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Moonage Daydream is returning to the really big screen.

EXCLUSIVE: Documentary+, the ad-supported streaming platform launched by Bryn Mooser’s XTR, is moving into distribution.

Jazz Tangcay Artisans Editor How does one make a documentary about David Bowie, a prolific musician who frequently reinvented himself as a performer, sound great? That was the challenge facing the Emmy-nominated sound crew behind Brett Morgen’s “Moonage Daydream.” “He’s a unique artistic genius,” points out re-recording mixer David Giammarco. “How do you do something like we’ve never seen before?” Giammarco worked with fellow nominee Paul Massey and Morgen, writer-director-editor-producer on the documentary, to navigate their way through telling Bowie’s story. Morgen’s vision was not to use talking heads or a narrator.

Sophia Scorziello editor This season, television was pushed to its limits and into spaces that teetered genres and kept audiences guessing. From an improv show about a fake court trial to mockumentaries about public schools and vampires, a sci-fi drama about nuns, the 2023 Emmy nominations were a grab bag full of interesting television, and artisans helped take them even further.

Brett Morgen has signed with Entertainment 360.

Editor’s note: The following interviews were done outside of the FYC event series, as there was no panel or screening.

*WINNER.   ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” Written by Daniel Kwan & Daniel Scheinert *WINNER“The Fabelmans,” Written by Steven Spielberg & Tony Kushner “The Menu,” Written by Seth Reiss & Will Tracy “Nope,” Written by Jordan Peele “Tár,” Written by Todd Field   ADAPTED SCREENPLAY “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” Screenplay by Ryan Coogler & Joe Robert Cole, Story by Ryan Coogler, Based on the Marvel Comics “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery,” Written by Rian Johnson “She Said,” Screenplay by Rebecca Lenkiewicz, Based on the New York Times Investigation by Jodi Kantor, Megan Twohey and Rebecca Corbett and the Book She Said by Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey “Top Gun: Maverick,” Screenplay by Ehren Kruger and Eric Warren Singer and Christopher McQuarrie, Story by Peter Craig and Justin Marks, Based on Characters Created by Jim Cash & Jack Epps, Jr.

*WINNER.   ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” Written by Daniel Kwan & Daniel Scheinert “The Fabelmans,” Written by Steven Spielberg & Tony Kushner “The Menu,” Written by Seth Reiss & Will Tracy “Nope,” Written by Jordan Peele “Tár,” Written by Todd Field   ADAPTED SCREENPLAY “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” Screenplay by Ryan Coogler & Joe Robert Cole, Story by Ryan Coogler, Based on the Marvel Comics “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery,” Written by Rian Johnson “She Said,” Screenplay by Rebecca Lenkiewicz, Based on the New York Times Investigation by Jodi Kantor, Megan Twohey and Rebecca Corbett and the Book She Said by Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey “Top Gun: Maverick,” Screenplay by Ehren Kruger and Eric Warren Singer and Christopher McQuarrie, Story by Peter Craig and Justin Marks, Based on Characters Created by Jim Cash & Jack Epps, Jr.

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAYEverything Everywhere All At Once, Written by Daniel Kwan & Daniel Scheinert; A24The Fabelmans, Written by Steven Spielberg & Tony Kushner; Universal PicturesThe Menu, Written by Seth Reiss & Will Tracy; Searchlight PicturesNope, Written by Jordan Peele; Universal PicturesTár, Written by Todd Field; Focus FeaturesADAPTED SCREENPLAYBlack Panther: Wakanda Forever, Screenplay by Ryan Coogler & Joe Robert Cole, Story by Ryan Coogler, Based on the Marvel Comics; Walt Disney Studios Motion PicturesGlass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, Written by Rian Johnson; NetflixShe Said, Screenplay by Rebecca Lenkiewicz, Based on the New York Times Investigation by Jodi Kantor, Megan Twohey and Rebecca Corbett and the Book She Said by Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey; Universal PicturesTop Gun: Maverick, Screenplay by Ehren Kruger and Eric Warren Singer and Christopher McQuarrie, Story by Peter Craig and Justin Marks, Based on Characters Created by Jim Cash & Jack Epps, Jr.; Paramount PicturesWomen Talking, Screenplay by Sarah Polley, Based upon the Book by Miriam Toews; Orion Pictures/MGMDOCUMENTARY SCREENPLAY2nd Chance, Written by Ramin Bahrani; Showtime Documentary FilmsDownfall: The Case Against Boeing, Written by Mark Bailey & Keven McAlester; NetflixLast Flight Home, Written by Ondi Timoner; MTV Documentary FilmsMoonage Daydream, Written by Brett Morgen; Neon¡Viva Maestro!, Written by Theodore Braun; Greenwich Entertainment

For years HBO Documentary Films, under the stewardship of Sheila Nevins, dominated the Oscars, racking up nominations and wins left and right. But since her departure in 2018 it has faced an Oscar dry spell, at least in the documentary feature category. All that could change this year, in a major way.

