“ONCE UPON A TIME IN HARLEM is a film for the ages…one of the greatest cinematic works of creative nonfiction that I’ve ever seen.” -Richard Brody, The New Yorker
“A once-in-a-lifetime dinner party from 1972 is transformed into a thrilling and inspiring hang-out movie…A faultless, captivating experience.” -Adrian Horton, The Guardian
“A staggering work of archival magic and historical fun.” -Jacob Oller, AV Club
Opens November 13 | A decade after his death, genre-defying director William Greaves has one last trick up his sleeve: a cocktail party he masterminded in 1972 for the living luminaries of the Harlem Renaissance. For over three hours, this extraordinary group—many of whom had not seen each other in 50 years—reminisced, critiqued, argued, laughed, and drank while wrestling with their place in a rapidly shifting cultural landscape. Shot on 16mm film, newly restored and now directed by Greaves’ son David, this landmark film is at once a self-exploration and an inquiry into the heart of the critical mass of energy called the Harlem Renaissance. William Greaves’ intent was not only to document these artists and intellectuals as they spoke about their lives and work but also to plumb the meaning of the extraordinary creative period in which they lived to help us better understand how culture has been passed on from one generation to another and the role that the artist plays in keeping it alive.
Awards & Nominations
2026 Cannes Film Festival - Official Selection, Directors' Fortnight
2026 Sundance Film Festival - Official Selection
2026 Telluride Film Festival - Official Selection
2026 Toronto International Film Festival - Official Selection
The Film Center is ADA accessible. This presentation will be projected without open captions. The theater is hearing-loop equipped. For accessibility requests, please email filmcenter@saic.edu