Neon has made its second acquisition of the Sundance Film Festival with Jamila Wignot’s Ailey, about dance legend Alvin Ailey.
The film debuted at the festival yesterday in the U.S. Documentary Competition section. The documentary explores Ailey’s life and his connection to the present dance company that bears his name with never-before-heard audio interviews recorded in the last year of his life and rare dance performances by the Ailey Company. Ailey found salvation through dance and he pioneered choreography centering on African American experiences. He endured racism and homophobia; addiction and mental illness.
Darcy Heusel, Neon’s Head of Impact and Audience Engagement, remarked “Ailey is a searing and inspirational account of a visionary artistic genius who used his gift of dance and movement to express the Black American experience. Jamila Wignot has created an indelible portrait of both the artist and his work and Neon is...
The film debuted at the festival yesterday in the U.S. Documentary Competition section. The documentary explores Ailey’s life and his connection to the present dance company that bears his name with never-before-heard audio interviews recorded in the last year of his life and rare dance performances by the Ailey Company. Ailey found salvation through dance and he pioneered choreography centering on African American experiences. He endured racism and homophobia; addiction and mental illness.
Darcy Heusel, Neon’s Head of Impact and Audience Engagement, remarked “Ailey is a searing and inspirational account of a visionary artistic genius who used his gift of dance and movement to express the Black American experience. Jamila Wignot has created an indelible portrait of both the artist and his work and Neon is...
- 2/1/2021
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Neon has acquired its second film out of the 2021 Sundance Film Festival: Jamila Wignot’s “Ailey,” about dance legend Alvin Ailey.
The film, which debuted at the festival on Saturday to critical acclaim, includes never-before-heard audio interviews recorded in the last year of his life, with rare dance performances by the Ailey Company.
Ailey was a visionary artist who founded one of the world’s most renowned dance companies — the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater — at age 27.
“Ailey is a searing and inspirational account of a visionary artistic genius who used his gift of dance and movement to express the Black American experience,” Darcy Heusel, Neon’s head of impact and audience engagement, said in a statement. “Jamila Wignot has created an indelible portrait of both the artist and his work and Neon is thrilled to be part of continuing his legacy by bringing this remarkable film to theaters across the country.
The film, which debuted at the festival on Saturday to critical acclaim, includes never-before-heard audio interviews recorded in the last year of his life, with rare dance performances by the Ailey Company.
Ailey was a visionary artist who founded one of the world’s most renowned dance companies — the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater — at age 27.
“Ailey is a searing and inspirational account of a visionary artistic genius who used his gift of dance and movement to express the Black American experience,” Darcy Heusel, Neon’s head of impact and audience engagement, said in a statement. “Jamila Wignot has created an indelible portrait of both the artist and his work and Neon is thrilled to be part of continuing his legacy by bringing this remarkable film to theaters across the country.
- 2/1/2021
- by Beatrice Verhoeven
- The Wrap
"Moonlight" writer-director Barry Jenkins will direct a biopic about late African-American iconic choreographer, Alvin Ailey.?Julian Breece is writing the script.
Film studio Fox Searchlight first announced the project in March 2018, saying it had the support of the Ailey Organisation. Singer-songwriter Alicia Keys is producing with Susan Lewis through her Ak Worldwide production company, along with Judy Kinberg, Rachel Cohen and Jana Edelbaum from iDeal Partners, as per reports.
Ailey, who was raised in rural Texas by a single mother, founded the interracial Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre in New York in 1958 and helped popularise modern dance. His "Revelations" became one of the most-performed modern dance pieces in history.
Ailey received the Kennedy Centre Honours in 1988, a year before he died at the age of 58 from AIDS-related complications. In 2014, former Us President Barack Obama selected Ailey to be a posthumous recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
The project includes...
Film studio Fox Searchlight first announced the project in March 2018, saying it had the support of the Ailey Organisation. Singer-songwriter Alicia Keys is producing with Susan Lewis through her Ak Worldwide production company, along with Judy Kinberg, Rachel Cohen and Jana Edelbaum from iDeal Partners, as per reports.
Ailey, who was raised in rural Texas by a single mother, founded the interracial Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre in New York in 1958 and helped popularise modern dance. His "Revelations" became one of the most-performed modern dance pieces in history.