Deadline on Wednesday launched its streaming site for Contenders Film: Documentary, the award-season showcase that took place Sunday with creatives from 20 of the year’s buzziest non-fiction movies.

As a musician, David Bowie transcended any traditional definition of a rock star. Through the documentary Moonage Daydream, director and producer Brett Morgen sought to transcend the traditional constraints of a biographical documentary. 

Deadline’s Contenders Film: Documentary awards-season event kicks off Sunday at 8 a.m. PT and promises to open up distant lands and even a distant planet—no passport required.

Neon has elevated Andrew Brown to President of Digital Distribution. The exec who has served as SVP of Digital Strategy, Marketing and Distribution for Neon since 2017 will also continue to serve as Co-President of Decal — the home entertainment distribution company launched by Neon and Bleecker Street last year.

Many biopics and documentaries have been released over the years, but few have been quite as enthralling as “Moonage Daydream,” Brett Morgen’s ode to the musical legend, David Bowie. Bowie was a genuine talent and artist with accomplishments such as singing, songwriting, and acting but it is hard to really capture his essence.

The 7th annual Critics Choice Documentary Awards unveiled its winners in a gala event that was live-streamed from New York City. It was Amazon Studios’ Good Night Oppy that was the biggest winner of the night taking home five trophies including the top accolade of the night — winning Gold for Best Documentary Feature.

Best Documentary Feature: “Good Night Oppy” (Amazon Studios)Silver medal winner: “Fire of Love” (National Geographic Documentary Films/Neon)Bronze medal winner: “Navalny” (HBO Max/CNN Films)Best Director: Ryan White – “Good Night Oppy” (Amazon Studios)Best First Documentary Feature: David Siev – “Bad Axe” (IFC Films)Best Cinematography: The Cinematography Team – “Our Great National Parks” (Netflix)Best Editing: Brett Morgen – “Moonage Daydream” (HBO/Neon)Best Score: Blake Neely – “Good Night Oppy” (Amazon Studios)Best Narration: “Good Night Oppy” (Amazon Studios)Written by Helen Kearns, Ryan White, performed by Angela BassettBest Archival Documentary: “Fire of Love” (National Geographic Documentary Films/Neon)Best Historical Documentary: “Descendant” (Netflix)Best Biographical Documentary: “Sidney” (Apple TV+)Best Music Documentary: “The Beatles: Get Back” (Disney+)Best Political Documentary: “Navalny” (HBO Max/CNN Films)Best Science/Nature Documentary: “Good Night Oppy” (Amazon Studios)Best Sports Documentary: (TIE) “Citizen Ashe” (Magnolia/HBO) and “Welcome to Wrexham” (FX/Hulu)Best Short Documentary: “Nuisance Bear” (The New Yorker)Best Limited Documentary Series: “The Beatles: Get Back” (Disney+)Best Ongoing Documentary Series: “30 for 30” (ESPN)The Pennebaker Award: Barbara KoppleCritics Choice Impact Award: Dawn Porter

A handful of awards season frontrunners is starting to emerge with the announcement today of the IDA Documentary Awards Shortlists.

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE“Aftershock” (Hulu)“The Automat” (A Slice of Pie Productions)“Descendant” (Netflix)“Fire of Love” (National Geographic Documentary Films/Neon)“Gabby Giffords Won’t Back Down” (Briarcliff Entertainment)“Good Night Oppy” (Amazon Studios)“The Janes” (HBO)“Moonage Daydream” (HBO/Neon)“Navalny” (HBO/CNN/Warner Bros. Pictures)“Sidney” (Apple TV+)BEST DIRECTORJudd Apatow, Michael Bonfiglio – “George Carlin’s American Dream” (HBO)Margaret Brown – “Descendant” (Netflix)Sara Dosa – “Fire of Love” (National Geographic Documentary Films/Neon)Reginald Hudlin – “Sidney” (Apple TV+)Brett Morgen – “Moonage Daydream” (HBO/Neon)Laura Poitras – “All the Beauty and the Bloodshed” (HBO/Neon)Daniel Roher – “Navalny” (HBO/CNN/Warner Bros.

