American Symphony (film)

For articles of a similar name, see American Symphony (disambiguation).
American Symphony
Release poster
Directed byMatthew Heineman
Produced by
  • Matthew Heineman
  • Lauren Domino
  • Joedan Okun
StarringJon Batiste
Cinematography
  • Tony Hardman
  • Matthew Heineman
  • Thorsten Thielow
Edited by
  • Sammy Dane
  • Matthew Heineman
  • Jim Hession
  • Fernando Villegas
Music byJon Batiste
Production
companies
Distributed byNetflix
Release dates
  • August 31, 2023 (2023-08-31) (Telluride)
  • November 29, 2023 (2023-11-29)
Running time
104 minutes[1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

American Symphony is a 2023 American biographical documentary film, written, shot, and edited by Matthew Heineman. It explores a year in the life of musician Jon Batiste, his music career, and his wife's struggle with leukemia.

It had its world premiere at the 50th Telluride Film Festival on August 31, 2023, and was released by Netflix on November 29, 2023. The film received a Best Original Song nomination at the 96th Academy Awards.

Premise

Explores a year in the life of musician Jon Batiste, chronicling his career in music (including his 11 nominations at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards) and the struggles his wife, Suleika Jaouad, faces with leukemia.

Release

American Symphony had its world premiere at the 50th Telluride Film Festival on August 31, 2023.[2] Shortly after, Netflix and Higher Ground Productions acquired distribution rights to the film.[3] It was released on November 29, 2023.[4]

Reception

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 93% of 27 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.2/10. The website's consensus reads: "More than a standard musician's documentary, American Symphony uses its behind-the-scenes access to present a portrait of courage and creativity."[5] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 74 out of 100, based on 9 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[6]

Accolades

Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
Academy Awards March 10, 2024 Best Original Song Jon Batiste and Dan Wilson ("It Never Went Away") Nominated [7]
Alliance of Women Film Journalists January 3, 2024 Best Documentary American Symphony Won[a] [8]
American Cinema Editors March 3, 2024 Best Edited Documentary (Theatrical) Sammy Dane, Matthew Heineman, Jim Hession, and Fernando Villegas Nominated [9]
Astra Film and Creative Arts Awards January 6, 2024 Best Documentary Feature American Symphony Nominated [10]
Black Film Critics Circle December 20, 2023 Best Documentary Won [11]
Black Reel Awards January 16, 2024 Outstanding Documentary Feature Nominated [12]
Outstanding Score Jon Batiste Nominated
Outstanding Original Song Jon Batiste and Dan Wilson ("It Never Went Away") Nominated
Capri Hollywood International Film Festival January 2, 2024 Best Documentary Feature American Symphony Won [13]
[14]
Cinema Audio Society Awards March 2, 2024 Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing for Motion Picture – Documentary Tom Paul, Tristan Baylis, and Ryan Collison Nominated [15]
Cinema Eye Honors January 12, 2024 Outstanding Production Lauren Domino, Matthew Heineman, and Joedan Okun Nominated [16]
Outstanding Original Score Jon Batiste Nominated
Audience Choice Prize American Symphony Nominated
The Unforgettables Jon Batiste and Suleika Jaouad Won
Critics' Choice Documentary Awards November 12, 2023 Best Documentary Feature American Symphony Nominated [17]
Best Music Documentary Won
Best Director Matthew Heineman Nominated
Best Score Jon Batiste Won
Best Cinematography Tony Hardmon, Matthew Heineman, and Thorsten Thielow Nominated
Best Editing Sammy Dane, Jim Hession, Matthew Heineman, and Fernando Villegas Nominated
Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association December 18, 2023 Best Documentary Film American Symphony Won [18]
Denver Film Critics Society January 12, 2024 Best Documentary Feature Nominated [19]
Golden Reel Awards March 3, 2024 Outstanding Achievement in Music Editing – Documentary Ignacio Bonet Nominated [20]
Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing – Feature Documentary Tristan Baylis, Tom Paul, Leslie Bloome, Matt Snedecor, and Mark Filip Nominated
Grammy Awards February 2, 2025 Best Music Film Jon Batiste, Matthew Heineman, Lauren Domino, and Joedan Okun Pending [21]
Best Song Written for Visual Media Jon Batiste and Dan Wilson ("It Never Went Away") Pending
Houston Film Critics Society January 22, 2024 Best Documentary Feature American Symphony Nominated [22]
[23]
Indiana Film Journalists Association December 17, 2023 Best Documentary Nominated [24]
[25]
Las Vegas Film Critics Society December 13, 2023 Best Documentary Nominated [26]
Middleburg Film Festival October 22, 2023 Documentary Spotlight Award Matthew Heineman Won [27]
Montclair Film Festival October 30, 2023 Audience Award – Documentary Feature American Symphony Won [28]
Documentary Filmmaker Award Matthew Heineman Won
NAACP Image Awards March 16, 2024 Outstanding Documentary (Film) American Symphony Nominated [29]
North Texas Film Critics Association December 18, 2023 Best Documentary Film Nominated [30]
Oklahoma Film Critics Circle January 3, 2024 Best Documentary Won [31]
Philadelphia Film Festival October 29, 2023 Audience Award – Documentary Feature Won [32]
Producers Guild of America Awards February 25, 2024 Outstanding Producer of Documentary Theatrical Motion Pictures Won [33]
San Diego Film Critics Society December 19, 2023 Best Documentary Nominated [34]
San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle Awards January 9, 2024 Best Documentary Film Nominated [35]
Satellite Awards March 3, 2024 Best Motion Picture – Documentary Nominated [36]
Best Original Song Jon Batiste and Dan Wilson ("It Never Went Away") Nominated
Best Sound (Editing and Mixing) Tristan Baylis, Matt Snedecor, and William Tzouris Nominated
Society of Composers & Lyricists February 13, 2024 Outstanding Original Score for an Independent Film Jon Batiste Nominated [37]
Outstanding Original Song for a Dramatic or Documentary Visual Media Production Jon Batiste and Dan Wilson ("It Never Went Away") Nominated
St. Louis Film Critics Association December 17, 2023 Best Documentary Film American Symphony Won[b] [38]
Vancouver Film Critics Circle February 12, 2024 Best Documentary Nominated [39]
Virginia Film Festival October 29, 2023 Audience Award – Documentary Feature Won [40]
Directorial Achievement Award Matthew Heineman Won
Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Awards December 10, 2023 Best Documentary American Symphony Nominated [41]
Woodstock Film Festival September 30, 2023 Audience Award – Best Documentary Feature Won [42]
World Soundtrack Awards October 17, 2024 Best Original Song Jon Batiste and Dan Wilson ("It Never Went Away") Nominated [43]

