Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibilityOnce Upon A Time In Harlem | 2026 Sundance Film Festival
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Once Upon A Time In Harlem

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United States2026100 minEnglish
Once Upon A Time In Harlem

A decade after his death, genre-defying filmmaker William Greaves has one last trick up his sleeve with what he considered the most important event he captured on film: a 1972 party he engineered with the living luminaries of the Harlem Renaissance.

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A decade after his death, genre-defying filmmaker William Greaves has one last trick up his sleeve with what he considered the most important event he captured on film: a 1972 party he engineered with the living luminaries of the Harlem Renaissance.

Already an established documentarian and having just made Symbiopsychotaxiplasm: Take One, William Greaves gathered some of the key artists, musicians, librarians, poets, journalists, actors, photographers, teachers, and critics of the Harlem Renaissance at Duke Ellington’s home for a party, which he filmed. The resulting lively conversations, built around vivid retelling of past events, are in part old friends reconnecting, in part a rehashing of familiar conflicts, and in part personal memories becoming recorded history. Co-directed by his son David Greaves, who was a cameraman that day at Ellington’s apartment, Once Upon A Time In Harlem is a staggering achievement, both as a record of one of the most significant artistic movements in American history, and also as a chronicle of the magical power of art and its creation to remake our world. — SS

Available in person only.

PremieresAll FeaturesBIPOC StoriesNonfictionClosed CaptionOpen CaptionU.S. Only- less

Screenings

in persononline not available
  • Jan 25, 5:45 PM MST
    Premiere

    The Yarrow Theatre

    Park City

    Closed CaptionClosed Caption

  • Jan 26, 10:20 AM MST
    Screening

    Megaplex Redstone - 3

    Park City

    Closed CaptionClosed Caption

  • Jan 27, 3:00 PM MST
    Screening

    Broadway Centre Cinemas - 3

    Salt Lake City

    Open CaptionOpen Caption

    ASL (Q&A only)ASL (Q&A only)

  • Jan 31, 1:00 PM MST
    Screening

    Holiday Village Cinemas - 2

    Park City

    Closed CaptionClosed Caption

  • Feb 1, 10:20 AM MST
    Screening

    Megaplex Redstone - 3

    Park City

    Closed CaptionClosed Caption

    Credits

    • Director(s)

      William Greaves

      David Greaves

    • Producers

      Liani Greaves

      Anne de Mare

    • Edited By

      Lynn True

      Anne de Mare

    • Composer

      Tamar-kali

    • Camera Crew

      David Greaves

      Doug Harris

      David Hoffman

      Jerry Pantzer

    • Sound

      Clive Davidson

      Roland Mitchell

    • Sound Design and Mix by

      Mike Frank

    • Titles

      Sean Donnelly

    • Archival Producer

      Matt Hoffman

    • Graphic Design

      Yen Tan

    • Contact

      Liani Greaves

      liani@wgprodinc.com

    Meet the Artist

    Panelist Name

    William Greaves

      Throughout his genre-defying career, filmmaker William Greaves was the producer, writer, director, cinematographer, and editor of 79 films. Spanning documentary, narrative, and hybrid forms, the films tell a vast, complex story about the major figures engaged in the fight for social justice, equal opportunity, and basic respect.

      Panelist Name

      David Greaves

      • Instagram

      David Greaves is an award-winning filmmaker and journalist. He worked as cinematographer and editor on many of his father William Greaves’ films, including the famed feature film Symbiopsychotaxiplasm: Take One. Significantly, he was one of the original cameramen during the 1972 shoot for Once Upon A Time In Harlem.

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