Nina Simone

Nina Simone (February 21, 1933 – April 21, 2003) was an American singer, songwriter, pianist, arranger, and civil rights activist who worked in a broad range of musical styles including classical, jazz, blues, folk, R&B, gospel, and pop. Wikipedia

King: A Filmed Record... Montgomery to Memphis (1969)

Constructed from a wealth of archival footage, the documentary follows Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. from 1955 to 1968, in his rise from regional activist to world-renowned leader of the Civil Rights movement. Rare footage of King's speeches, protests, and arrests ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Sidney Lumet  •  Joseph L. Mankiewicz
CAST:  Paul Newman  •  Coretta Scott King  •  Joanne Woodward  •  Ralph Abernathy

Constructed from a wealth of archival footage, the documentary follows Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. from 1955 to 1968, in his rise from regional activist to world-renowned leader of the Civil Rights movement. Rare footage of King's speeches, protests, and arrests ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Sidney Lumet  •  Joseph L. Mankiewicz
CAST:  Paul Newman  •  Coretta Scott King  •  Joanne Woodward  •  Ralph Abernathy

The Panafrican Festival in Algiers (1969)

Festival panafricain d'Alger is a documentary by William Klein of the music and dance festival held 40 years ago in the streets and in venues all across Algiers. Klein follows the preparations, the rehearsals, the concerts… He blends images of interviews made to ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  William Klein
CAST:  Nina Simone  •  Archie Shepp  •  Miriam Makeba  •  Marion Williams

Festival panafricain d'Alger is a documentary by William Klein of the music and dance festival held 40 years ago in the streets and in venues all across Algiers. Klein follows the preparations, the rehearsals, the concerts… He blends images of interviews made to ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  William Klein
CAST:  Nina Simone  •  Archie Shepp  •  Miriam Makeba  •  Marion Williams

Nina Simone - Live at Ronnie Scott's (1985)

Ronnie Scott’s opened in 1959 to provide a place where British Jazz musicians could jam. Eventually, American music musicians such as Johnny Griffin, Roland Kirk, Al Cohn, Stan Getz, Sony Stitt, Benny Golson, Donald Byrd, and Ben Webster played at the club making ...  (more)

DIRECTION: 
CAST:  Nina Simone

Ronnie Scott’s opened in 1959 to provide a place where British Jazz musicians could jam. Eventually, American music musicians such as Johnny Griffin, Roland Kirk, Al Cohn, Stan Getz, Sony Stitt, Benny Golson, Donald Byrd, and Ben Webster played at the club making ...  (more)

DIRECTION: 
CAST:  Nina Simone

The Amazing Nina Simone (2015)

The life, legacy and musical accomplishments of singer, musician, pianist, songwriter and Civil Rights activist, Nina Simone through interviews with over 50 of the subject’s friends, family, band members, lovers and fellow activists. The film has been called the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jeff L. Lieberman
CAST:  Nina Simone  •  Eric Burdon  •  Billy Vera  •  Nikki Giovanni

The life, legacy and musical accomplishments of singer, musician, pianist, songwriter and Civil Rights activist, Nina Simone through interviews with over 50 of the subject’s friends, family, band members, lovers and fellow activists. The film has been called the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jeff L. Lieberman
CAST:  Nina Simone  •  Eric Burdon  •  Billy Vera  •  Nikki Giovanni

What Happened, Miss Simone? (2015)

The film chronicles Nina Simone's journey from child piano prodigy to iconic musician and passionate activist, told in her own words.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Liz Garbus
CAST:  Nina Simone  •  Lisa Simone  •  Dick Gregory  •  Stanley Crouch

The film chronicles Nina Simone's journey from child piano prodigy to iconic musician and passionate activist, told in her own words.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Liz Garbus
CAST:  Nina Simone  •  Lisa Simone  •  Dick Gregory  •  Stanley Crouch

Nina Simone: The Legend (1992)

The Legend, on Nina’s life and music, was made in France by Frank Lords and it is told in large part by Nina Simone herself. It is an honest portrayal based on her autobiography “I Put A Spell On You,” that shows Nina at her mightiest and at her most vulnerable.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Frank Lords
CAST:  Nina Simone  •  Edney Whiteside  •  Carol Waymon  •  Mary-Kate Waymon

The Legend, on Nina’s life and music, was made in France by Frank Lords and it is told in large part by Nina Simone herself. It is an honest portrayal based on her autobiography “I Put A Spell On You,” that shows Nina at her mightiest and at her most vulnerable.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Frank Lords
CAST:  Nina Simone  •  Edney Whiteside  •  Carol Waymon  •  Mary-Kate Waymon

Queens of Jazz: The Joy and Pain of the Jazz Divas (2013)

The documentary tracks the diva's difficult progress as she emerges from the tough, testosterone-fuelled world of the big bands of the 30s and 40s, to fill nightclubs and saloons across the US in the 50s and early 60s as a force in her own right. Looking at the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Chris Rodley
CAST:  Peggy Lee  •  Sarah Vaughan  •  Nina Simone  •  Ella Fitzgerald

The documentary tracks the diva's difficult progress as she emerges from the tough, testosterone-fuelled world of the big bands of the 30s and 40s, to fill nightclubs and saloons across the US in the 50s and early 60s as a force in her own right. Looking at the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Chris Rodley
CAST:  Peggy Lee  •  Sarah Vaughan  •  Nina Simone  •  Ella Fitzgerald

Do I Look Like a Lady? (Comedians and Singers) (2016)