Notes

  1. ^ Tied with Smoke Sauna Sisterhood.
  2. ^ Tied with Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie.

References

  1. ^ "American Symphony (12A)". BBFC. November 3, 2023. Retrieved February 5, 2024.
  2. ^ Davis, Clayton (August 30, 2023). "Telluride Lineup Includes World Premieres of 'Saltburn,' 'The Bikeriders' and 'Rustin' With Tributes for Yorgos Lanthimos and Wim Wenders". Variety. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  3. ^ Feinberg, Scott (September 18, 2023). "Jon Batiste Doc 'American Symphony' Acquired by Netflix and Higher Ground; Oscar Run Set for This Season". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  4. ^ Davis, Clayton (October 12, 2023). "Jon Batiste and Dan Wilson Enter Oscars Race for Original Song With Netflix Doc 'American Symphony'". Variety. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  5. ^ "American Symphony". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved November 30, 2023. Edit this at Wikidata
  6. ^ "American Symphony". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
  7. ^ "Oscar Nominations 2024: See the Full List Here". Vanity Fair. January 23, 2024. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
  8. ^ Merin, Jennifer (December 22, 2023). "2023 EDA Awards Nominees". Alliance of Women Film Journalists. Retrieved December 23, 2023.
  9. ^ Pond, Steve (January 25, 2024). "ACE Eddie Awards 2024: The Complete List of Nominees". TheWrap. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  10. ^ Anderson, Erik (December 7, 2023). "'Barbie' and 'Oppenheimer' Lead Hollywood Creative Alliance (HCA) Astra Awards Nominations". AwardsWatch. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
  11. ^ Complex, Valerie (December 20, 2023). "Black Film Critics Circle Winners: American Fiction Takes Home Top Honors". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
  12. ^ Complex, Valerie (December 15, 2023). "Black Reel Awards Nominations: 'The Color Purple' And 'Rustin' Dominate". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 16, 2023.
  13. ^ "OPPENHEIMER DIRECTED BY CHRISTOPHER NOLAN TO BE HONORED WITH THE "CAPRI BEST ENSEMBLE CAST AWARD 2023"" (Press release). Capri Hollywood International Film Festival. December 17, 2023. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
  14. ^ "A Capri trionfa Oppenheimer con 7 Awards, poi Barbie e Maestro". Agenzia Nazionale Stampa Associata (in Italian). January 2, 2024. Retrieved January 2, 2024.
  15. ^ Pedersen, Erik (January 9, 2024). "Cinema Audio Society Awards Nominations: Barbie, Oppenheimer, The Eras Tour & More". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
  16. ^ Saperstein, Pat (November 16, 2023). "'Kokomo City' Leads Nominations for Cinema Eye Documentary Honors". Variety. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
  17. ^ Zilko, Christian (November 13, 2023). "'Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie' Sweeps the Critics Choice Documentary Awards (Complete Winners List)". IndieWire. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
  18. ^ Jorgenson, Todd (December 18, 2023). "DFW Film Critics Name The Holdovers Best Picture of 2023". Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
  19. ^ Neglia, Matt (January 12, 2024). "The 2023 Denver Film Critics Society (DFCS) Winners". Next Best Picture. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
  20. ^ Tangcay, Jazz (January 16, 2024). "Oppenheimer Dominates Motion Picture Sound Editors Golden Reel Awards Nominations". Variety. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
  21. ^ Willman, Chris (November 8, 2024). "Grammy Nominations 2025: Beyonce Leads With 11 Nods as Taylor Swift, Chappell Roan, Sabrina Carpenter and Charli XCX Are Among Top Nominees". Variety. Retrieved November 8, 2024.
