Billy Joel Documentary to Open Tribeca Festival 2025
The upcoming new documentary Billy Joel will open the Tribeca Festival 2025, as announced.
Details on the Documentary
Billy Joel: And So It Goes—directed by Susan Leisi and Jessica Levin-Etim—will be released in two parts this summer on HBO, as revealed last month.
The project will delve into Joel’s life and music, “exploring love, loss, and the personal struggles that inspire his songwriting.” It will feature unprecedented access to performances, home movies, personal photographs, and a one-on-one interview.
It has now been confirmed that And So It Goes will debut at the Beacon Theater in New York on June 4, the opening night of this year’s Tribeca Festival.
Jane Rosenthal, co-founder and CEO of Tribeca Festival and Tribeca Enterprises, remarked: “For almost 25 years, the Tribeca Festival has celebrated the artists who give New York its heart and soul. We are proud to honor Billy Joel, an artist who embodies this spirit, with the premiere of the 2025 festival.”
“Paying tribute to the legendary performer who captured the essence of the ‘New York state’ is the perfect way to kick off this year’s celebration of creativity and inspiration,” she added. Leisi expressed: “My co-writer, Jessica Levin, and I are thrilled that our film Billy Joel: And So It Goes will open this esteemed festival.”
“We thank Jane Rosenthal and the festival team, as well as HBO and everyone who supported us in creating an in-depth, honest, and musically expressive portrait of this complex talent,” she added. “We are also grateful for Billy Joel’s trust in us to tell his story on screen. There is no better place for the premiere of this film than the Beacon Theater, a venue that has hosted so many historical musical events over the decades and is significant to Billy Joel.”
You can find ticket information here. Please check the announcement above.
The complete schedule for events, including film, music, television, sound narration, discussions, and more, will be announced soon.
Leici, who produced PBS’s American Masters series and HBO documentaries like Jane Fonda in Five Acts and Spielberg, explained: “For those who think they know Joel’s story, as well as those who are less familiar, this two-part film will be a revelation and a surprise.”
“I was engaged in his story as someone who initially knew little and was amazed at how autobiographical his songs are and how complex his journey is. We are thrilled that Billy trusted us with his story, which we aimed to portray as honestly as possible, diving into previously unexplored territory.”
The exact release date for Billy Joel: And So It Goes has yet to be confirmed.
Meanwhile, Billy Joel recently postponed his planned British shows for the summer until next year due to health reasons. He will return to the stage in North America this July.
https://www.nme.com/news/music/billy-joel-and-so-it-goes-documentary-to-open-tribeca-festival-2025-3852368?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=billy-joel-and-so-it-goes-documentary-to-open-tribeca-festival-2025
