Home · Entertainment · Oct 22 archive
Mayor Mamdani and Neon Partner for Free 'Once Upon A Time In Harlem' Screenings
Confirmed
In Short: Mayor Zohran Mamdani and film distributor Neon are partnering to offer free screenings of the documentary 'Once Upon A Time In Harlem' in New York City this weekend.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani and film distributor Neon are partnering to offer free screenings of the documentary 'Once Upon A Time In Harlem' in New York City this weekend. The screenings will take place at AMC Magic Johnson Harlem and the Howard Gilman Theater Film at Lincoln Center, with showtimes on Sunday at 1:00 PM and 3:45 PM.
The film, directed by David Greaves and conceived by his father, William Greaves, captures a 1972 gathering of Harlem Renaissance luminaries at Duke Ellington’s townhouse. The documentary, which was originally shot for a film called 'From These Roots,' has been nominated for five Critics Choice Documentary Awards and is making waves in the Best Documentary Feature Oscar race.
Mayor Mamdani expressed his pride in the partnership, stating, 'We are proud to partner with the filmmaking team to offer free screenings to New Yorkers this weekend, ensuring that as many New Yorkers as possible get the chance to experience this film.' He added, 'Our city owes a debt of gratitude to the artists of the Harlem Renaissance whose enduring legacy is still felt in every jazz club, in every gallery, and in the movement for social justice that still continues to this day.'
The screenings will require an RSVP to enter, and attendees are advised to arrive at least 30 minutes before showtime. The screenings are overbooked to ensure they reach capacity, and admission will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Guests will have the opportunity to experience the personalities, ideas, and debates behind the Harlem Renaissance, as captured on 16mm film.
The documentary features interviews and discussions from the party, where Greaves invited every surviving creator of the Harlem Renaissance he could locate. The film captures the vibrant discussions and personal reflections of these cultural figures, including actor Leigh Whipper and society editor Gerri Major.
David and Liani Greaves, the family of William Greaves, expressed their appreciation for the partnership, saying, 'William Greaves believed deeply in the power of art to preserve history as well as inspire audiences and future generations. We know it would have meant so much to him to see Mayor Mamdani and the Office of the Mayor champion this film and help bring it to New Yorkers and especially back to Harlem where he was born and raised.'
The screenings are part of a broader effort to bring the documentary to more audiences. A day after Neon announced a partnership with The Guardian to expand the theatrical release of another documentary Oscar contender, 'NAZA,' the company is now partnering with Mayor Mamdani to bring 'Once Upon a Time in Harlem' to more New Yorkers.
The screenings are a significant event for the city, as they offer a unique opportunity for New Yorkers to experience the legacy of the Harlem Renaissance through the eyes of its creators. The film is a testament to the enduring impact of the Harlem Renaissance and its continued relevance in contemporary culture.
What this adds
The screenings are overbooked to ensure they reach capacity, and admission will be on a first-come, first-served basis, even though an RSVP is required. There is no clear indication whether Mayor Mamdani will attend any of the screenings.
Background
Zohran Mamdani is the 112th mayor of New York City, having served since January 1, 2026. A member of the Democratic Party and the Democratic Socialists of America, Mamdani was elected mayor in the 2025 election, succeeding Eric Adams.
What's confirmed
- “ Once Upon A Time In Harlem brings the personalities, ideas, and debates behind the Harlem Renaissance to life for a new generation of New Yorkers,” says Mayor Mamdani in a statement.
- NEON announced, in partnership with Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the New York City Office of the Mayor, four free screenings of ONCE UPON A TIME IN HARLEM on Saturday, October 24 and Sunday, October 25.
- The film captures a gathering of artists and intellectuals whose work helped define the Harlem Renaissance.
- “William Greaves believed deeply in the power of art to preserve history as well as inspire audiences and future generations. We know it would have meant so much to him to see Mayor Mamdani and the Office of the Mayor champion this film and help bring it to New Yorkers and especially back to Harlem where he was born and raised,” said David and Liani Greaves.
- “Once Upon a Time in Harlem” was a family affair at the New York Film Festival premiere.
What's still developing
- Captured on 16mm film, this time capsule offers an intimate seat at the table with the visionaries who helped shape a movement, as they reckon with its legacy, challenge one another, and reflect on the cultural force born in New York City that would reverberate across the globe.
- However, Greaves, who went on to become a major figure of American independent cinema, completing over 70 films, including the now-seminal Symbiopsychotaxiplasm films, believed Once Upon a Time in Harlem was his greatest work.
- Even as actor Leigh Whipper, 96, talks about working in minstrel shows, the elegant society editor Gerri Major recalls being spat on by a white patron at the Cotton Club.
- As Blake jokes, "To be here with all these intelligentsias, I'm afraid to open my mouth." Greaves' camera follows his guests as they mingle and drink, capturing eddies of chitchat filled with terrific stories, personal preening, and jokes about Marcus Garvey.
- As his guests, he invited the surviving members of the Harlem Renaissance, the blossoming of artistic and intellectual life that took off after World War I and flowered into the mid-1930s.
- "I'm not going to do something that's going to hurt us."
- To be clear, there’s no indication at this point that Mamdani will actually be at any of these screenings… but there’s no clear indication that he won’t be, either.