Nona Hendryx

WE WANT THE FUNK! is a syncopated voyage through funk’s history, from its African and jazz roots to James Brown’s early work and the rise of Parliament Funkadelic. Distinctly urban, funk reflected a post-Civil Rights sensibility. The film explores the symbiotic relationship between funk’s explosion and the political and racial dynamics of 1970s inner-city America.

In this groundbreaking look at the life and legacy of a global icon, Emmy®-winning filmmaker Lisa Cortés (HBO's The Apollo) explores the Black queer origins of rock n' roll through the lens of celebrated artist Richard Penniman – better known as Little Richard. Through a wealth of archival footage and performances revealing his complicated inner world, the film traces Richard's humble origins in a segregated Macon, Georgia to his explosive entry into the whitewashed canon of American popular music. Featuring interviews with friends, family, and fellow musicians, as well as Black and queer scholars, Little Richard: I Am Everything illuminates how Richard created an art form for unabashed self-expression that he was ultimately never able to give himself.

Born into a white suburban family, Billy Vera’s love for R&B began as a child and kicked off a songwriting career and a slew of Billboard hits.