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EXCLUSIVE: The Newport Beach Film Festival has announced the addition of Music by John Williams as its Centrepiece documentary on closing night October 24, an event that will include special honors for the film’s producer, Frank Marshall, and director Laurent Bouzereau.
The film exploring the legendary composer’s career in music and contributions to some of Hollywood biggest films will hold its world premiere at AFI Fest just a day prior – on October 23. Marshall, whose association with Williams goes back more than 40 years to Raiders of the Lost Ark, will receive the Newport Beach Film Festival’s Arts Champion Award. Bouzereau, who has directed previous work examining the composer’s scores for E.T.: The Extra Terrestrial and Jaws, will be awarded NBFF’s Artist of Distinction for Outstanding Achievement in Documentary Filmmaking.
“The Newport Beach Film Festival is exceptionally proud to be closing its silver anniversary documentary section with such a celebratory and inspiring film,” said NBFF co-founder and CEO Gregg Schwenk. “Laurent Bouzereau has crafted an intimate and accessible portrait of a true living legend. We know our audience will be eager to see this documentary. Frank Marshall is not only an extraordinary filmmaker and documentarian but a beloved member of the Newport Beach community who has been a steadfast supporter of the arts and culture in Southern California and throughout the world.”
In a statement, Tommy Phillips, president & artistic director of Philharmonic Society of Orange County, said, “We are proud to be a Presenting Partner with the Newport Beach Film Festival and celebrate the legendary composer John Williams, who has played an indelible role in the art of storytelling through music and whose scores have defined cinematic history. Music has the power to inspire, unite, and transport us to new worlds, transforming visuals into emotional experiences and creating unforgettable moments.”
The Newport Beach Film Festival runs Oct. 17-24 in the Southern California seaside community.
Williams, 92, has earned more Academy Award nominations than any other living person, to go with five Oscar wins. Along with his extraordinary collaborations with director Steven Spielberg, he composed the music for Star Wars, Superman, and the first three Harry Potter films, among many, many other accomplishments.
Music by John Williams, from Lucasfilm Ltd, Amblin Documentaries and Imagine Documentaries, will get a limited theatrical release before premiering on Disney+ on November 1.
“From his early days as a jazz pianist to his 54 Oscar nominations and five wins, the documentary takes an in-depth look at Williams’ countless contributions to film including many iconic franchises, as well as his music for the concert stage and his impact on popular culture,” notes a release about Music by John Williams. “The film features interviews with artists and filmmakers whose lives have been touched by his timeless music. Directed by award-winning filmmaker and best-selling author Laurent Bouzereau, the documentary is produced by Steven Spielberg, Brian Grazer, Ron Howard, Darryl Frank, Justin Falvey, Sara Bernstein, Justin Wilkes, Meredith Kaulfers, Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall, Laurent Bouzereau, with Markus Keith and Michael Rosenberg serving as executive producers.”
Marshall is a musician himself, a Grammy winner for his documentary about the New Orleans Jazz Fest, an Emmy, Tony, and Oscar winner (yes, the full EGOT—his Oscar came for the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award). His next project, just announced, is directing a documentary series on Barbra Streisand, with Alex Gibney producing.
It’s been a busy year already for Bouzereau, who premiered his documentary Faye – about iconic Hollywood star Faye Dunaway – at the Cannes Film Festival in May. He also directed 2024’s The Bloody Hundredth, an Apple TV+ documentary feature about the exploits of the World War II U.S. bomber group in the European theater, a film narrated by Tom Hanks.
