The Streaming Archive

Kindred Spirits

Dir. Andreas Gabriel Guzman

Members of the American Ballet Theatre Studio Company face new experiences through a cultural exchange tour to Hong Kong in “Kindred Spirits.” As the group of promising and talented young dancers confront tight rehearsal schedules, copious events, and last-minute casting changes triggered by unexpected health crises, they persevere to ensure that the show will go on no matter what. Behind the scenes footage reveals their individual stories and shines a light on the power of connecting across communities and cultures through dance.

Prisoner

Dir. Chanchan Gou

A woman tied by a red thread struggles for freedom from an abusive partner in “Prisoner.” Paralyzed and silenced by the expectations of womanhood and the withering power of patriarchal structures, her world is dim and lifeless. She imagines a world of passion, yet fails to find her agency to move independently within it. All at once, she makes a break to escape—but can she ever truly be free?

Silent Lines

Dir. Martin Collins

Silent Lines was inspired by Maliphant’s research and explorations in movement and anatomy to create rich and resonant aesthetics for the stage using a blend mix of music, movement, animated video projection, and lighting. The piece investigates a range of poetic possibilities from internal and external environments, the microcosm and the macrocosm. Drawing on methodologies from a variety of movement disciplines and setting the movement within a world of animated light and atmospheric sound, Silent Lines explores the endless web of connections we encompass and embody.

In Search of Mozart

Dir. Phil Grabsky

An exquisitely shot documentary tracing the life of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, journeying to the heart of old Europe and the essence of genius itself. Mozart's music, renowned for its complexity and revolutionary impact, redefined musical styles and transformed live performance. Director Phil Grabsky delves deep into his brilliance through insights from leading musicologists like Jonathan Miller and Nicholas Till, and performances by world-class artists including Renée Fleming, Lang Lang, and the Vienna Philharmonic. Narrated by Juliet Stevenson, with Samuel West lending his voice to the composer, a vivid new portrait of Mozart emerges. The film explores the profound connections between his personal life and his musical innovations that forever changed classical music.

Intimate Pages

Dir. Thomas Grimm

This Christopher Bruce ballet is set to Janáček's String Quartet No.2. The composer wrote this piece in 1928, the last year of his life, inspired by his unconsummated love for a young married woman he had met in 1917 and to whom he wrote over six hundred letters. Bruce's lyrical work expresses both the joy and the anguish that are present in Janáček's music.

The Story of Breaking Bach

Dir. Kim Brandstrup

Learn the creative story behind "Breaking Bach" before watching the full film, and feel inspired by the students at the heart of the bold dance project that dared to blend hip hop with the intricate rhythms of Baroque music. Hear how young dancers navigated the creative challenge of dancing to an entirely unfamiliar genre of music. What begins as hesitation quickly becomes a revelation. Over a period of two years, the students immerse themselves in a new musical world, discovering new ways to move, listen, and flow along the way. In 2023, choreographer Kim Brandstrup joined forces with North London's Acland Burghley School, the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, and professional dancers Tommy Franzen and Deavion Brown to create a new work set to Bach's Concerto for Two Violins in D Minor. For the students, merging Bach's intricate music with the fluid power of hip hop meant stepping far outside their comfort zones and embracing the unfamiliar.

Summer Jazz Tour

Dir. Giuseppe De Vecchi

Take a musical road trip from the south to the north of France with the Jazz Summer Tour. Discover an anthology of live performances and unscripted moments recorded during France’s 2021 summer jazz festivals like Saint-Omer Jaaz Festival, Jazz à Porquerolles, Paris Jazz Festival, and more. Follow artists like Leïla Olivesi Nonet, Archie Shepp, and Géraldine Laurent as they prepare for their sets, then follow them through to their performances at seven of France’s incredible jazz festivals. Stopping at seven jazz festivals across France, this documentary is a fascinating insight into France’s thriving jazz scene.

Répertoire#1

Dir. Mohamed Athamma

In 1998 Mourad Merzouki created Récital, in which the energy of hip-hop mingled with the fragile sound of violins to create a dialogue between six dancers. Hip-hop becomes an art form for him and Merzouki´s Compagnie Käfig begins to tour the world. 16 years later he unites five of his choreographer friends and thirty dancers in order to create Répertoire#1 which revives the most memorable pieces of the last years and gives these pieces a continuous life while presenting their creators in their esthetic uniqueness. This new ballet presents a piece each by Kader Attou, Anthony Égéa, Bouba Landrille Tschouda, and Marion Motin and four pieces by Mourad Merzouki to form an evening´s spectacle. The who´s who of French hip-hop repeats what has happened in the arts time and again: a popular movement is elevated to so called high art.

In Search of Chopin

Dir. Phil Grabsky

A critically acclaimed film uncovering the extraordinary life and enduring legacy of Frédéric Chopin, who composed some of the most profound and powerful music ever written. Over four years, award-winning filmmaker Phil Grabsky traveled Europe interviewing renowned historians and musicologists to piece together a comprehensive profile of Chopin's life. Performances and insights from world-class musicians, including Daniel Barenboim, Leif Ove Andsnes, and Ronald Brautigam, reveal the genius of a pianist unparalleled in his generation. Despite his groundbreaking fluidity and expressiveness at the piano, Chopin gave only 30 public concerts in his short life. Yet his music continues to fill concert halls worldwide, and his grave in Paris remains a revered pilgrimage site. Narrated by Juliet Stevenson and featuring RSC actor David Dawson voicing Chopin’s letters, this documentary captures the essence of one of history's greatest composers.

Sacred Monsters

Dir. Deborah May

This major work for London’s Sadler’s Wells theater brings together two preeminent dance talents, Akram Khan, world-renowned for developing his own ''contemporary Kathak'' style, and international superstar Sylvie Guillem, as they explore the dynamics and language of two great classical dance forms, kathak, and ballet. "I have spent my life studying and performing Kathak. It is the source of my creative process. Working with Sylvie Guillem is an exciting new challenge, giving me the opportunity to explore another classical dance language with one of its greatest exponents, and as a result, unearth the things that are most often lost between the classical and modern world." - Akram Khan Sacred Monsters also features additional choreography by Gauri Sharma Tripathi and Lin Hwai-Min, Artistic Director of Cloud Gate Dance Theatre in Taiwan, and live music specially created by Philip Sheppard.

