Tribeca Festival has announced that the HBO original documentary “Earth, Wind & Fire (To Be Celestial vs. That’s the Weight of the World)” will open the 25th annual festival on June 3.
The film, directed by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Aamir “Questlove” Thompson, will be screened at the Beacon Theater, followed by live performances by the documentary’s subject, nine-time Grammy Award-winning band Earth, Wind & Fire, and music group The Roots.
“Opening night is always a magical moment, and it’s especially meaningful this year as we celebrate the festival’s 25th anniversary,” said Tribeca Festival Co-Founder and Co-Chair Jane Rosenthal. “Tribeca was born in the aftermath of 9/11 with the belief that storytellers have the power to bring communities together. For 25 years, we have seen artists, filmmakers, musicians, and audiences come together in New York City in inspiring, surprising, and deeply human ways. We are humbled by what we have accomplished and excited about the stories yet to come.”
The Earth, Wind and Fire documentary incorporates archival material to examine the band’s legacy, cultural influence, and body of work, while focusing on founder Maurice White and his vision for the group. The film is produced by Thompson, Dave Sahlnick, Samantha Grogin, KB White, and Aaron Sacks. John Kamen, Cho Hodari Coker, Carla Zambrano, Zara Zolman, Sean Gee, Tariq “Black Thought” Trotter, and Amos Newman serve as executive producers.
“It’s a great honor to bring this project to Tribeca Festival,” Thompson said. “The deep research and creative wizardry surrounding Earth, Wind & Fire over the past two years has been truly transformative. They remain one of the most culturally significant bands in history, and this project finally articulates why their legacy is so important.”
The full lineup will be released at a later date. 2026 Tribeca Festival passes and ticket packages are available now at tribecafilm.com.
