2026 Sundance Film Festival Movie Review: Once Upon a Time in Harlem

In 1972, filmmaker William Greaves gathered some of the key artists, musicians, librarians, poets, journalists, actors, photographers, teachers, and critics of the Harlem Renaissance at Duke Ellington’s home for a party, which he filmed. The footage turned into Once Upon a Time in Harlem, one of the best documentaries of the 2026 Sundance Film Festival and probably the year.

Watching Once Upon a Time in Harlem is like being a plus-one at a party full of people I had heard of, but nobody at the party knew me. I enter the party and am introduced to icons of the Harlem Renaissance, like composer and pianist Eubie Blake, photographer James Van Der Zee, poet and writer Richard Bruce Nugent, and artist and author Romare Bearden. I meet major community figures like librarian and archivist Jean Blackwell Hudson and actor Leigh Whipper. Amazed at the people I am meeting, I hang back against the wall, or maybe I find a chair in the corner, with a nice cocktail, and listen to these geniuses talk about politics, art, history, and much more. It’s astonishing seeing the passion they all speak with, each with their own perspective on any topic.

Greaves also does side interviews with the guests of the party in the documentary. These felt like one-on-one conversations with the guest. It’s like one of the party guests saw me sitting quietly in the corner and came up to chat. Seeing as I am not nearly as interesting as anyone at this party, all I would do is listen. Listen to the stories. Listen to the history lessons. Listen to how another person was so important, or learn about the creation of an important work of art from the Harlem Renaissance. These little breaks are perfectly placed. They gave a breather from the larger group conversation taking place in the main living room, which was about such topics as Black identity, being a Black artist, and the importance of the Harlem Renaissance and its longevity. I also get to see the art of the Renaissance, like photos taken by Van Der Zee, and hear some of the poetry, like The Lynching by Claude McKay, as it is read over harsh imagery of violence to Black people.

Normally, during movies, I take notes, especially during a film festival, to keep my thoughts together and jot down key moments and plot points. But during Once Upon a Time in Harlem, I stopped about halfway through because I knew not only would I miss the conversations taking place, but I was witnessing history before my eyes. Co-directed by Greaves son David, who was a cameraman that day at Ellington’s apartment, One Upon a Time in Harlem is a remarkable documentary and an essential piece of history.

Once Upon a Time in Harlem played in the Premieres category at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival.

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