Twenty

Dir. Jason Hogan

In “Twenty,” a young homeless ballet dancer is pushed to the brink in life and dance. The film follows Emily through alternating moments of grace and grit: in the ballet studio through the course of a potentially life-changing audition, and in the streets as she struggles to find somewhere to sleep. Emily’s nervy dedication helps her to navigate challenges and hardship to find joy in her dancing, no matter the outcome.

Käfig: Mosaïk

Dir. Mourad Merzouki

Enter a world where hip-hop meets contemporary dance and boldly redefines the possibilities of movement. Conceived in Togo by renowned choreographer Mourad Merzouki, this groundbreaking production assembles five virtuosic dancers to reinterpret iconic moments from Compagnie Käfig's celebrated repertoire, which spans three decades and over 4,000 performances. Blurring artistic boundaries, Merzouki blends the raw energy of street dance with the precision of ballet, the spectacle of circus, and the grace of classical music. The result transcends traditional dance, inviting audiences into an entirely new artistic realm.

Armea

Dir. Letila Mitchell

After scores of performances around the world and years away from Rotuma, "Armea" opens as the dedicated dancers and musicians of Rako Pasefika make their long awaited return home to the island. Arriving by air yet received just as their seafaring predecessors were, the Rako team engages with creative elders in the hopes of revitalizing ancient stories that are in danger of being forgotten. As Rako prepares to perform a new production inspired by the totemic Armea, their relationships with elders, knowledge keepers, healers, artisans and cultural custodians reveal deep and reciprocal connections to this ancient land and to the immense ocean from which it rises. Both an offering to those who have guided the way — such as the hån lep he rua sacred women — and a promise to sustain sacred artforms for generations to come, "Armea" is an ode to all that is small yet sacred.

Breathless

Dir. Eve McConnachie

Inside a wooden enclosure suspended outside of time, “Breathless” unfolds as a looping dance with destiny. Two dancers exchange fatal embraces as they intertwine smoothly through tense grips and supportive counterbalances. A dramatic score and revolving camera work amplify an immersively emotional experience of vulnerability and strength.

Mataperra

Dir. Rachel Trudeau

In “Mataperra,” dancer and climber Yelda del Carmen aspires to make a mark in history by becoming the first Cuban woman to conquer three legendary ascents in Viñales, Cuba. She returns to her homeland to embark on a quest that drives her to achieve much more than her climbing dreams. Through the total presence and embodied connections of dancing and climbing, she touches the heritage carried in her heart and reaffirms the connections between land, people, movement, creativity, and enduring love in an ever-changing world.

Becoming Madonna

Dir. Michael Ogden

This unflinching documentary charts Madonna's transformation from grieving teenager to pop revolutionary, using rare archival material and private voice recordings. Restored MTV clips, candid studio outtakes, and commentary from figures like Jonathan Ross follow her rise from a broke 1978 New York dancer to the force behind pop's unapologetic, female-led evolution. The film lays bare her relentless drive, meticulous image-making, and determination to control her narrative in a male-dominated industry. From the Blonde Ambition tour's censored performances to her deliberately provocative “Sex” book, it explores how Madonna turned controversy into activism, confronting AIDS-era bigotry and reshaping female power. Thirty years later, her most radical question still resonates: Can society ever truly accept a woman who refuses to apologize for her ambition?

Pixel

Dir. Mohamed Athamma

Hip Hop choreographer Mourad Merzouki brings to life a new work for the technological age. Together with his Compagnie Käfig Merzouki is credited with elevating Hip Hop, turning it into a contemporary dance form that is on par with Modern Dance or other expressions of today's dance world. This visually stunning co-production between Merzouki and digital artists Adrien Mondot and Claire Bardainne, Pixel was inspired by the everyday confrontation with, ‘’images, video screens, digitalization. Screens surround us.’’ Dancers interact with digital projections, manipulating the synthetic world they exist in.

Janine Jansen: Falling for Stradivari

Dir. Gerald Fox

November 2020: the audience follows Janine fly-on-the wall from initial research and rehearsals in Stockholm, to a hectic month in London where, accompanied on the piano by Pappano, the legendary Director of the Royal Opera, she becomes acquainted with each of the violins and select works that fit them best. Made by the legendary luthier Antonio Stradivarius, some of these violins have not been played for 200 years while others belonged to the greatest virtuosos ever, including Fritz Kreisler, Nathan Milstein, Ida Haendel and Oscar Shumsky, all featured in the film in powerful archive. Learning their histories, and coming to grips with their foibles, Janine then falls ill with Covid. Nevertheless, in a virtuoso feat of determination, she recovers to rehearse and record this astonishing album with just a day to spare before the first violin must be returned to its owner. This is a nerve-wracking, intense, and hugely exciting film, where, up close and personal, we see not only what makes these the most unique stringed instruments in the world, but also the enormous humour, spark and energy that drives two of the world’s leading musicians at the top of their creative game.

In Search of Haydn

Dir. Phil Grabsky

Prepare to be swept away by director Phil Grabsky's multi-sensory exploration of the genius of Franz Joseph Haydn. Haydn's life spanned a musical revolution, bridging the Baroque and Romantic eras. This film, narrated by Juliet Stevenson, uncovers his world, his inspirations, and his prolific output—over 100 symphonies, 64 string quartets, and beloved oratorios like “The Creation” and “The Seasons." "In Search of Haydn" isn't just a chronological biography. It places Austria’s "Father of the Symphony" center stage, showcasing captivating performances and offering a rich understanding of Haydn's artistic process through his own writings. It underscores a master composer instrumental in the development of chamber music who inspired both Mozart and Beethoven.

Incomplete

Dir. Sasha Korbut

“Incomplete” shares a man’s love letter to someone he has never met. Loneliness and longing weave through a series of imagined encounters—playful, intimate, emotional, and sensual—with New York City as a backdrop. One man’s story of yearning for love expands to a common experience in an epidemic of loneliness. Through this narrative the film poses a question: do we need another person in life to feel complete or are we missing a connection with ourselves?

Circle

Dir. Phillip Kaminiak

"Circle", is an analogy between the modern human being; living in mass cities and the phenomenon of the circle of death. This phenomenon is observed in nature with ants who are separated from the main foraging party and lose the pheromone track. They begin to follow one another, forming a continuously rotating circle, ominously known as a "death spiral". Shot in Mexico City by director Phillip Kaminiak, this vibrant and impressive city is a protagonist, symbolizing a life in endless high-speed movement and the humans who are dedicating their lives to endless movement, and self-exhaustion in a modern capitalistic-based world. This short film was part of a previous San Francisco Dance Film Festival season. Tune in this October to see select films from the 2024 festival.

