR, SERIES PRODUCER JULIE SACKS, SUPERVISING PRODUCER JUNKO TSUNASHIMA. FOR BBC MUSIC: COMMISSIONING EDITOR JAN YOUNGHUSBAND. FOR BBC TWO: EXECUTIVE PRODUCER ADAM BARKER. FOR EAGLE ROCK ENTERTAINMENT: SUPERVISING PRODUCER PETER WORSLEY, EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS TERRY SHAND GEOFF KEMPIN. ANIMATION AND GRAPHICS BIG STAR MOTION DESIGN, ASSOCIATE EDITOR YUSUF KAPADIA, ASSOCIATE EDITOR NATASHA MOTTOLA, EDITOR LEWIS ERSKINE, ASSOCIATE PRODUCER LAUREN WIMBUSH, CONSULTING PRODUCER MARCIA SMITH, PRODUCER NICOLE LONDON, PRODUCED AND DIRECTED BY STANLEY NELSON. AN ABRAMORAMA NORTH AMERICAN THEATRICAL RELEASE.
For more information please visit www.milesdavismovie.com
ABOUT EAGLE ROCK
Eagle Vision is an imprint of Eagle Rock Entertainment, the world-leading producer and distributor of music-related audiovisual content. Founded in 1997, the multi-award-winning company completes over 50 productions a year including concerts, documentaries, scripted formats and specials representing over 2,000 hours of programming. The vast catalogue includes work by award-winning filmmakers such as Martin Scorsese, Brett Morgan, Paul Dugdale, Stanley Nelson and Bob Smeaton. Eagle Rock has worked alongside a variety of artists including the Rolling Stones, Madonna, Jay Z, Paul McCartney, Katy Perry, Frank Sinatra, Black Sabbath and Imagine Dragons. For more information visit www.eagle-rock.com.
ABOUT AMERICAN MASTERS PICTURES
Founded in 2016 by executive producer Michael Kantor, American Masters Pictures is WNET’s theatrical imprint for documentaries co-produced by American Masters, the award-winning biography series that celebrates our arts and culture. American Masters Pictures partners with filmmakers, distributors and sales agents on non-broadcast releases including film festivals, theatrical, online, DVD, VOD and OTT, with PBS as the exclusive U.S. broadcaster of all films as part of the American Masters series. Films include Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool, N. Scott Momaday: Words from a Bear, Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am, Sammy Davis, Jr.: I’ve Gotta Be Me, Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story, Itzhak, Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You, Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise and Garry Winogrand: All Things are Photographable. Since 1986, American Masters has set the standard for documentary film profiles, accruing widespread critical acclaim: 28 Emmy Awards — including 10 for Outstanding Non-Fiction Series and five for Outstanding Non-Fiction Special — 14 Peabodys, an Oscar, three Grammys, two Producers Guild Awards and many other honors. The series is a production of THIRTEEN PRODUCTIONS LLC for WNET.
ABOUT FIRELIGHT
Firelight is a premier destination for non-fiction content by, for, and about people of color. Firelight produces documentary films, supports emerging filmmakers of color, and cultivates audiences for their work. Co-founded by National Humanities Medalist and MacArthur “Genius” Stanley Nelson, Firelight films have garnered multiple Primetime Emmys, Peabodys, and Sundance awards. Films include The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution; Freedom Riders; Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple, and The Murder of Emmett Till. For more information, visit www.firelightfilms.tv
ABOUT ABRAMORAMA
Abramorama is the preeminent global theatrical distribution and rights management partner for documentary and music films today and is recognized for the consistent high quality of its work on award winning feature films. An innovator in the focused, personalized form of film distribution and event cinema, Abramorama provides invaluable alternatives to filmmakers and content owners. An industry leader in marketing, promotion, and distribution, Abramorama continues to trail-blaze exciting new pathways for filmmakers to find their audience. Over the course of nearly 20 years, Abramorama has successfully distributed and marketed hundreds of films and recently launched its music-centric film fund focused on the global release of iconic music documentaries. For more information visit www.abramorama.com