The controversial Aretha Franklin gospel concert film was shot and then abandoned decades ago. Various attempts to show the docu in recent years–including the prestigious Telluride Film Fest–have failed for one reason or another.
Variety reports that The Franklin estate and producer Alan Elliott have reached an agreement to release the much-delayed Amazing Grace feature.
Although no distribution deal is yet in place for a planned general release in 2019, the film will premiere next Monday at the DOC NYC festival, followed by week-long Oscar-qualifying runs this month in Los Angeles and in December in New York.
“In recent weeks, Alan presented the film to the family at the African American Museum here, and we absolutely love it,” said Sabrina Owens, the late star’s niece and executor of her estate, in a phone interview from Detroit Sunday. “We can see Alan’s passion for the movie, and we are just as passionate about it. It’s in a very pure environment, very moving and inspirational, and it’s an opportunity for those individuals who had not experienced her in a gospel context to see how diverse her music is. We are so excited to be a part of this