Karl Jenkins: the Composer Behind the Moustache

Dir. Hefin Owen

In this heart-warming autobiographical documentary, get to know Welsh composer Karl Jenkins as he celebrates his 80th birthday. With his roots in Jazz Rock's ''Soft Machine,'' his trademark friendly moustache, and gentle demeanor, Karl Jenkins is an unassuming giant of the choral world. His choral works, with his made-up Adiemus language, have the unique ability to convey an emotional message to a mainstream audience, going beyond the boundaries of traditional classical music. His most famous work ''The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace'', is performed twice a week on average across the world. Discover a new appreciation for the world of choral music and the genius of Karl Jenkins. Sit down with Jenkins as he reflects on his unconventional career path and meet some of the people who have supported his music throughout his journey.

Andy Warhol’s Factory People

Dir. Catherine Shorr

Step inside Andy Warhol's legendary Silver Factory, the aluminum-foiled studio that became the beating heart of 1960s counterculture. Drawn from over 50 hours of rediscovered footage and new interviews, this documentary plunges into a world of hustlers, muses, and misfits where Lou Reed jammed with socialites, silkscreens dried beside amphetamine binges, and Warhol orchestrated it all with cool detachment. Between 1964 and 1968, this converted hat factory mass-produced Pop Art and 15 minutes of fame. Factory "superstars" like the tragic Edie Sedgwick and Billy Name return to the scene with clear-eyed honesty, peeling back the layers of myth. What emerges is a portrait of a silver-walled laboratory that rewired culture's DNA—a beautiful mess where art, fame, and chaos collided, and nothing was ever the same.

But First

Dir. Erin Brown Thomas

"Coffee literally changes the way we see, think, and interact with other people. BUT FIRST is our way of exploring this through two of our favorite mediums, film and dance." - Erin Brown Thomas (Director), Mike Esperanza (Choreographer) Created as part of the San Francisco Dance Film Festival's annual Co-Laboratory program in collaboration with the National Center for Choreography at the University of Akron's Dancing Laboratories. A filmmaker and choreographer are paired together for one week to make a short dance film guided by creativity and the magic of collaboration. This short film was part of a previous San Francisco Dance Film Festival season. Tune in this October to see select films from the 2024 festival.

Rural Girl Crosses the River

Dir. LanTianWen

A group of women channel the power of a majestic mountain landscape in “Rural Girl Crosses the River.” Through mesmerizing processions and joyful group dances, they commune to support and celebrate one another along their many pathways. For the Tujia people, crossing the Qingjiang River, which carries their historical and cultural memories, is a pursuit of self-worth and a journey towards an ideal life.

Old Man at the Corner Store

Dir. Nadav Heyman

An elderly man crosses paths with young neighborhood mischief-makers and dances them through a game of “follow the leader.” As they race through the streets together, movement is their guide to exchange taunts and challenges and discover new ways of experiencing the world. This short film was part of a previous San Francisco Dance Film Festival season. Tune in this October to see select films from the 2024 festival.

How to Get Out of the Cage - a Year with John Cage

Dir. Frank Scheffer

This documentary reveals the fascinating life, mind, and work of John Cage, one of the 20th century's most influential composers and thinkers. Renowned for his groundbreaking work, including his controversial 1952 composition 4'33'', Cage was not only an artistic pioneer but a deep and philosophical thinker. When filmmaker Frank Scheffer first met Cage, their short conversation says Scheffer, ''changed my life as an artist.'' Over a decade, Scheffer collaborated closely with the composer, collecting a treasure trove of historical audio-visual material. This unique archive, comprised of interviews, musical performances, and evocative 16mm footage from Cage’s life comes together to capture the essence of this influential artist who had such a profound impact on the filmmaker. An essential watch for creatives, expect to learn some of Cage's creative techniques and guiding philosophies like the old Chinese methods based on the I Ching, and dive into the world of boundary-changing creativity.

If i Were You

Dir. Margot Gelber

In “If I Were You,” a couple shares an oscillating dance of intention and disruption. They move through a continuous exchange of support and potential peril, pushing themselves and each other toward self-discovery. They fall into known patterns, but desperate to shift, they beckon and reject each other, shattering and careening toward a fragile togetherness. Steeped in the unknown, they unfold a slow, exhausting, mesmerizing dance where souls wait patiently to be held, released, and resolved.

Répertoire#1

Dir. Mohamed Athamma

In 1998 Mourad Merzouki created Récital, in which the energy of hip-hop mingled with the fragile sound of violins to create a dialogue between six dancers. Hip-hop becomes an art form for him and Merzouki´s Compagnie Käfig begins to tour the world. 16 years later he unites five of his choreographer friends and thirty dancers in order to create Répertoire#1which revives the most memorable pieces of the last years and gives these pieces a continuous life while presenting their creators in their esthetic uniqueness. This new ballet presents a piece each by Kader Attou, Anthony Égéa, Bouba Landrille Tschouda, and Marion Motin and four pieces by Mourad Merzouki to form an evening´s spectacle. The who´s who of French hip-hop repeats what has happened in the arts time and again: a popular movement is elevated to so called high art.

Pappano Conducts Liszt & Strauss

Cond. Antonio Pappano · Dir. Kerry Clark

From Richard Strauss’ sweeping self-portrait to the musical poetry of Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, Sir Antonio Pappano conducts an evening of music that’s larger than life. Richard Strauss never did anything by halves, and he wasn’t a man for false modesty either. Ein Heldenleben (A Hero’s Life) is a grand, swashbuckling musical self-portrait or the composer as superhero, and it doesn’t hold back: there’s a battle, and even a love scene. Liszt and the British composer Samuel Coleridge-Taylor are perhaps more restrained, but every bit as imaginative. ‘A conductor has to be theatrical,’ says Sir Antonio Pappano, and as a veteran of the opera house, the LSO’s future Chief Conductor is a master at bringing characters to life, and telling a story with music. From Liszt’s soaring idealism to Strauss’ supersized musical comedy, this is a concert that lets him do exactly that.

