The world premiere of the documentary Earth, Wind & Fire (To Be Celestial VS That’s the Weight of the World), directed by Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, will kick off the 25th anniversary edition of Tribeca Festival.
Earth, Wind & Fire (To Be Celestial VS That’s the Weight of the World) examines the band’s lasting legacy, cultural influence, and body of work, with rare access to archival materials and a focus on the vision of founder Maurice White. Building on Questlove’s acclaimed work in music documentaries, the film reflects Tribeca’s continued investment in artist-driven storytelling at the intersection of film and music.
“It is an absolute honor to bring this project to the Tribeca Festival,” said Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson. “The past two years of deep research and creative magic surrounding Earth, Wind & Fire have been nothing short of transformative. They remain one of the most culturally significant bands in history, and this project finally illustrates exactly why their legacy is so vital.”
“Opening Night is always a magical moment! This year, as we celebrate 25 years of the Festival, it is especially meaningful,” said Jane Rosenthal, Tribeca Festival Co-Founder and Co-Chair. “Tribeca was born in the wake of 9/11 with a belief: that storytellers have the power to bring communities together. For 25 years, we’ve seen artists, filmmakers, musicians, and audiences come together in New York City in ways that are inspiring, surprising, and deeply human. We are humbled by what’s been achieved and excited for the stories yet to come.”
The screening will be followed by a live performance by nine-time GRAMMY Award-winning icons Earth, Wind & Fire and three-time GRAMMY Award-winning group The Roots at the Beacon Theatre on June 3.
“We are thrilled to welcome Questlove to the Festival to premiere a film that represents everything Tribeca stands for: creative pioneers at the top of their game in front of and behind the camera, showcasing the joy and community that great art manifests,” said Cara Cusumano, Tribeca Festival Director and SVP of Programming. “Paired with a rare live performance from Earth, Wind & Fire and The Roots, Opening Night will be a once-in-a-lifetime New York event that reflects the energy, creativity, and communal experience that has defined Tribeca for 25 years.”
It will debut in the United States on HBO and will be available to stream on HBO Max in 2026. Produced by Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, Dave Sirulnick and Samantha Grogin, KB White, and Arron Saxe. Executive Produced by Jon Kamen, Cheo Hodari Coker, Karla Zambrano, Zarah Zohlman, Shawn Gee, Tariq “Black Thought” Trotter, and Amos Newman.
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