“Billie Holiday: Reaching for the Moon Exclusive Screening and Live Q&A of the film: BILLIE - The 92nd Street Y, New York

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Billie Holiday: Reaching for the Moon—An Exploration and Celebration

Exclusive Film Screening and Live Q&A: BILLIE

Billie

Join us for a free exclusive screening of Emmy-nominated director James Erskine’s new documentary BILLIE, just days ahead of its theatrical and virtual release.

The screening will be followed by a live online Q&A with director James Erskine and executive producer Michele Smith, Vice President of Estate and Legacy Brand Management at Concord, and manager of the Billie Holiday Estate.

BILLIE draws upon hundreds of newly unearthed interviews conducted in the 1970s by late journalist and to-be Holiday biographer Linda Lipnack Kuehl with jazz luminaries—including Count Basie, Tony Bennett, Charles Mingus and Sylvia Syms—with Holiday’s friends and lovers, even with the FBI agents who kept her under surveillance. The film is rich with archival film and photos, with key footage colorized and brought to life as never before. Raw and unflinching, BILLIE captures an untold story of exploitation, racism, addiction and politics, and offers a rare look at the tumultuous and tragically brief life of the woman behind one of music’s most influential artists.

COURTESY OF GREENWICH ENTERTAINMENT

The Q&A can be accessed anywhere in the world but please note that the documentary can only be streamed in the United States for 48 hours after the start time. We’ll send you a notification when the screening is about to begin.

Watch the trailer.

Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13. Parents are urged to be cautious for use of language and subject matter.

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James Erskine

James Erskine

Emmy-nominated director James Erskine’s theatrical documentary work includes critically-acclaimed hits The Ice King …

Michele Smith

Michele Smith

As Vice President of Estate and Legacy Brand Management at Concord, Smith oversees the STAX brand and the estates of Billie Holiday …

Please note that all 92Y regularly scheduled in-person programs are suspended.