Sony Pictures Classics has acquired the worldwide rights to CARLOS, a feature-length documentary film about Carlos Santana.
The film will be directed by Rudy Valdez (The Sentence, We Are: The Brooklyn Saints). It is jointly financed by Imagine Documentaries and Sony Music Entertainment. CARLOS is produced by Sara Bernstein and Justin Wilkes along with Lizz Morhaim and executive produced by Brian Grazer and Ron Howard for Imagine Documentaries.
Leopoldo Gout, Ashley Kahn and Sam Pollard also serve as Producers. Meredith Kaulfers is the co-executive producer for Imagine Documentaries and Michael Vrionis serves as an Executive Producer. Tom Mackay and Richard Story are Executive Producers for Sony Music Entertainment.
The documentary CARLOS will feature never-before-seen or heard archival footage and music, offering an intimate and exhilarating look inside the mind of an elemental force in contemporary music. It will tell the incredible story of Santana’s life—from a 14 year-old street musician to a ten-time Grammy-winning, three-time Latin Grammy-winning global sensation.
“Rudy Valdez’s CARLOS showcases the genius behind the musical sensation that has led Carlos Santana’s music to resonate with global audiences across multiple generations. We are so pleased to partner with our friends at Imagine Documentaries and Sony Music Entertainment to help share Carlos’ remarkable story that is as complex, lively, and inspiring as his music,” adds Sony Pictures Classics.
“Imagine is thrilled to bring the band back together and reunite with our partners at SPC on this magical journey with the legendary Carlos Santana and our director Rudy Valdez,” adds Sara Bernstein, President of Imagine Documentaries. “There isn’t a better team to inspire the world with Carlos’ extraordinary life.”
“We are beyond excited to be joining forces with Sony Pictures Classics to bring CARLOS to the big screen,” adds Krista Wegener, Executive Vice President, Premium Content Development, Sales and Distribution, Sony Music Entertainment. “Our incredible partners, Rudy Valdez and Imagine, have created a stunningly beautiful portrait of Carlos Santana that captures his singular artistry and spirit. We can’t wait to share his story with audiences around the world.”