Piva: the Renaissance Collective

Dir. Ian Russell

PIVA’s program The Road to Venice, developed especially for LIFEM, is a reflection of popular English and Italian music of the late 16th century. Performed in PIVA’s trademark earthy and robust style, playing both loud and soft winds, bagpipes and strings, the program showcases how Italian musical style was influenced and absorbed by the English. Inspired by 16th Century Italian styled entertainments, such as masques or morescos, musical forms such as the ground bass or basso ostinato and new dance and choreographies of the time, the concert features music from a number of English and Italian composers: Augustine Bassano, Anthony Holborne, William Byrd, John Dowland, Giorgio Mainerio, Gasparo Zanetti, Tarquinio Merula, Francesco Corteccia and Fabritio Caroso, amongst others as well as the ever-present, ‘Anon’. Plus, a LIFEM 2021 commission composed by Toby Young.

Ode Maritima

Dir. Fu Le

"Ode Marítima" brings Fernando Pessoa's evocative poem to life through dance. Aerial dancers drift and sway like sails caught in the wind, inhabiting the delicate space between departure and arrival, self and other. Every moment brings a feeling of longing, nostalgia, and the emotional tension of leaving what is known behind. This short dance film blends poetry, choreography, and cinematic vision, capturing a suspended, dreamlike world where desire and distance intertwine. This is a hauntingly beautiful exploration of travel, separation, and the spaces between hearts and horizons.

Preljocaj in New York

Dir. Denis Caïozzi

Angelin Preljocaj was born into a family of Albanian immigrants in 1957 and received a solid training as a dancer in France before taking part in a course with Merce Cunningham in New York in 1980. His themes of love, war and labour are perennial human themes enriched by his carefully observed details from everyday life with a dance vocabulary strongly oriented towards physicality and sensuality. His own company, Ballet Preljocaj, resides at the Pavillon Noir in Aix-en-Provence, a building entirely dedicated to dance with Angelin Preljocaj its artistic director. His company is touring worldwide and gives about one hundred performances per year. His ballets SPECTRAL EVIDENCE and LA STRAVAGANZA were both conceived for the New York City Ballet. SPECTRAL EVIDENCE: From 2013 to music by John Cage is based on the Salem Witch Trials and a recording of vocal music by John Cage. It has four men in dark suits and clerical collars and four women in white dresses with different patches of red silicon. LA STRAVAGANZA: From 1997 to music by Vivaldi, Evelyn Ficarra, Serge Morand, Robert Marmandeau and Åke Parmerud deals with Contemporary Culture meeting 17th century society. Dancing to Vivaldi and electronic music we experience a merger of fantasy and reality, a dialogue of the past with the present, the old world with the new world.

Ekman's Concise Guide to Natural Movement

Dir. T.M. Rives

Renowned choreographer Alexander Ekman ( ''A Swan Lake'' ) collaborated with his favorite filmmaker T.M. Rives to create a short dance film for the San Francisco Dance Film Festival’s ninth annual festival. The result, a wonderfully whimsical, and at times deeply philosophical, guide to movement as told by Ekman and his friends, dancers Sarah Cecilia, Britt Juleen, Nathaniel Moore, and Ben Needham-Wood. The film is neither very concise nor totally natural, it is purely Ekman. This short film was part of a previous San Francisco Dance Film Festival season. Tune in this October to see select films from the 2024 festival.

Two to Tango

Dir. Dimitri Sterkens

A war room is the arena for a high-stakes dance to the death in “Two To Tango.” The passion and intimacy of tango take on new power dynamics in a game of survival between twelve world leaders. In this dark fantasy, unlikely partners press their bodies together through three rounds of tense dancing and frenzied gun fights. Who will be left standing?

Strays

Dir. Or Schraiber

In the traditions of physical comedy and storytelling of Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, and Jacques Tati, “Strays” presents a moving portrait of a Pakistani immigrant’s search for human connection. Separated from his family, he lives a spare and solitary life as a rideshare driver, experiencing a litany of passing encounters and dancing through daydreams of exhaustion and catharsis. One day, a stray cat enters his life, bringing him the greatest gift of all: friendship.

Front Row

Dir. Miriam Guttmann

When Russia's invasion shatters their homeland, a group of Ukrainian dancers find refuge in the Netherlands. But safety comes with a heavy burden. United by loss and love for their country, they form the United Ukrainian Ballet Company, transforming grief into movement and art into defiance. From their safe rehearsal rooms, they make tearful calls home, grappling with guilt as their families and friends fight on the frontlines. Then they meet Sasha, a Ukrainian soldier who lost both legs on the frontline. As he learns to move again with newly fitted prosthetics, a remarkable friendship and collaboration takes shape. What begins as rehabilitation becomes a revelation. Holding up a mirror to their lives, the soldier becomes a symbol for every brother, father, and friend they’ve left behind, igniting the dancers to transform their grief into their own artistic rebellion. Directed by Miriam Guttmann and executive produced by Sarah Jessica Parker, this deeply moving documentary is a testament to resilience, courage, and how art can heal and endure even in the shadow of tragedy.

Winterreise: Ballet by Christian Spuck

Cond. Benjamin Schneider · Dir. Michael Beyer

Christian Spuck’s ballet, Winterreise, is a creative reimagining of Schubert’s beloved song cycle. Set to the poems of Wilhelm Müller, the Winter Journey cycle tells the chilling story of lost love. For his piece, Spuck chose to use the ultra-expressive 1933 orchestration by Hans Zender for tenor and small orchestra. Set inside a pale grey box, Ballett Zürich dancers meander through a sparse wood while tenor Mauro Peter sings just out of sight. The piece portrays a journey into the innermost self, exploring timeless themes of love, longing, alienation, and abandonment. It’s no wonder this piece won the 2019 Prix Benois de la Danse.

Sutra

Dir. Deborah May

Choreographer Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui teamed up with Turner Prize winning artist Antony Gormley to create a new work inspired by the skill, strength, and spirituality of Buddhist Shaolin monks. This piece is nothing short of breathtaking. By visiting the Shaolin Temple, and working with the Shaolin Monks over several months, Sidi Larbi followed a lifelong interest of exploring the philosophy and faith behind the Shaolin tradition, its relationship with KungFu, and its position within a contemporary context. Sutra follows soloist Ali Thabet and 17 Monks performing a mixture of martial arts and contemporary dance on Gormley's moving set of 21 wooden boxes. Polish composer Szymon Brzóska’s original score for piano, percussion and strings is played live as the movement flies across the stage. Watch as the Monks seemingly defy gravity in this captivating story of appreciation and acceptance

Sadeh21

Dir. Tommy Pascal

Sadeh21, danced by the Young Ensemble, is an ‘‘epic-dance expedition’’ and a “choreographic odysee.” Rejuvenated by Ohad Naharin, famous for his “Gaga” technique, this piece underscores the extraordinary emotional powers of dance.

