Film Screening – Summer of Soul – Crosstown Theater

As a kickoff to Record Exchange Weekend 2026 and as part of the Crosstown Arts Film Series, Memphis Listening Lab and Crosstown Arts presents the “Summer of Soul” (…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised), directed by Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson. The film brings to life the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival—six weeks of free concerts that drew more than 300,000 people and featured performances from legends like Stevie Wonder, Nina Simone, Mahalia Jackson, B.B. King, and Sly and the Family Stone.

For decades, over 40 hours of footage from the festival sat largely unseen—until this film finally brought it back into the light, where it belongs. Since its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in 2021, the film has received widespread acclaim, winning both the U.S. Grand Jury Prize and the Audience Award for Documentary.

We’re especially excited to welcome the film’s producer, Joseph Patel, who will be here in person for a post-screening conversation with IMAKEMADBEATS—a chance to go deeper into the story behind the film and the cultural moment it captures.

Crosstown Theater
7pm – $5