Questlove’s Earth, Wind & Fire Documentary Kicks Off the 25th Tribeca Festival
Tribeca Festival Opens 25th Anniversary with Iconic Film
The 25th anniversary of the Tribeca Festival is set to kick off on June 3 with the premiere of Earth, Wind & Fire (To Be Celestial VS That’s the Weight of the World). This film is a follow-up to Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson’s Oscar-winning documentary, Summer of Soul. Following the screening, the legendary R&B group will perform live at the Beacon Theater in Manhattan, accompanied by Questlove’s collective, The Roots.
The documentary Earth, Wind & Fire delves into the band’s enduring legacy and cultural impact, showcasing archival materials and focusing on founder Maurice White’s vision. The group rose to fame in the early 1970s, achieving numerous chart successes, including their iconic No. 1 hit “Shining Star” in 1975, which marked the beginning of a prosperous streak that included classics like “September” and “After the Love Has Gone.”
The film is produced by Questlove, Dave Sirulnick, Samantha Grogin, KB White, and Arron Saxe, with executive producers Jon Kamen, Cheo Hodari Coker, Karla Zambrano, Zarah Zohlman, Shawn Gee, Tariq “Black Thought” Trotter, and Amos Newman. It is scheduled for release on HBO and will be available for streaming on HBO Max in 2026.
Jane Rosenthal, co-founder and co-chair of the Tribeca Festival, expressed her enthusiasm for the milestone event: “Opening night is always a magical moment. This year, as we celebrate 25 years of the festival, it is especially meaningful. Tribeca was born in the wake of 9/11 with a belief: that storytellers have the power to bring communities together. For 25 years, we’ve seen artists, filmmakers, musicians, and audiences come together in New York City in ways that are inspiring, surprising, and deeply human. We are humbled by what’s been achieved and excited for the stories yet to come.”
The Tribeca Festival will run from June 3 to June 14, marking a quarter-century of celebration for filmmakers and audiences alike.