American Tap

Dir. Mark Wilkinson

Explore the rich history of American tap dancing, from its roots in the fusion of African rhythmic traditions and Irish step dancing to its vibrant present-day expression, in this fascinating documentary. Let the electric energy of America's tap dancing legacy put a pep in your step and some twinkle in your toes. Uncover the origins of tap dance, tracing its evolution from the streets to the stage, and its enduring impact on American culture. From its intertwined evolution with the syncopated beats of jazz music to the heyday of Vaudeville and Broadway and the postwar resurgence led by trailblazers like Gregory Hines and Savion Glover, this documentary reveals the intricate steps that have woven the tapestry of tap dance throughout the ages.

Lilith.ai

AΦE (AE) is a UK-based dance company founded in Chatham in 2016 and led by artistic co-directors Esteban Lecoq and Aoi Nakamura. Together they create installations and performances that involve both dance and immersive realities, partnering with technology companies, research institutions, and arts partners such as Sadler’s Wells Theatre in London, Théâtre de Chaillot in Paris, and Australia’s Sydney Festival. Lilith.AI is a deeply personal lecture-performance that explores human mor

Otmo Live: Interstice

Alexander Whitley is a London-based choreographer whose pioneering and award-winning work with digital technology has placed him at the forefront of innovation in contemporary dance. His multi-disciplinary practice, focusing on the use of motion-tracking and interactive technology, spans stage, installation, film, and immersive platforms. Whitley has created work for several of the UK’s leading companies including The Royal Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet, Rambert, Balletboyz, and Candoco Dance

Incense Burning on a Saturday Morning: the Maestro

Los Angeles-based BODYTRAFFIC was founded in 2007 by Lillian Barbeito and Tina Finkelman Berkett, becoming one of Dance Magazine ‘s “25 to Watch” in 2013. They quickly became known for their versatility, presenting works by a range of prominent contemporary dancemakers. Following their 2013 Pillow debut featuring works by Barak Marshall , Stijn Celis, and Richard Siegal, they returned two years later with another Siegal work, and presented Micaela Taylor’s SNAP in 2022. T

Hopper X Vermeer

Dir. Annie Dautane

This compelling documentary interweaves Edward Hopper and Johannes Vermeer, separated by three centuries yet united in their portrayals of interior solitude. Director Annie Dautane orchestrates a layered visual dialogue between Hopper’s stark urban offices and Vermeer’s luminous domestic interiors, revealing how both artists transform quiet, private moments into emotionally resonant experiences. Through archival footage, expert commentary, and striking side-by-side comparisons, this film explores how light, composition, and silent narrative become tools for evoking presence within absence. Works like "New York Office" and "Woman in Blue Reading a Letter" emerge not merely as studies in isolation, but as intimate portraits of stillness, longing, and observation. What unfolds is a meditation on the emotional undercurrents of everyday spaces. Viewers leave with a sharpened sense of how art can transcend its era, offering a quiet, enduring conversation across time.

That Click!

Dir. Luca Severi

Director Luca Severi explores the life and work of award-winning photographer to the stars Douglas Kirkland, who, for over sixty years, pushed the boundaries of pop culture. Born in Fort Erie, Canada, in 1957, Kirkland began his career as an apprentice to acclaimed photographer Irving Penn. Five years later, he was put on an assignment for Look magazine to spotlight Coco Chanel and would go on to take some of the most iconic images of Marilyn Monroe. Consistently at the cutting edge of photojournalism and film portraiture, his work features in the collections of London’s National Portrait Gallery, the George Eastman Museum in Rochester, and the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C. "That Click" includes contributions from some of the biggest stars in music, fashion, and movies, including Sharon Stone, Nicole Kidman, Herbie Hancock, and Baz Luhrmann.

Creature: the Creative Process

Dir. Asif Kapadia

This is a rare chance to see award-winning choreographer Akram Khan's creative process up close. Offering fascinating insight into the making of "Creature," this video traces the evolution of a thrilling ballet that pushes the limits of the human body and mind. Follow the ballet from its earliest studio explorations through to its transformation into a striking cinematic experience shaped by Academy Award-winning director Asif Kapadia. From movement research to narrative development, see how two visionary artists bring intensity, humanity, and mythic scale to the stage and screen. This is an illuminating look into the truly collaborative creative process that helped bring "Creature" to life.

Mourad Merzouki: Dance Alchemist

Dir. Elise Darblay

Hip-hop dance would never have reached the great international stages without Mourad Merzouki. A recognised choreographer, his shows are now touring worldwide, with more than 2800 performances in 58 countries. The film offers an immersion into the heart of his next creation: Vertikal. In the middle of his troupe of dancers and close to Mourad, we participate in the creative process backstage, until the first performance – between doubt and creative impulse. With an objective: to defy gravity and create a visual vertigo. Through Mourad’s confidences and moments stolen from his busy life, we discover his influences, his artistic career and his universe. Thus emerges the portrait of one of the most promising choreographers of his generation.

Force of Nature Natalia

Dir. Gerald Fox

Force of Nature Natalia follows a season in the life of dance superstar Natalia Osipova. With unique access to Natalia’s personal archive, we follow her preparations for her fifth season as a principal of the Royal Ballet as she continues to champion contemporary dance with some of the world’s greatest choreographers. We watch the rehearsal process of the new ballet. The Mother by Arthur Pita, a new commission with Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, and the Royal Ballet’s legendary production of La Bayadère directed by Natalia Makarova. Natalia opens up about her life and history, her childhood in Russia, her time with the American Ballet Theatre and her journey to the Opera House. It is an unparalleled opportunity to get up close and personal with the leading ballerina of our generation and understand why critics and audiences all over the world call her a force of nature of the dance world.

Brilliant Isles

Dir. Jude Ho

This final episode of "Art That Made Us" profiles the shift in British art from a generation haunted by the horrors of World War II to a fresh wave of voices rebelling against the established system. Actress Lesley Sharp brings to life excerpts from Shelagh Delaney's groundbreaking play, "A Taste of Honey," highlighting the previously unheard experiences of working-class women. While Chila Kumari Singh Burman explores the pop art of Pauline Boty, whose paintings and collages celebrate self-assured femininity and female sexuality. Award-winning filmmaker Amma Asante meets pioneering photographer Charlie Phillips, who captured the dramatic transformation of Notting Hill during the turbulent 1960s. "Brilliant Isles" also delves into the influence of Hanif Kureishi's acclaimed novel, "The Buddha of Suburbia," which explores the experiences of second-generation immigrants navigating identity and belonging.

