Questlove’s documentary on Earth, Wind, & Fire will be Tribeca Festival’s opening night film

You only have to have gone to one Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson party to know the Roots’ frontman’s affinity for the elements: Earth, Wind & Fire.

He has often surprised guests, mid party, with “Boogie Wonderland,” amped the night up with “September,” or taken it back in a serious way with “That’s the Way of the World.” His respect for the late Maurice White’s groovy voice backed up by Philip Bailey’s falsetto is evident from the way his Afro pick bobs while he spins.

Fans of Quest and Earth, Wind & Fire, rejoice. The Tribeca Festival will open with Quest love’s documentary, Earth, Wind & Fire (To Be Celestial vs That’s the Weight of the World), at New York’s legendary Beacon Theater on June 3.

After the film’s premiere, Earth, Wind & Fire will perform with The Roots.

The documentary will screen again as part of the festival’s 25th edition on June 4 at the AMC on East 6th Street, and June 13, at the SVA Theater in Chelsea.

Earth, Wind & Fire is a follow-up to Questlove’s 2025 documentary Sly Lives! (aka The Burden of Black Genius) released last year on Hulu. In 2022, he won the best documentary feature Oscar for Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised).

Directed by Questlove, Earth, Wind & Fire is a study of the band’s lasting impact on R&B. The filmmaker was given access to extensive archival material and his film focuses on the eclectic vision of the group’s late founder, Maurice White. Along with Questlove, the film’s producers include Dave Sirulnick, Samantha Grogin, KB White, and Arron Saxe.

The film will stream on HBO after its festival run concludes. That release date hasn’t yet been announced.

Earth, Wind & Fire, the band, debuted in the early 1970s. Its first big single was the 1975 hit, “Shining Star.” That song was the first of seven top 10 hits that include, “Sing a Song,” “September,” and “After the Love Has Gone.”