Once Upon a Time in Harlem

Jan 25, 2026

1h 40m

★ 0.0

A film 50 years in the making

Overview

A decade after his death, genre-defying filmmaker William Greaves has one last trick up his sleeve with what he considered the most important event he captured on film: a 1972 party he engineered with the living luminaries of the Harlem Renaissance.

Genres

Documentary

Production Companies

William Greaves Productions

JustFilms / Ford Foundation

Once Upon a Time in Harlem Trailers

No Trailers found.

Cast

Self (archival footage)

Aaron Douglas

Self (archival footage)

Richard Bruce Nugent

Self (archival footage)

Ernest Crichlow

Self (archival footage)

Eubie Blake

Self (archival footage)

Leigh Whipper

Self (archival footage)

Arna Bontemps

Self (archival footage)

William Greaves

Self (archival footage)

James Van Der Zee

Self (archival footage)

Ida Mae Cullen

Self (archival footage)

Noble Sissle

Self (archival footage)

Romare Bearden

Palm Springs, a small desert oasis 100 miles East of Los Angeles was Sinatra's true home for 50 years. During his brief yet turbulent marriage to Ava Gardner his Palm Springs home was center stage. For the rest of his life, the Rancho Mirage compound on Frank Sinatra Drive, was the home he called "My Heaven". Palm Springs still feels the ghost of Frank Sinatra.

2.0

The Hermits

May 20, 2019

In the midst of the chaos of México City, a group of eight bachelor millennials who call themselves ´The Hermits´, open the doors to their tiny apartments in the historic Ermita Building, in the yet-to-be gentrified neighborhood of Tacubaya, and share their life experiences in a time when precarity changes the way in which we love, feel and relate to each other. As we explore the homes of these eight neighbors, we also witness their personalities intersect in a Whatsapp chat, a virtual space that functions as a supporting system that helps them face the adversities that living alone in this city brings.

0.0

Wabano: The Light of the Day

Dec 1, 2022

Nestled at the heart of Canada’s national capital, the Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health has been a haven for generations of Indigenous people from many cultures since its founding in 1998. A place of togetherness, thecentre celebrated a large expansion in 2013 designed by renowned First Nations architect Douglas Cardinal, which greatly increased its ability to serve Ottawa’s Indigenous population in one of the city’s poorest neighbourhoods. Under the determined leadership of Allison Fisher, Wabano has become far more than a health centre; through its focus on Indigenous pillars of healing and good health, Wabano has become a home for many.

8.0

Paris Is Burning

Mar 13, 1991

Where does voguing come from, and what, exactly, is throwing shade? This landmark documentary provides a vibrant snapshot of the 1980s through the eyes of New York City's African American and Latinx Harlem drag-ball scene. Made over seven years, PARIS IS BURNING offers an intimate portrait of rival fashion "houses," from fierce contests for trophies to house mothers offering sustenance in a world rampant with homophobia, transphobia, racism, AIDS, and poverty. Featuring legendary voguers, drag queens, and trans women — including Willi Ninja, Pepper LaBeija, Dorian Corey, and Venus Xtravaganza.

0.0

BARABARA

Jul 21, 2025

A bilingual documentary. Through a tapestry of interviews, BARABARA illuminates the cultural and economic significance of Swap- O- Rama, the "grandaddy" of flea markets in Chicago.

6.0

Mary Tyler Moore: The 20th Anniversary Show

Feb 18, 1991

A retrospective special commemorating the 20th anniversary of the sitcom The Mary Tyler Moore Show.

No Image Available

0.0

Keur Simbara

Invalid Date

Keur Simbara is an intimate, lyrical short documentary that follows a group of women community organizers in a rural Senegalese village as they build and sustain systems of health, finance, agriculture, and domestic infrastructure. Amid water scarcity and environmental challenges, they articulate their hopes for the future and the legacy they wish to leave behind. Keur Simbara is a tribute to communal wisdom and the power of local organizing.

0.0

Light Upon Light: A Documentary On Hijab

Mar 2, 2025

Light Upon Light: A Documentary on Hijab is an intimate and deeply personal exploration of the diverse, raw, and untold stories of hijabi women. Through open and vulnerable conversations with 7 women, the film dismantles stereotypes, highlights the challenges imposed by society, and celebrates the profound beauty of the hijab beyond a mere clothing choice. It captures the individuality of each woman’s story—how they came to wear the hijab, the struggles they’ve faced, and the strength they’ve found in it. More than just fabric, the hijab is a journey, often misunderstood, and influenced by the way the world perceives it. By amplifying voices that are often unheard, the documentary creates a space for empathy, challenges misconceptions, and invites a deeper understanding of what it truly means to wear the hijab; inspiring everyone to see hijab in a new light.

No Image Available

0.0

Spelkollektivet: To Build a Castle

Sep 23, 2024

"Spelkollektivet: To Build a Castle" is the story of the world's largest co-living space for game developers, and the people living there. Follow the founder James Newnorth as he navigates the many obstacles of turning an untried idea into reality. Meet the three indie devs Leene Künnap, Matej Jan and Michal Roch as they work on their respective games, "Death and Taxes", "Pixel Art Academy" and "Lords and Villeins". Find out if Spelkollektivet fosters the next indie dev star.