Musicality Ballet Masterclass with Carmen Piqueras

Dir. Carmen Piqueras

Step into the ballet studio and follow along at home for an inspiring, open-level ballet masterclass designed to help you deepen your musicality and expressive freedom. Led by English National Ballet repetiteur Carmen Piqueras, this approachable class invites dancers of all levels to explore how movement, music, and artistry connect. Whether you want to take a full class at home or you're curious about how professionals shape their phrasing and use of space, this session offers a rare inside look at ballet technique in action. ENB artist Taela Graff demonstrates throughout with live accompaniment from pianist Reina Okada.

Car/men

Dir. Tommy Pascal

Get ready for a daring reimagining of Bizet’s timeless classic that turns everything you thought you knew about Carmen upside down. Eight powerhouse male dancers glide, flip, and smolder their way through visionary choreographer Philippe Lafeuille’s electrifying spectacle, blending balletic grace with flamenco fire and jaw-dropping acrobatics. Gender norms are playfully shattered; Antonio Macipe’s soaring operatic vocals intertwine with the raw energy of street dance, and the iconic "Habanera" is reborn with stunning physicality—crafting a whirlwind of controlled chaos that would leave even Bizet speechless. A bold exploration of desire, power, and identity, this is Carmen redefined—daring, dazzling, and utterly unforgettable!

Taking Risks

Cond. Barbara Hannigan · Dir. Linus Fellbom

The documentary “Taking Risks” follows all aspects of the production of The Rake's Progress.

Nutcracker! Interview with Ashley Shaw

Dir. Matthew Bourne

Principal dancer Ashley Shaw reflects on her lifelong relationship with "The Nutcracker." She recalls the first time she saw Matthew Bourne's iconic production, and the unexpected opportunity it brought to join a New Adventures company class that set her on the path to performing in the show herself. Now starring as Princess Sugar, Shaw dives into the bratty, over-the-top character and shares how she draws inspiration from iconic troublemakers like Veruca Salt and Angelica from "Rugrats."

Bit

Dir. Luc Riolon

With BiT, Maguy Marin signs her forty-ninth opus in barely forty years. At the center of this brutal charge against ordinary barbarism lies the question of rhythm. The title refers to the computer term for the unit of measurement of information, this word-syllable gives an initial rhythmic drive, after which the show takes shape, relentless succession of scansions and impulses, twists and tensions orchestrated with the feverish rigor of a dance both joyful and desperate. As a constant in the piece, in an obsessive continuity, the same structure: the farandole, a form of collective dance passed down through the ages, is the recurring motif. All the colors of the human condition slide in, love rites and dances of death. On an exhilarating techno music all in beats, the entire show has no shortage of cruelty on the analysis of contemporary society, in the dark conclusion of the dominations exerted on the intimate as well as the social, a deterioration of which we ourselves are the actors. BiT takes us into the depths of our humanity and questions our individual responsibilities in the turmoil of each passing day.

Nutcracker! Interview with Etta Murfitt

Dir. Matthew Bourne

Associate Artistic Director Etta Murfitt reflects on her unique journey with Matthew Bourne's "Nutcracker!" From original cast member to trusted mentor, Etta Murfitt talks about restaging the production for the eighth time. She shares how the show's legacy is passed from dancer to dancer, and how experienced cast members become the vital "keepers of knowledge" guiding newcomers through the playful details that make "Nutracker!" truly sparkle.

Street to Stage

Dir. Glen Milner

Hip-hop dancer Dickson Mbi is on the brink of a career breakthrough, shifting from his roots in street dance to the world of contemporary. Working with Farooq Chaudhry, co-founder of the Akram Khan Dance Company, he faces his toughest challenge yet- choreographing and performing his debut contemporary solo. Follow along as Mbi pushes his limits, both mentally and physically, toward new artistic heights.

White Darkness Lavender Follies

Dir. Andreas Morell

Nacho Duato composed the one-act ballet, "WHITE DARKNESS", as a requiem for the untimely loss of a sister. The result is a masterpiece which, according to critics, has “reached impossible heights” in the landscape of modern art. As for Joseph Hernandez, an american familiar choreographer of Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo, the audience of Monaco remembers its creaking aesthetic universe that is always a hit with the quality of movement and this "urgency to live" that he claims. The Lavender Follies—“a love letter to performance” as described by its creator Joseph Hernandez—fuses dance genres as diverse as Broadway, cabaret, musical, classical ballet, and even martial arts in an extraordinarily innovating staging.

Kathryn Hunter

Dir. Alex Anderson

Olivier Award-winning Actress and Director Kathryn Hunter is renowned for her work with physical theatre, notably with the pioneering theatre company Complicité, co-founded by her late husband Marcello Magni. She talks to Akram about her work with Marcello and how movement has always been a cornerstone of her approach to acting. Shakespeare has also been a cornerstone of Kathryn’s career and she discusses her approach to playing the “Everest” of roles, King Lear, in two different productions spanning a 25-year timeframe. She also talks about how different stages make her move differently and recalls how screenwriter Joel Cohen wanted her to combine the physicality of a crow combined with a standing stone for his film The Tragedy of Macbeth. And Kathryn tells Akram how a serious accident left her with life-changing injuries but how this resulted in her thinking anew about how she could communicate physically.

In the Spirit of Diaghilev

Dir. Deborah May

Sadler’s Wells presents four pieces that pay tribute to Sergei Pavlovich Diaghilev, to mark the centenary of Diaghilev founding Les Ballets Russes. This legendary ensemble of dancers, composers, designers and artists all came together in the spirit of his famous challenge – “Surprise me!”. His outlook revolutionised the modern balletic canon and his legacy resonates across all art forms. In The Spirit of Diaghilev is an innovative rediscovery via works presented by Wayne McGregor, Russel Maliphant, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui and Javier de Frutos. All the works were created for the occasion, with the Les Ballets Russes period in mind, and with the collaborative spirit Diaghilev encouraged.

