Telluride: ‘Piece by Piece,’ Animated Doc About Pharrell, Opens Fest; Set to Challenge Academy Genre Biases

Telluride: ‘Piece by Piece,’ Animated Doc About Pharrell, Opens Fest; Set to Challenge Academy Genre Biases

As a long-time fan of Pharrell Williams, I was absolutely thrilled to witness the world premiere of “Piece by Piece” at this year’s Telluride Film Festival. Having grown up listening to his infectious beats and soulful melodies, it was a truly unique experience to see his life story unfold through the innovative medium of LEGO animation.


The 51st Telluride Film Festival commenced on a Friday afternoon, launching with the world premiere of “Piece by Piece“, an animated documentary featuring the groundbreaking musician, composer, and producer Pharrell Williams. This special screening at the Werner Herzog Theatre marked the start of the Patron Preview. The general feeling among attendees was that this film offers a unique, unconventional, and thoroughly enjoyable experience.

In the role of a captivated admirer, I’d express it this way:

I, as a die-hard fan, am thrilled to share that Williams isn’t just the star of this movie; he also steps into the producer’s role, making a significant impact on its creation. This dual role played a crucial part in bringing many of his iconic hits and productions, like the ever-popular “Happy,” onto the screen, along with two fresh compositions. One standout track, “Piece by Piece,” featuring gospel singer Princess Anne, could potentially be a frontrunner for the Best Original Song Oscar.

Discussing the Oscars, it’s clear that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has sometimes struggled with categorizing films that defy traditional genres. For example, the exceptional animated documentary “Waltz with Bashir” from 2008 could only secure a nomination for Best International Feature Film. In contrast, the 2021 release “Flee” became the first animation to be nominated in both the Best Documentary Feature and Best Animated Feature categories. Interestingly, no documentary feature has ever been nominated for the coveted Best Picture award. Moreover, only a handful of animated films – namely “Beauty and the Beast” from 1991, “Up” from 2009, and “Toy Story 3” from 2010 – have even been nominated in this category.

However, Focus Features plans to release the movie “Piece by Piece” nationwide on October 11. The teams backing both Williams and Neville aim not just to secure nominations for best animated feature, best documentary feature, and best original song, but also to include “Piece by Piece” in the top ten for the best picture category. With the current year’s contenders looking rather slim, and a great deal of affection for Williams and Neville, it’s not unthinkable that this could happen.

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2024-08-31 01:54