Vision festival 2026
VISION FESTIVAL 30
22 June at 6:30PM
Michael Lucio Sternbach
CONSECRATION honors the life, spirit, and music of saxophonist Charles Gayle, whose fearless improvisation and spiritual intensity redefined the possibilities of free jazz. Created as a memorial tribute, it traces Gayle’s journey from humble beginnings to his emergence as a commanding, transcendent voice on the global stage. Through performances, interviews, and archival footage, the film celebrates his unflinching dedication, emotional depth, and transformative artistry. More than a reflection on a singular musician, it is a meditation on the enduring power of music to confront, inspire, and uplift – a fitting homage to a towering figure of creative expression.
2024, 25 min, digital
Michael Lucio Sternbach
ECHO is a documentary portrait of the great pianist and composer Dave Burrell, whose singular voice has shaped the course of modern jazz and creative music. Built around an in-depth conversation with Burrell, the film traces his journey from early childhood through his emergence as a key figure in the explosive jazz scene of the 1960s. Burrell reflects on his groundbreaking collaborations with artists including Archie Shepp and Pharoah Sanders, as well as his role in expanding the language of jazz piano. Blending classical training, blues, and fearless improvisation, Burrell helped define the sound of the avant-garde while maintaining a deeply personal lyricism. Part history and part intimate reflection, ECHO celebrates an artist whose innovative spirit continues to resonate across generations of musicians.
2019, 25 min, digital
Laura Sofía Pérez
This biopic chronicles the early days of William Parker in the Bronx in the early 1970s, via interviews on location, music, archival material, and poetic gestures on film. The film also serves as a window into William’s personal mythology through texts, family, community, music and visual art. The title references a text by Parker from the diary of Little Huey, December 1967:“One day flowers began to grow in my room. Beautiful flowers. Its petals were made from the poetry of life. Flowers made from music, dance, painting. Made of happy children who live in a place where there has never been nor will there ever be a war. A place where every human being is encouraged to shine as bright as possible and not be penalized for it. These flowers are made of the absence of famine and human brutality. I did not ask for these flowers, nor to my knowledge do I water or care for them. They continue to grow and I continue to pick them. They are changing my life.”
2024, 19 min, digital
Michael Lucio Sternbach
BRINGING ON THE HALLELUJAH is a biographical film on legendary tenor saxophonist, educator, and New Orleans native Edward “Kidd” Jordan. A towering figure in creative music for more than six decades, Jordan has influenced generations through both his fearless improvisational voice and his deep commitment to teaching. The film features interviews with Jordan alongside reflections from his family, former students, and the many artists who have collaborated with him throughout his remarkable career. Through these personal stories, the film traces Jordan’s journey from the rich musical traditions of New Orleans to international stages of avant-garde jazz.
2020, 32 min, digital
Total running time: ca. 105 min.
22 june at 9:00PM
Michael Lucio Sternbach
A celebration of the inventive spirit and boundless creativity of multi-instrumentalist Cooper-Moore, this film blends interviews, performance footage, and intimate glimpses into his studio to explore a musician whose artistry transcends convention, from handcrafted instruments to daring improvisations. Through his collaborations and singular vision, Cooper-Moore transforms sound into a living conversation, where rhythm, melody, and imagination intertwine. ASHIMBA offersan immersive look at a visionary whose music is both playful and profound, inviting audiences to experience the joy, curiosity, and transformative power that define one of contemporary jazz’s most original voices.
2017, 16 min, digital
Michael Lucio Sternbach
This short biopic offers an intimate journey into the life and music of pianist, composer, and vocalist Amina Claudine Myers. Blending interviews, archival footage, and performances, the film illuminates Myers’s singular voice, where improvisation, storytelling, and spiritual depth converge. From her early training to her groundbreaking recordings and collaborations in avant-garde jazz, Myers’s music emerges as both a personal and collective expression of joy, resilience,and creativity. REFLECTIONS celebrates not only her remarkable artistry but also the lasting inspiration she imparts, revealing a musician whose influence continues to resonate across generations and stages worldwide.
2021, 20 min, digital
Michael Lucio Sternbach
This film examines the musical brotherhood of bassist William Parker and drummer Hamid Drake, renowned worldwide as one of the premier rhythm sections. The film explores their deep kinship and the shamanistic sound ceremonies they perform across the globe. Through interviews, performance, and behind-the-scenes insight, it offers a comprehensive look at their music, which becomes a meditation on rhythm, creativity, and the profound lessons life teachesus. THE MYSTERY OF THE GARDENER’S GROOVE celebrates the joy, spontaneity, and enduring magic of their collaborative improvisation.
2017, 20 min, digital
Michael Lucio Sternbach
30 YEARS OF VISION celebrates three decades of the Vision Festival, one of the world’s most vital gatherings devoted to creative music and the arts. Produced by Arts for Art, the film traces the festival’s journey from its humble beginnings to its place today as the premier international festival for free jazz and avant-garde expression. Through archival footage and reflections from artists and organizers, the film highlights the community and artistic spirit that have sustained the festival for thirty years. Under the leadership of Patricia Nicholson Parker and Arts for Art, the Vision Festival has brought together generations of musicians, dancers, poets, and visual artists.
2026, 30 min, digital
Total running time: ca. 90 min.