Company Class with Loipa Araújo

Dir. Loipa Araújo

Take a full company class with English National Ballet. Experience the rhythm and rigor of a morning at ENB as the full company moves through a complete ballet class. Led by Associate Artistic Director Loipa Araújo, this session is an unfiltered glimpse into how professional dancers refine their technique, build strength, and find artistry before stepping on stage. You'll feel like you're in the studio with live accompaniment from Company Pianist Jonathan Still. Whether you want to follow along at home or simply want to see what it's like to practice with a professional company, this is a fantastic opportunity to gain insight into the technique, expression, and craft of ballet.

Dvořák, Walker & Schumann

Cond. Simon Rattle · Dir. Kerry Clark

Sir Simon Rattle conducts Dvorák, Schumann and George Walker, in a concert filled with feelings that run too deep for words. Music starts where words leave off – and in George Walker’s Lilacs, the poetry of Walt Whitman is simply the starting point for an even more fantastic emotional journey. It’s the beautiful, haunted heart of a concert that begins with Dvorák’s playful homage to the New World, and ends with Schumann’s most personal (some might say greatest) symphony. For Sir Simon Rattle, it’s all about what lies behind the notes on the page – whether Dvorák’s warm-hearted nostalgia, or the musical love-notes to his wife Clara that Schumann threaded throughout his Second Symphony. And at the centre of it all, there’s a rare British hearing for Lilacs. This ravishing exploration of longing and loss won a Pulitzer Prize in 1996, and if you’ve heard Nicole Cabell perform at the Royal Opera, you’ll know that she makes every note tell a story.

Izzy Judd

Dir. Alex Anderson

Violinist and author Izzy Judd opens up to Akram about the impact that a family tragedy has had on her and the ways she has found to cope. As a past finalist on Britain’s Got Talent and a performer with her husband’s band McFly, she reflects on how a small venue can be more intimidating than a massive stadium. And when it comes to her children learning new skills, how is movement an essential ingredient, and is it ever right to be a pushy parent?

Rise of the Cities

Dir. Ian Leese

''Rise Of The Cities'' depicts industry booming and the power balance shifting from rural to urban in 19th-century Britain, while its artists grapple with the changes. Some attempted to capture the poverty and squalor caused by rapid urbanization. Architect Fiona Sinclair examines Alexander Thomson's working-class housing in Glasgow, while Jeremy Deller spotlights William Morris’ efforts to bring nature back into Victorian homes through his hand-crafted wallpaper designs. Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson reflects on the inspiration of J.M.W. Turner, arguably the first environmental artist. Commerce influenced art, but individuality thrived. Penry Williams demonstrated how to find beauty in an industrial world with "Cyfarthfa Ironworks Interior at Night." Amrou Al-Kadhi delves into the sin and punishment evident in Oscar Wilde's plays and poems, while Shani Rhys James uncovers the silent rage in Sickert's "Camden Town Nudes."

Grazing the Sky - the Art of Cirque du Soleil

Dir. Horacio Alcala

Filmed on location with Cirque Du Soleil performers, this documentary offers an intimate look at their lives on and off the stage. A behind the scenes look at people chasing their dreams and pushing their bodies to the limits.

Frida Kahlo

Dir. Ali Ray

Who was Frida Kahlo? Everyone knows her, but who was the woman behind the bright colors, the big brows, and the floral crowns? Take a journey through the life of a true icon, discover her art, and uncover the truth behind her often turbulent life. Utilizing cutting-edge technology, Kahlo's artwork springs to life in stunning detail, making her creative genius shine brighter than ever before. As historians uncover private letters from the artist, the hidden symbolism of her art is revealed, shedding light on the intricacies of her turbulent life. This cinematic exploration paints a vivid and comprehensive portrait of the real Frida Kahlo and her enduring legacy.

A Short History of Ballet

Dir. Katrina Moran

When you think of ballet, what comes to mind? Delicate pointe shoes, gilded tutus, and glittering stages? That's only part of the story. Beneath the beauty lies a rich, dynamic history shaped by centuries of evolution. Join Cynthia Dragoni, Creative Director of "The Dance Lens", on a captivating journey through the history of ballet. From its origins in the opulent courts of Baroque France to the bold, boundary-pushing works of today. Discover how ballet evolved across five major eras - Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Neoclassical, and Contemporary- and learn about the cultural shifts, iconic performances, and revolutionary innovations that shaped each one. Ballet isn't just a performance, it's a living, changing art form.

Jamie Wyeth and the Unflinching Eye

Dir. Glenn Holsten

This visually rich documentary explores the mind of Jamie Wyeth, the enigmatic American realist who, as heir to a three-generation painting dynasty, has transcended legacy to forge a singular path. From striking 1960s New York portraits of JFK and Nureyev to poignant depictions of his late wife Phyllis, his muse for fifty years. Wyeth’s work dazzles with technical brilliance, balancing grandeur with vulnerability, whimsy with psychological depth. Rare archival footage with Andy Warhol, along with glimpses of his eccentric persona (a pumpkin-headed self-portrait and signature mismatched socks), reveals the man behind the brush. At 75, Wyeth’s work is more relevant than ever. Defying the weight of legacy, he emerges as an unflinching observer of the human condition—a vital and distinctive voice in the redefinition of American realism.

To Kill a King

Dir. Duncan Singh

"To Kill A King" explores the tumultuous period under the Stuart monarchs, where political, religious, and cultural rifts ignited wars across three kingdoms. Architect Amanda Levete ascends the Tulip Stairs in Greenwich’s Queen’s House, reassessing Inigo Jones' innovative design. Artist Tai Shan Schierenberg examines Van Dyck's portrait of the Earl of Pembroke's family, uncovering hints of the impending civil war. Artist Rita Duffy deciphers the venomous propaganda in Wenceslas Hollar’s "Teares of Ireland" woodcuts, while photographer Platon studies the Puritan aesthetic in Samuel Cooper’s raw miniature of Oliver Cromwell. This royalist-parliamentarian conflict, marked by bloodshed, ultimately led to a more inquisitive culture. The king's restoration spurred a creative surge in works, including by one of the first English women to earn a living by writing, Aphra Behn. Artist Angela Palmer admires Robert Hooke’s "Micrographia," and sculptor Thomas Heatherwick unveils Christopher Wren’s architectural brilliance in St. Paul’s dome.