Do I Look Like a Lady? (Comedians and Singers) presents a dynamic checkerboard of moving image footage featuring African-American actors and singers from across the 20th century: from Jackie “Moms” Mabley to Eartha Kitt, Whoopi Goldberg, Whitney Houston, and ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Mickalene Thomas
CAST:  Eartha Kitt  •  Millie Jackson  •  Mo'Nique  •  Moms Mabley

Do I Look Like a Lady? (Comedians and Singers) presents a dynamic checkerboard of moving image footage featuring African-American actors and singers from across the 20th century: from Jackie “Moms” Mabley to Eartha Kitt, Whoopi Goldberg, Whitney Houston, and ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Mickalene Thomas
CAST:  Eartha Kitt  •  Millie Jackson  •  Mo'Nique  •  Moms Mabley

Black Woodstock (1969)

The Harlem Cultural Festival, also known as "Black Woodstock", was a series of music concerts held in Harlem, Manhattan, New York City during the summer of 1969 to celebrate African American music and culture and to promote the continued politics of black pride. ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Hal Tulchin
CAST:  Mahalia Jackson  •  Stevie Wonder  •  Nina Simone  •  B.B. King

The Harlem Cultural Festival, also known as "Black Woodstock", was a series of music concerts held in Harlem, Manhattan, New York City during the summer of 1969 to celebrate African American music and culture and to promote the continued politics of black pride. ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Hal Tulchin
CAST:  Mahalia Jackson  •  Stevie Wonder  •  Nina Simone  •  B.B. King

Nina Simone: Live at Montreux 1976 (1976)

Nina Simone was one of the greatest female vocalists of the 20th Century. She was equally at home singing jazz, blues, soul, gospel or pure pop. Nina made four appearances at the Montreux Festival between 1968 and 1990.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jean Bovon
CAST:  Nina Simone

Nina Simone was one of the greatest female vocalists of the 20th Century. She was equally at home singing jazz, blues, soul, gospel or pure pop. Nina made four appearances at the Montreux Festival between 1968 and 1990.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jean Bovon
CAST:  Nina Simone

Happy in the Gap (2020)

A black essay on trains, beaches and space occupation.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Lucas H. Rossi
CAST:  Nina Simone  •  Fela Kuti  •  Tim Maia

A black essay on trains, beaches and space occupation.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Lucas H. Rossi
CAST:  Nina Simone  •  Fela Kuti  •  Tim Maia

Nina Simone: Live in '65 & '68 (2008)

Two incredible concerts from 1965 and 1968 showcasing the multifaceted diva in all her glory. Simone shines as a jazz vocalist extraordinaire on “Tomorrow Is My Turn,” as a definitive folk interpreter on Bob Dylan’s “The Ballad Of Hollis Brown” and as a passionate ...  (more)

DIRECTION: 
CAST:  Nina Simone

Two incredible concerts from 1965 and 1968 showcasing the multifaceted diva in all her glory. Simone shines as a jazz vocalist extraordinaire on “Tomorrow Is My Turn,” as a definitive folk interpreter on Bob Dylan’s “The Ballad Of Hollis Brown” and as a passionate ...  (more)

DIRECTION: 
CAST:  Nina Simone

Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised) (2021)

During the same summer as Woodstock, over 300,000 people attended the Harlem Cultural Festival, celebrating African American music and culture, and promoting Black pride and unity. The footage from the festival sat in a basement, unseen for over 50 years, keeping ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Questlove
CAST:  Tony Lawrence  •  Stevie Wonder  •  Lin-Manuel Miranda  •  Nina Simone

During the same summer as Woodstock, over 300,000 people attended the Harlem Cultural Festival, celebrating African American music and culture, and promoting Black pride and unity. The footage from the festival sat in a basement, unseen for over 50 years, keeping ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Questlove
CAST:  Tony Lawrence  •  Stevie Wonder  •  Lin-Manuel Miranda  •  Nina Simone

How It Feels to Be Free (2021)

Tells the inspiring story of how six iconic African American female entertainers – Lena Horne, Abbey Lincoln, Nina Simone, Diahann Carroll, Cicely Tyson and Pam Grier – challenged an entertainment industry deeply complicit in perpetuating racist stereotypes, and ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Yoruba Richen
CAST:  Abbey Lincoln  •  Nina Simone  •  Diahann Carroll  •  Pam Grier

Tells the inspiring story of how six iconic African American female entertainers – Lena Horne, Abbey Lincoln, Nina Simone, Diahann Carroll, Cicely Tyson and Pam Grier – challenged an entertainment industry deeply complicit in perpetuating racist stereotypes, and ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Yoruba Richen
CAST:  Abbey Lincoln  •  Nina Simone  •  Diahann Carroll  •  Pam Grier

Nina Simone: Live at Montreux Jazz Festival 1987 (1987)

On July 10, 1987, Nina Simone performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival, one of the most prestigious annual music events in the world.  (more)

DIRECTION: 
CAST:  Nina Simone

On July 10, 1987, Nina Simone performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival, one of the most prestigious annual music events in the world.  (more)

DIRECTION: 
CAST:  Nina Simone

Why Is We Americans? (2022)

The story focuses on Newark's Baraka family and its involvement in social activism, poetry, music, art and politics.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Udi Aloni  •  Ayana Stafford-Morris
CAST:  Lauryn Hill  •  Maya Angelou  •  Nina Simone  •  Allen Ginsberg

The story focuses on Newark's Baraka family and its involvement in social activism, poetry, music, art and politics.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Udi Aloni  •  Ayana Stafford-Morris
CAST:  Lauryn Hill  •  Maya Angelou  •  Nina Simone  •  Allen Ginsberg

 (more)

DIRECTION: 
CAST:  Billie Holiday  •  Nina Simone  •  Ethel Waters  •  Anita O'Day