Clayton Davis The Critics Choice Documentary Awards announced its nominees where Sara Dosa’s lava-fueled love story “Fire of Love” led the field with seven nominations including best documentary feature and director. Co-distributed by National Geographic and Neon, the film’s Ryan White’s “Good Night Oppy,” the moving reflection on the Mars rovers, received a hearty six-nom tally including editing and score. “This year’s nominees prove that documentaries of all lengths and formats are advancing nonfiction media like never before,” said Christopher Campbell, Co-President of the Critics Choice Association Documentary Branch.

Brett Morgen’s Moonage Daydream swept up a cool $922,000 at the domestic box office this weekend, while an impressive array of top industry players took Saturday to mull the global future of arthouse film. The real test — of specialty’s core adult audience willingness to return to cinemas — starts this fall, according to execs at the Zurich Summit, an in-person event straddling the Zurich Film Festival.

David Bowie’s drummer has reflected on the late singer’s life following the unveiling of his stone on the Music Walk of Fame in London. Bowie died in January 2016, and has now been hailed as ‘one of the most amazing artists that has come out in history’ by Michael ‘Woody’ Woodmansey. The music legend’s stone was laid on the Walk of Fame this week in his memory at the Camden-based trail which recognises influential artists from around the world.

The sequel to a beloved British family film, a heavy metal re-release, an Apple title from TIFF and Abigail Disney’s takedown of the American Dream populate the specialty film weekend in a market that may have found sturdier footing ahead of awards season and amid a dearth of blockbuster fare.

Brett Morgen’s kaleidoscopic ode to David Bowie landed at no 10 in North America this weekend, singing up $1.225 million on 170 screens – exclusively Imax (159 U.S. locations, 11 in Canada).

Moonage Daydream, a film about David Bowie, opens with “Hallo Spaceboy,” a deep cut from his 1995 album Outside. It’s clear from the use of this song that Brett Morgen isn’t making a traditional documentary about the Thin White Duke.

Jem Aswad Senior Music Editor The first thing to know before seeing “Moonage Daydream,” Brett Morgen’s dazzling, exhaustive and exhausting memoir of David Bowie’s life and career, is that it assumes the viewer already knows a lot about the subject — his relevance, his influence, the brilliance of so much of his music, and the basics of his personal history. Like another recent historical film about an oft-trodden subject — Todd Haynes’ “The Velvet Underground” — it eschews the standard, chronological, done-to-death “Behind the Music”-style template that has become a predictable default for music documentaries and finds a dramatically different way to tell the story. In the case of “Moonage Daydream” — the significance of the second word of the title in this impressionistic film cannot be overemphasized — that different way is to let the man himself do all of the talking: Literally the only voiceovers heard in this 135-minute-long film are from Bowie (presenting real or conveniently fictionalized accounts of his life and work) and various interviewers. While that makes for an unusually free-form approach to structuring a documentary (and was enormously challenging for Morgen, who worked on the film for over four years and suffered a heart attack while doing it), in many ways it’s freeing: Instead of a rigid timeline or forced, overarching theme dictating the narrative, Bowie’s words do.

Neon in association with National Geographic Documentary Films said director Sara Dosa’s Fire of Love will cross $1 million at the box office this weekend, becoming the biggest documentary release of the year for combined domestic and international gross. The film opened this summer and is entering its ninth week in theaters nationally. It will stream on Disney+ later this year.

David Bowie is set to receive a stone on London's Music Walk of Fame in Camden. The late 'Starman' hitmaker - who died following a secret battle with cancer in 2016 aged 69 - will be honoured with the tribute on September 15 at Camden Town Tube station. The music legend's stone joins those for The Who, Soul II Soul, Madness, and late icon Amy Winehouse.

David Bowie is set to become the latest musician to receive a walk on the Camden Music Walk of Fame in north London.The Who became the first act to be honoured with the special award when it launched in November 2019, after being touted as early as 2013. At that time, Amy Winehouse and Madness were both considered to be given stones on the walk, and both were unveiled in 2020.Bowie’s stone on the walk, outside Camden Town tube station, will be unveiled on September 15 at a ceremony that will see the star’s collaborators, friends and fans pay tribute to the late singer, who died in 2016.Lee Bennett, Founder of The Music Walk OF Fame, said: “David Bowie is a global influence, one of the ultimate influencers and sooner or later, we had to have him on The Music Walk Of Fame.  Our intention is for this to be the highest honour a music figure can receive in the UK and beyond,  the unveiling of David’s stone ensures that legacy.  We have huge plans for the future, but for now, let’s celebrate one of the greats of music.”The day after the stone is unveiled (September 16), new Bowie film Moonage Daydream, directed by Brett Morgen, will be released exclusively in IMAX on September 16 (hitting UK cinemas on September 23).