‘Borrowed Time: Lennon’s Last Decade’ Documentary Explores Final Decades of John Lennon’s Life
The new John Lennon documentary, Borrowed Time: Lennon’s Last Decade, will be coming to UK cinemas from 2nd May, with special Q&A events to be announced soon.
From Alan G. Parker, director of Hello Quo, Love Kills: The Story of Sid and the Pistols and It Was Fifty Years Ago Today… Sgt Pepper and Beyond, Borrowed Time: Lennon’s Last Decade, explores the final decade of Lennon’s life in extraordinary detail.
Follow the legend as he evolves beyond The Beatles, creating revolutionary music and standing at the forefront of anti-war protests that would make him one of the most influential pop culture icons of all time.
Hear musicians, journalists, and close friends of the man himself set the record straight on the truth behind many famous Lennon moments, brought to life by rare archive footage, including never-before-seen interviews. For the first time ever, the full story of how John and Yoko met is revealed and watch as the curtain is lifted on the 1981 comeback tour that never came to be. This monumental film is a must-see for Lennon, Beatles and music fans alike.
In addition to the film hitting cinemas on 2nd May, fans can also enjoy the 3.5-hour Director’s Cut, streaming the same day for one month exclusively on the Icon Film Channel (available for subscribers on Amazon Prime Video Channels or via the standalone app).
Speaking on the upcoming release Director Alan G. Parker said: “I am so excited to share Borrowed Time: Lennon’s Last Decade with UK audiences. I’ve made a number of films, but this is the first one that feels personal. I never met John Lennon, but through his music he became the older brother that this bullied kid needed”.
Maurice O’Carroll’s Crime-Thriller ‘Swing Bout’ Sets UK Release Date
Directed by Maurice O’Carroll, the crime-thriller, Swing Bout, will be available on digital download in the UK from 12th May.
The film stars Ciara Berkeley, Ben Condron, Frank Prendergast, Chrissie Cronin and Sinead O’Riordan, who also produces.
Swing Bout – A series of quick knockouts at a boxing event can cause a gap in the TV schedule and these holes are plugged with Swing Bouts. The swing bout boxers may or may not fight but they are expected to put their lives on the line at a moments notice.
Set backstage at a major boxing event, a young boxer is plunged into a tumultuous journey from the dressing room to her ring walk in a night of deceit, betrayal, and life-altering decisions.
Commenting on the film’s release, director and writer Maurice O’Carroll said; “Swing Bout is a film that thrives on tension, character, and a relentless pace. We made it for cinema lovers who enjoy smart, high-stakes storytelling, and it’s been brilliant to see how audiences in Ireland responded. Now, I’m looking forward to sharing that experience with UK and international viewers.”
‘A Wu-Tang Experience: Live at Red Rocks Amphitheatre’ Documentary Captures Legendary 2021 Performance
Directed by RZA and Gerald K. Barclay, A Wu-Tang Experience: Live at Red Rocks Amphitheatre documentary captures Wu-Tang Clan’s legendary 2021 performance at the iconic Red Rocks Amphitheatre, backed by the 60-piece Colorado Symphony Orchestra, blending hip-hop and classical music in a groundbreaking collaboration.
The film features stunning live renditions of Wu-Tang classics like C.R.E.A.M. and Protect Ya Neck, as well as a special live-score screening of the martial arts classic The 36th Chamber of Shaolin. Exclusive behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with Wu-Tang Clan members, classical musicians, and music historians provide deeper insight into hip-hop’s evolving place within the world of prestigious musical genres.
Co-director Gerald Barclay shared his excitement about partnering with Breaking Glass Pictures:
“I chose to work with Rich Wolff and his team because of their dedication to championing independent voices and culturally significant stories. Wu-Tang Clan’s legacy is global, and this documentary captures a historic moment that deserves to be shared far and wide.”
A Wu-Tang Experience: Live at Red Rocks Amphitheatre will be available on digital on May 6, 2025 via Breaking Glass Pictures.
Prior to Breaking Glass Pictures’ acquisition, the film premiered on PBS in November 2024, with a special screening at Lincoln Center highlighting its cultural and musical significance.
Filmmaker Wil Kristin Discovers Late Father Never-produced screenplay in ‘Finding Groovopolis’ Documentary
In the documentary Finding Groovopolis filmmaker Wil Kristin seeks fatherly advice through the lens of Groovopolis, a never-produced comedic screenplay written by his late father. While coming to terms with his dad’s death, Kristin discovered the original script for Groovopolis, which follows a music programmer who falls overboard at a work party, encounters a group of wild, dancing island inhabitants, and inadvertently records their music before being rescued and spreading the sounds as an antidote to dull and monotonous consumer culture. Elements of Groovopolis eerily show up in and influence Kristin’s own life, and the unusual collaboration yields an excavation of family, legacy, and navigating adulthood.
Finding Groovopolis will be available to rent/own on all North American digital HD internet, cable, and satellite platforms, as well as on DVD, starting April 22, 2025 via Freestyle Digital Media.
The documentary’s final festival screening will take place as part of Portland Panorama on April 18, 2025.
Co-written by Wil Kristin and editor Ryland Brooks, Finding Groovopolis was directed and produced by Wil Kristin, and features acting performances by J.J. Johnston (‘Philip Tooley’) and Jeffrey Arrington (‘Ainsworth Dropo’).
“Ten years ago, when I read my dad’s original script for the first time, I found it flawed but energizing,” said filmmaker Wil Kristin. “Finding Groovopolis is a love letter, a detective mission, and a call to talk more openly about mental health, non-traditional families, and how to make sense of the many strange, funny, and complicated ways we become who we are.”
Diego Luna to Host the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Scientific and Technical Awards
Actor, director and producer Diego Luna will host the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Scientific and Technical Awards presentation on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures.
Achievements receiving Scientific and Technical Awards must demonstrate a proven record of contributing significant value to the process of making motion pictures. In addition, an Academy Award of Merit (an Oscar® statuette) will be presented at the ceremony to collectively recognize “all the individuals who have developed and supported captioning technology, whether open or closed, for film.”
Luna currently stars in and executive produces the Emmy®-nominated and Peabody Award-winning series “Andor,” reprising his role as Cassian Andor from “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.” Recently, he appeared in the limited series “La Máquina,” earning a Golden Globe nomination for his performance. His filmography includes such notable works as “Y Tu Mamá También,” “Frida” and the upcoming film “Kiss of the Spider Woman.” He has also directed several films, including “Cesar Chavez” and “Mr. Pig.” Luna co-founded the production company La Corriente del Golfo, which focuses on developing Mexican stories and talent.