Ailey received the Kennedy Centre Honours in 1988, a year before he died at the age of 58 from AIDS-related complications. In 2014, former Us President Barack Obama selected Ailey to be a posthumous recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
The project includes...
- 6/4/2019
- GlamSham
“Moonlight” writer-director Barry Jenkins will direct a biopic about iconic choreographer Alvin Ailey.
Fox Searchlight first announced the project in March 2018, saying it had the support of the Ailey Organization. Singer-songwriter Alicia Keys is producing with Susan Lewis through her Ak Worldwide production company, along with Judy Kinberg, Rachel Cohen and Jana Edelbaum from iDeal Partners. The untitled project is a co-production between Ak Worldwide, iDeal Partners and Jenkins’ Pastel. Jenkins will be an executive producer alongside Jana Edelbaum and Susan Lewis.
Julian Breece is writing the script. Ailey, who was raised in rural Texas by a single mother, founded the interracial Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in New York City in 1958 and helped popularize modern dance. His “Revelations” became one of the most-performed modern dance pieces in history.
Ailey received the Kennedy Center Honors in 1988, a year before he died at the age of 58 from AIDS-related complications. In 2014, President...
Fox Searchlight first announced the project in March 2018, saying it had the support of the Ailey Organization. Singer-songwriter Alicia Keys is producing with Susan Lewis through her Ak Worldwide production company, along with Judy Kinberg, Rachel Cohen and Jana Edelbaum from iDeal Partners. The untitled project is a co-production between Ak Worldwide, iDeal Partners and Jenkins’ Pastel. Jenkins will be an executive producer alongside Jana Edelbaum and Susan Lewis.
Julian Breece is writing the script. Ailey, who was raised in rural Texas by a single mother, founded the interracial Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in New York City in 1958 and helped popularize modern dance. His “Revelations” became one of the most-performed modern dance pieces in history.
Ailey received the Kennedy Center Honors in 1988, a year before he died at the age of 58 from AIDS-related complications. In 2014, President...
- 6/3/2019
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
Barry Jenkins will direct the untitled Fox Searchlight biopic based on the life of one of dance’s most influential choreographers and a seminal figure in the African American culture, Alvin Ailey.
Jenkins most recently garnered a best adapted screenplay Oscar nomination last year for his work translating James Baldwin’s “If Beale Street Could Talk” to the screen. The film, produced and distributed by Annapurna, also earned Regina King her first Academy Award for best supporting actress.
The director of course won best picture at the Oscars two years for his breakout film “Moonlight,” which also took home awards for best adapted screenplay — written by Jenkins, based on the play by Tarell Alvin McCraney — and best supporting actor for Mahershala Ali.
Also Read: Barry Jenkins Amazon Drama 'Underground Railroad' Casts 3 Leads
Fox Searchlight, now under the Walt Disney umbrella, inked its deal last year with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater...
Jenkins most recently garnered a best adapted screenplay Oscar nomination last year for his work translating James Baldwin’s “If Beale Street Could Talk” to the screen. The film, produced and distributed by Annapurna, also earned Regina King her first Academy Award for best supporting actress.
The director of course won best picture at the Oscars two years for his breakout film “Moonlight,” which also took home awards for best adapted screenplay — written by Jenkins, based on the play by Tarell Alvin McCraney — and best supporting actor for Mahershala Ali.
Also Read: Barry Jenkins Amazon Drama 'Underground Railroad' Casts 3 Leads
Fox Searchlight, now under the Walt Disney umbrella, inked its deal last year with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater...
- 6/3/2019
- by Trey Williams
- The Wrap
Oscar winner Barry Jenkins is preparing his return to the big screen after last year’s “If Beale Street Could Talk.” Deadline reports that the “Moonlight” and “Medicine for Melancholy” filmmaker has been set to direct Fox Searchlight’s currently untitled film based on the life of celebrated choreographer Alvin Ailey.
The outlet reports that the speciality hub of Fox struck a deal with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater just last year, “which granted full cooperation from the organization that controls the rights to Ailey’s choreography.” The package also includes the rights to Jennifer Dunning’s biography “Alvin Ailey: A Life In Dance.” Searchlight and the film’s producers will reportedly work closely with Artistic Director Robert Battle and Artistic Director Emerita, Judith Jamison, “to bring Ailey’s story and choreography to the screen.”
Rising screenwriter Julian Breece will write the script for the film. The “Buppies” creator...
