Blues on Beale
2020, G, US, Documentary, 80 minutes
World Premiere
Filmmakers in Attendance
Director: Larry Lancit
Producers: Cecily Truett, Lynne Brenner Ganek, Jeff Ganek, Steve Zink, Aaron Ganek
Writer: Cecily Lancit
Cast: Bobby Rush, Shemekia Copeland, Janiva Magness, Shakira S'Aida, Castro Coleman, Bruce Iglauer
Every year, blues musicians and fans from all over the world flock to Beale Street to compete in and experience the International Blues Challenge. Blues on Beale takes audiences on a journey through the five-day competition filled with great music and even greater people. Filmed entirely in the blues clubs on the famed Beale Street in Memphis, Tennessee, Blues on Beale captures the people, soul and music of the 36th International Blues Challenge, an annual event organized and staged by The Blues Foundation. Starting in early fall 2019, blues societies across the globe held local competitions for blues bands and solo/duo acts. The winners of these competitions qualified to travel to Memphis to compete in the International Blues Challenge in late January 2020.