Who better a judge for the potential reach of a music-themed documentary than a musician-turned-distributor chief. Adam Yauch’s Oscilloscope have picked up the U.S. rights to the Celluloid Dreams’ title that recently won over audiences at Telluride and TIFF.
Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi’s Youssou Ndour: I Bring What I Love covers the singer’s last 20 years in the biz and digs into the singer’s frustration over the negative perception of his Muslim faith and composed Egypt, a deeply spiritual album dedicated to a more tolerant view of Islam. It was a critical and career-defining moment. Ndour’s brave musical message was wholeheartedly embraced by Western audiences but ignited serious religious controversy in his homeland of Senegal.
Variety reports that Oscilloscope is looking at a mid-2009 release.