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Film documenting famous 1972 Aretha Franklin gospel concerts to premiere in NYC next week

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Courtesy of Al’s Records and TapesThe Aretha Franklin concert film Amazing Grace will finally debut next week at New York City’s DOC NYC festival. Initially scheduled to premiere at 2015 film festivals in Toronto and Telluride, Colorado, the screenings were blocked by Franklin via a court injunction.

Variety reports that Amazing Grace‘s producer Alan Elliott reached an agreement with the Franklin estate, paving the way for the official release of the movie.  It features footage from two gospel concerts the Queen of Soul recorded at the New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles for her 1972 live album Amazing Grace.

The film will be shown twice on Monday, November 12, at the SVA Theatre as part of DOC NYC, and will then be screened in the Los Angeles area from November 20 to November 27 in order to allow it to qualify for Oscar consideration.

In addition, a December 7-14 run at New York’s Film Forum also has been scheduled. Tickets to the November 12 screenings are on sale now.

Franklin’s cousin Sabrina Owens, who serves as executor of Aretha’s estate, told Variety, “In recent weeks, Alan presented the film to the family at [Detroit’s] African American Museum here, and we absolutely love it. We can see Alan’s passion for the movie, and we are just as passionate about it.”

Elliott, meanwhile, points out that because Franklin passed away recently, “I think there is that energy toward rediscovering things that she did. And I feel that this performance is really her crowning achievement — and I think she felt that way too. As much as anything, I wish she had been here to be a part of it.”

A wide release and official premiere events for Amazing Grace are being planned for 2019.

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