No Image Available

0.0

Malcolm Margolin: San Francisco Foundation Community Leadership Awards 2008

Invalid Date

Malcolm Margolin , Writer, Publisher, and Founder of Heyday Books, winner of the San Francisco Foundation 2008 Community Leadership Awards (the Helen Crocker Russell Award) - for promoting California's diverse cultures for more than 30 years, and for bringing voice, visibility, and value to multicultural, multilingual communities.

No Image Available

0.0

Mary Lou Breslin: San Francisco Foundation Community Leadership Awards 2009

Invalid Date

Mary Lou Breslin, co-founder of the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund, winner of the San Francisco Foundation 2009 Community Leadership awards (the Robert C. Kirkwood Award) - for making a mark in defining disability rights as a civil rights issue. She is a trailblazer whose grassroots movement has had tremendous impact addressing human rights abuses and neglect worldwide. As co-founder of the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund, Mary Lou was at the forefront of creating the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Fair Housing Amendments Act, and the Civil Rights Restoration Act leading to protected rights and enhanced opportunities for us all, not just those with disabilities.

No Image Available

0.0

Bishop William Swing: San Francisco Foundation Community Leadership Awards 2006

Dec 9, 2009

Bishop William Swing, winner of the San Francisco Foundation 2006 Community Leadership Awards (The San Francisco Foundation Award) - for creating a more just and compassionate community. He reaches out across religions and takes risks to push for innovative solutions to social problems. Bishop Swing's perseverance in fighting homelessness, raising HIV/AIDS awareness, and providing equal access to healthcare has left an indelible imprint on local, national, and international communities.

No Image Available

0.0

Michael Morgan: San Francisco Foundation Community Leadership Awards 2006

Invalid Date

Michael Morgan, winner of the San Francisco Foundation 2006 Community Leadership Awards for making symphonic music essential to the culture of the East Bay community. He is dedicated to minority access to the arts and arts education, visiting 100 schools every year. More than 20,000 public school students received hands-on music education because of Michael's leadership.

No Image Available

0.0

Arnold Perkins: San Francisco Foundation Community Leadership Awards 2007

Invalid Date

Arnold Perkins, winner of the San Francisco Foundation 2007 Community Leadership Awards (the San Francisco Foundation Award). Arnolds broad experiences reflect his passion to build and strengthen community spirit. Through his lifelong commitment to the Bay Area, Arnold has mentored hundreds of African American men and challenged them to be leaders in their own right. His diverse and inspired leadership creates positive change in the health of underserved communities locally and throughout the world.

No Image Available

0.0

Eva Paterson: San Francisco Foundation Community Leadership Awards 2007

Invalid Date

Eva Paterson, winner of the San Francisco Foundation 2007 Community Leadership Awards (The San Francisco Foundation Award). Eva has empowered thousands of people to make their voices heard in the critical civil rights struggles of our times. Eva's passionate and longtime commitment to advancing social and racial justice through law and public policy, communications and the arts, and alliance building has had a profound local and national impact. Her vision, coalition building, and tenacity have not only won landmark cases, but have raised the visibility and impact of the justice movement to change the very fabric of our society.

7.0

Schabowskis Zettel - Die Nacht, als die Mauer fiel

Nov 2, 2009

No overview available.

7.0

Memories of MAS*H

Nov 25, 1991

Hosted by one-time M*A*S*H guest star Shelley Long, “Memories of M*A*S*H” included brand-new interviews with the cast as well as producers, creators and guest-stars. The 90-minute retrospective aired on November 25th, 1991 on CBS as part of its “Classic Weekend II,” which also included “The Bob Newhart 19th Anniversary Special” and “The Best of Ed Sullivan II.” Dozens of clips from over over sixty different episodes were shown. It was the brain-child of Michael Hirsh (also responsible for “Making M*A*S*H”) and coincided with the 20th anniversary of M*A*S*H.

0.0

The Castle, Rebuilding History

Aug 5, 2025

Step inside the most complex heritage rejuvenation project ever to occur in Europe. Norwich Castle is being restored to its former glory - a unique and ambitious plan to return this 900-year-old building to its original Royal Palace design. Curators and craftspeople pore over every detail to ensure its historical accuracy. Will they run out of time, money and endurance before they can unveil one of Britain’s most iconic royal buildings? Filmed every step of the way over seven years, this is the story of a heritage makeover like no other.

No Image Available

0.0

Buchanan Stories / Buchanan Change

Invalid Date

Buchanan Mall is five consecutive blocks of public parkland in the heart of San Francisco’s Western Addition. 7,000 low-income residents who live adjacent to Buchanan Mall face acute challenges: recent, rapid gentrification and decades-long cycles of unemployment and mass incarceration. Against this backdrop, a remarkable new story has unfolded. This predominantly African-American community has come together to re-imagine and reclaim Buchanan Mall as connective tissue, repairing the neighborhood’s fractured social fabric, celebrating local culture, creating small businesses, and advocating for safe, affordable housing.

0.0

The betrayal of Hilversum

Aug 28, 2024

Documentary about the role of public broadcasting during the German occupation during the Second World War. A number of public broadcasters adopted a cooperative approach, allowing them to be used as a propaganda apparatus for the Nazis. An attitude with very far-reaching consequences.