Jonas Kaufmann: Tenor for the Ages

Dir. John Bridcut

Get to know superstar German tenor, Jonas Kaufmann in this all-access documentary. Hailed as “the world’s greatest tenor” by The Telegraph, Kaufmann is renowned for his impeccable vocal technique, charismatic stage presence, and mastery of Garman, Italian, and French repertoire. See what really goes on in the life of an opera singer and follow Kaufmann from rehearsals at the Royal Opera House, where he prepares for the titular role in Verdi’s Otello, to green rooms around the world, and even for a pit stop at Fortnum & Mason for Kaufmann’s favorite honey.

City of a Thousand Trades

Dir. Miguel Altunaga

City of a Thousand Trades is a moving love letter to Birmingham, choreographed by Miguel Altunga for the Birmingham Royal Ballet. This inspiring dedication to the UK’s industrial West Midlands city was commissioned by Birmingham Royal Ballet’s director Carlos Acosta to celebrate the city’s diverse cultural and industrial heritage. Co-directed by Birmingham Repertory Theatre’s Madeleine Kludje, this dance piece is set to an original score by Mathias Coppen that features a live band playing on a platform on stage. The score weaves classical music with the explosive percussion of Heavy Metal riffs, paying homage to Birmingham’s legacy as the birthplace of heavy metal. In City of a Thousand Trades, 12 dancers create moody vignettes of the city’s history overlayed with the words of Birmingham’s poet laureate Casey Bailey. Dancers carry large metal poles, move masses of concrete, tell stories of the city’s residents, and bring to life both the triumphs and tribulations of their beloved city.

Whistler: for Art's Sake

Dir. Norman Stone

Anjelica Huston narrates this compelling docudrama from award-winning filmmaker Karen Thomas, exploring the life and work of "the original art star" James McNeill Whistler, whose portrait of his mother is an icon of American culture. Famous for his patent leather shoes, monocle, and swagger, his theatrics attracted the curiosity of buyers and the attention of critics. When John Ruskin accused him of flinging “a pot of paint” in the face of the public with his nearly abstract paintings, Whistler sued for libel and changed the course of art history. Whistler’s paintings and drawings introduced ideas and art forms that were avant-garde for their time, paving the way for what became known as modern art decades later. His lasting influence is evident in works by Henri Matisse and Georgia O'Keeffe. Art students and enthusiasts will delight in learning more about this pioneer of "nearly abstract" art.

Young Choreographers

Dir. Patrick Lauze

Witness the future of ballet unfold as six rising stars push choreography beyond its traditional boundaries in this prestigious competition. Each episode captures their creative journey—the passion, challenges, and breakthroughs—as they strive to redefine this dynamic art form. Judged by celebrated figures like Bruno Bouché and Thierry Malandain, these young visionaries deliver artistry and innovation that will leave you breathless. From Portugal to Brazil, Switzerland to Cuba, these young choreographers—Ana Isabel Casquilho, Manoela Gonçalves, Benoît Favre, Lasse Graubner, Lucia Giarratana, and the duo Věra Kvarčáková and Jérémy Galdeano—bring distinctive cultural perspectives that celebrate and dramatically reimagine contemporary ballet.

Darcey's Ballerina Heroines

Dir. Ross MacGibbon

Former principal of The Royal Ballet and Strictly Come Dancing judge Darcey Bussell knows all too well what it takes to make it as a prima ballerina. In Darcey's Ballerina Heroines (part 1 of this fascinating two-part collection) she draws on her vast experience at the top of her game, providing an authoritative history of the best ballets and the finest ballerinas. Accompanying clips, which include some of Bussell’s most lauded performances, provide a feast for the senses and make this a must-watch for enthusiasts.

Dance On!

Dir. Henrike Sandner

When does a dancer truly leave the stage? For some, the answer is never. This award-winning documentary follows four celebrated dancers—Friedemann Vogel, Polina Semionova, Gesine Moog, and William Moore—as they navigate the bittersweet transition from the spotlight to a new chapter in their artistic lives. Through breathtaking performances and candid interviews, their fears, sacrifices, and triumphs come to life, revealing a deeply moving portrait of existence beyond center stage. With insights from Jiří Kylián and Marcia Haydée, the film explores how maturity can enrich movement with profound storytelling depth. A testament to resilience and reinvention, "Dance On!" captures the enduring spirit of true artists—for whom the stage is not a final destination but a lifelong journey.

Bamboo Dream

Dir. Ross MacGibbon

Cloud Gate Dance Theatre's enchanting work captures the serene beauty and spiritual sanctuary of the evergreen bamboo forests. Artistic Director Lin Hwai-min’s choreography masterfully blends ancient wisdom and modern artistry to create an immersive world, inspired in part by The Seven Sages in The Bamboo Grove, a group of third-century Chinese scholars, musicians, and writers, who retreated to the bamboo groves to escape persecution and to continue their political and artistic endeavors. Set to music by Estonian composer Arvo Pärt and improvised melodies from Chinese flute player Huang Sheng-kai, the dancers create six expressive scenes that follow the ever-changing seasons: Morning Mist, Spring Breeze, Summer Heat, Autumn Path, When Rain Stops, At Midnight and Snow. With skillful meditative motion inspired by martial arts, contemporary dance, and ballet, dancers flow through tall stalks of bamboo. This work is a moving testament to the skill and caliber of Cloudgate Dance Theatre.

Slow Tv: Pointe Shoe Preparation

Dir. Amber Hunt

In ballet, even the quietest moments are beautiful. This ASMR-style short follows dancer Amber Hunt as she meditatively prepares her pointe shoes with practiced precision. Relax to the sounds of threading ribbons, the quiet snip of scissors, and the satisfying crack of the shoe as she softens the box. This is the ultimate look at the hidden art of shoe preparation.

Behind the Artist: When Pablo Became Picasso

Dir. Jessica Piersanti

Witness the rise of Pablo Ruiz, from a boy taught to draw by his father to the revolutionary who would shatter artistic conventions. In 1900 Paris, the ambitious 20-year-old Catalan immigrant absorbs the raw intensity of Van Gogh and the bohemian edge of Toulouse-Lautrec while forging his own distinct voice in a fierce rivalry with Matisse. Through archival images and vivid storytelling, the documentary captures Picasso’s electrifying Montmartre years, his passionate relationship with Fernande Olivier, and the tragic suicide of his friend Carles Casagemas, which triggers his melancholic Blue Period. A creative awakening in Gosol, Spain, inspired by medieval sculpture, unlocks new directions leading to “Les Demoiselles d'Avignon.” Painted at just 25, this radical masterpiece breaks with tradition and establishes Picasso as the defining artist of the 20th century.