  22. ^ Darling, Cary (January 9, 2024). "Barbie, Oppenheimer lead Houston Film Critics Society's nominations". Houston Chronicle. Archived from the original on January 9, 2024. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
  23. ^ Darling, Cary (January 22, 2024). "Houston Film Critics Society names Poor Things the best film of 2023". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
  24. ^ Rogers, Nick (December 12, 2023). "Nominations Announced for the 2023 Indiana Film Journalists Association Awards". Midwest Film Journal. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
  25. ^ Neglia, Matt (December 17, 2023). "The 2023 Indiana Film Journalists Association (IFJA) Winners". Next Best Picture. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
  26. ^ Neglia, Matt (December 13, 2023). "The 2023 Las Vegas Film Critics Society (LVFCS) Winners". Next Best Picture. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
  27. ^ Davis, Clayton (October 23, 2023). "Cord Jefferson's 'American Fiction' Wins Audience Award at Middleburg Film Festival". Variety. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
  28. ^ "2023 Montclair Film Festival Award Winners Announced! | Montclair Film". montclairfilm.org. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
  29. ^ Hipes, Patrick (January 25, 2024). "Colman Domingo, Keke Palmer, Ayo Edebiri, Victoria Monét Lead NAACP Image Awards Nominations". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  30. ^ Neglia, Matt (December 18, 2023). "The 2023 North Texas Film Critics Association (NTFCA) Winners". Next Best Picture. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
  31. ^ Neglia, Matt (January 3, 2024). "The 2023 Oklahoma Film Critics Circle (OFCC) Winners". Next Best Picture. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
  32. ^ Bogg, Smalley (November 1, 2023). "Winners of the Philadelphia Film Festival Awards". phindie. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
  33. ^ Bergeson, Samantha (January 12, 2024). "PGA Awards 2024 Nominations: Maestro, Killers of the Flower Moon, and Past Lives Among Contenders". IndieWire. Archived from the original on January 12, 2024. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  34. ^ Anderson, Erik (December 15, 2023). "San Diego Film Critics Society (SDFCS) Nominations". AwardsWatch. Archived from the original on December 15, 2023. Retrieved December 15, 2023.
  35. ^ Neglia, Matt (January 5, 2024). "The 2023 San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle (SFBAFCC) Nominations". Next Best Picture. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  36. ^ "IPA Reveals Nominations for the 28th Satellite™ Awards". International Press Academy. December 18, 2023. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
  37. ^ Neglia, Matt (December 21, 2023). "The 2023 Society Of Composers And Lyricists (SCL) Nominations". Next Best Picture. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
  38. ^ Anderson, Eric (December 10, 2023). "2023 St. Louis Film Critics Association (StLFCA) Nominations". awardswatch.com. AwardsWatch. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
  39. ^ Vlessing, Etan (January 22, 2024). "Oppenheimer Leads Vancouver Film Critics Circle Nominations With Six Nods". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
  40. ^ "Award Winners". Virginia Film Festival. May 9, 2018. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
  41. ^ Neglia, Matt (December 9, 2023). "The 2023 Washington DC Area Film Critics Association (WAFCA) Nominations". Next Best Picture. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  42. ^ "Award Winners from the 24th Annual Woodstock Film Festival". Woodstock Film Festival. October 1, 2023. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
  43. ^ "Discover the first nominees for the 2024 World Soundtrack Awards!". World Soundtrack Awards. August 7, 2024. Retrieved August 7, 2024.