David Greaves on the Landmark Documentary ONCE UPON A TIME IN HARLEM

Spotlights feature conversations with high-profile film and television industry professionals who share helpful advice and insights on their career experiences and creative processes.

On a summer afternoon in 1972, genre-busting filmmaker William Greaves gathered a group of Harlem renaissance luminaries for a party. He filmed the event as his guests mingled, reminisced, and debated old times in Duke Ellington’s home. He hired his son, David, as one of his cinematographers for the production.  

Some 54 years later, that footage serves as the core of Once Upon a Time in Harlem, a vital new documentary directed by David Greaves. 

In this live, online event, David will join Sundance Collab to discuss the film’s long road to fruition. David will unpack: 

• His experience as a first-time documentary feature director. 
• His role as a young cinematographer on the day of the shoot. 
• The project’s importance to his father and why the footage was never released until now. 
• Working with family members Liani Greaves and Louise Archambault Greaves to bring his father’s vision to life. 

Once Upon a Time in Harlem began its prestigious festival run at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival and has since gone on to become the only film this year to screen at the Cannes, Telluride, Toronto, New York, and Sundance Film Festivals. NEON acquired rights to the film after its Sundance Film Festival premiere and will release it in US theaters in October. 

The film has received universal acclaim since its premiere. Critics have called it “a triumph of DIY filmmaking” (Jourdain Searles, The Hollywood Reporter), “a vital reclamation of a precious history” (Robert Daniels, RogerEbert.com), and “nothing short of monumental” (Aisha Harris, NPR). Among its accolades, the film won the 2026 Library of Congress' Lavine/Ken Burns Film Prize. 

This hour-long conversation will conclude with an audience Q&A. Attendees are encouraged to bring their questions on the film’s conception, production, and release. 

Don’t miss your chance to hear from the director of one of the landmark documentaries of 2026.

If you would benefit from an accommodation to fully participate in this event, please either submit a request here, contact us at (435) 776-7790, or email us at accessibility@sundance.org to discuss your specific requests. Every effort will be made to accommodate advance requests; however, requests made within 5 days of the event may not be guaranteed.

A recording of this Spotlight will be posted to Sundance Collab's Event Recording Library within two business days of the live event. All registered attendees will receive an email with a link to view the recording at no cost for two business days after it is posted. After that, on-demand access to the recording can be purchased for $10.