Jazz on Film 2015

Presented as part of the Melbourne International Jazz Festival, the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) will screen an inspiring compilation of films exploring the multiple facets of jazz and its soulful artists, from uncompromising mentors and brutal teachers, to steadfast political activists and hardened outlaws. Jazz on Film 2015 features six works:

Sound of Redemption: The Frank Morgan Story (2014) is a revealing documentary from director N.C. Heikin chronicling bank robber, junkie and jazz artist with a pedigree to boot, Frank Morgan. Sound of Redemption spans the era of jazz's infamous LA night spots in Central Avenue through to America's notorious prisons, where Morgan's musical career took a surprising turn. Through a series of candid interviews, anecdotes and archival footage, the film offers a compelling insight into one of America's most remarkable second acts on his rocky road to redemption and musical greatness.

The Australian premiere of The Case of the Three Sided Dream (2014) explores the fascinating life of multi-instrumentalist and provocateur Rahsaan Roland Kirk. Blinded at birth, Kirk was a self-taught musician, who rose to prominence through his unique method of playing three alto saxophones at once – a technique that appeared to him in a dream. Combining interviews, rare footage and animation, director Adam Kahan has crafted an engaging documentary about a politically active artist who was resilient and unperturbed by life's obstacles.

The art of jazz and the true cost of artistic excellence lie at the heart of Whiplash (2014), the Oscar®-winning drama about a promising jazz drummer under the tutelage of a sadistic teacher. Featuring outstanding performances from Miles Teller as the young prodigy and J.K. Simmons as his militant mentor, the film was awarded the Grand Jury Prize at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival. Simmons also won Best Supporting Actor at the 2015 Academy Awards.

Keep on Keepin' On (2014) is the story of an unlikely friendship between a jazz legend and his young prodigy. Brimming with humour and compassion, this moving documentary from Australian filmmaker Alan Hicks explores the friendship between 83 year old Clark Terry – who recently passed away – and Justin Kauflin, a 23 year old blind musical genius. A pioneer in jazz education, Terry mentored the likes of Miles Davies and Quincy Jones, but it's his guidance of Kauflin in overcoming his debilitating stage fright to perform in an elite jazz competition that's truly inspiring.

The streets of New York are illuminated in Stations of the Elevated + Nas: Time is Illmatic (2014) – two documentaries featuring the music of Charles Mingus and Nas. Stations of the Elevated is considered to be one of the earliest filmed documentaries on graffiti, while the making of Nas's seminal album, Time is Illmatic is depicted in wonderful detail in the documentary of the same name.