"Willie Nelson and Family," a documentary chronicling the career of the Texas icon, will premiere at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival in January.
The five-part film was directed by filmmakers Thom Zimny and Oren Moverman. It traces the many ups and downs of Nelson’s life and seven-decade career with interviews with friends and relatives.
Sundance 2023 will show all five parts. The film festival will take place Jan. 19-29 in Park City, Salt Lake City and Sundance Resort in Utah. A selection of films will be available online Jan. 24-29.
In Sundance’s preview, Nelson is described in bold terms: “A badass American outlaw cowboy who transcended his humble beginnings in small-town Abbott, Texas, he remains beloved in blue states, red states, and let’s not forget — altered states.”
Moverman’s production company, Sight Unseen, is the film’s producing and financing partner. The project was developed by Mark Rothbaum, Nelson’s manager, and Keith Worman, Blackbird Presents’ founder. It was announced this summer.
“Telling Willie’s story has been a lifelong dream of ours, and we feel privileged to realize this dream with Thom, Oren and Sight Unseen,” Rothbaum and Wortman said in a statement.
Nelson is a Grammy nominee for Best Country Album ("A Beautiful Time"), Best Roots Gospel Album ("The Willie Nelson Family"), Best Country Solo Performance and Best Country Song (“I’ll Love You Till the Day I Die”), along with Rodney Crowell and Chris Stapleton). The 65th Grammy Awards will air on Feb. 5.
Nelson also got in the holiday spirit this month by appearing on "Dolly Parton’s Mountain Magic Christmas."
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