Once Upon a Time in Harlem: A Documentary of the Harlem Renaissance
Neon has acquired the U.S. rights to Once Upon a Time in Harlem, a documentary film that was originally filmed in 1972 by William Greaves and later restored and directed by his son, David Greaves. The film, which showcases the vibrancy of the Harlem Renaissance, premiered at Sundance and is set for a theatrical release later this year.
In this documentary shot in 16MM, William Greaves captures a 1972 gathering of the luminaries of the Harlem Renaissance. Artists and intellectuals who had not seen each other in fifty years came together to reminisce, critique, argue, laugh, and drink, reflecting on their place in a changing cultural landscape.
David Greaves, following his father's notes and workprints, created a new feature that stays true to William's cinematic style. The film is produced by Liani Greaves, David's granddaughter, who, along with David, holds key positions at William Greaves Productions. Louise Archambault Greaves, William's wife and creative partner, co-founded the company in 1963 and played a crucial role in restoring his films after his passing in 2014.
Producer Anne de Mare collaborated with Louise to preserve and digitize over 60,000 feet of previously unseen 16mm footage shot by Greaves in 1972. The preservation efforts were overseen by preservationist Bill Brand. The deal for Once Upon a Time in Harlem was negotiated by Sarah Colvin of NEON and Jason Ishikawa and Isadora Johnson of Cinetic Media on behalf of the filmmakers.
Neon also acquired the horror film Leviticus at Sundance.