The outlet reports that the speciality hub of Fox struck a deal with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater just last year, “which granted full cooperation from the organization that controls the rights to Ailey’s choreography.” The package also includes the rights to Jennifer Dunning’s biography “Alvin Ailey: A Life In Dance.” Searchlight and the film’s producers will reportedly work closely with Artistic Director Robert Battle and Artistic Director Emerita, Judith Jamison, “to bring Ailey’s story and choreography to the screen.”
Rising screenwriter Julian Breece will write the script for the film. The “Buppies” creator...
- 6/3/2019
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
Exclusive: Barry Jenkins has been set by Fox Searchlight to direct its untitled film based on the life of Alvin Ailey, one of the most influential choreographers of the 20th Century.
Searchlight made a deal early last year with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater which granted full cooperation from the organization that controls the rights to Ailey’s choreography. The package also included the rights to Jennifer Dunning’s seminal biography Alvin Ailey: A Life In Dance. Fox Searchlight and the producers will be working closely with Artistic Director Robert Battle and Artistic Director Emerita, Judith Jamison, to bring Ailey’s story and choreography to the screen.
Setting Jenkins is a coup for the studio. The filmmaker won an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay for Best Picture-winner Moonlight, his breakout film for which he was also nominated for Best Director. Most recently, he was nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay...
Searchlight made a deal early last year with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater which granted full cooperation from the organization that controls the rights to Ailey’s choreography. The package also included the rights to Jennifer Dunning’s seminal biography Alvin Ailey: A Life In Dance. Fox Searchlight and the producers will be working closely with Artistic Director Robert Battle and Artistic Director Emerita, Judith Jamison, to bring Ailey’s story and choreography to the screen.
Setting Jenkins is a coup for the studio. The filmmaker won an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay for Best Picture-winner Moonlight, his breakout film for which he was also nominated for Best Director. Most recently, he was nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay...
- 6/3/2019
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
Oscar winner Barry Jenkins has found his next project — a new feature about legendary choreographer and dancer Alvin Ailey.
The untitled feature is set up at Fox Searchlight, which purchased the rights to Jennifer Dunning’s biography Alvin Ailey: A Life In Dance and will also have full cooperation from the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, which controls the rights to Ailey’s choreography.
Jenkins will direct from a script by Julian Breece, who recently worked on Ava DuVernay's Netflix series When They See Us.
Pastel, Jenkins' production banner, will produce alongside Ak Worldwide Media and iDeal Partners. Judy Kinberg,...
The untitled feature is set up at Fox Searchlight, which purchased the rights to Jennifer Dunning’s biography Alvin Ailey: A Life In Dance and will also have full cooperation from the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, which controls the rights to Ailey’s choreography.
Jenkins will direct from a script by Julian Breece, who recently worked on Ava DuVernay's Netflix series When They See Us.
Pastel, Jenkins' production banner, will produce alongside Ak Worldwide Media and iDeal Partners. Judy Kinberg,...
The Paley Center for Media's PaleyDocFest, which runs from Oct. 16-27 in New York, will kick off with Kristi Jacobson's "Toots," a documentary about the celebrated saloon keeper Toots Shor. Jacabson, Gay Talese, Periane Conerly and LeRoy Neiman will take part in a Q&A accompanying the film.
The fest will include the New York premieres of "Johnny Cash's America," "Running the Sahara" and "American Masters: Jerome Robbins - Something to Dance About."
It will also include a special preview of "Sweet Dreams."
"The Paley Center for Media has a deep commitment to documentaries. We believe in the power of this art form to inspire and to tell stories in a way that captures the imagination and expands our horizons," Pat Mitchell, president and CEO of The Paley Center for Media, said. "In our vast collection of documentaries, we offer some of the most well-known and celebrated documentaries...
The fest will include the New York premieres of "Johnny Cash's America," "Running the Sahara" and "American Masters: Jerome Robbins - Something to Dance About."
It will also include a special preview of "Sweet Dreams."
"The Paley Center for Media has a deep commitment to documentaries. We believe in the power of this art form to inspire and to tell stories in a way that captures the imagination and expands our horizons," Pat Mitchell, president and CEO of The Paley Center for Media, said. "In our vast collection of documentaries, we offer some of the most well-known and celebrated documentaries...
- 10/2/2008
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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