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Luther: Never Too Much

Director

Dawn Porter

Executive Producers

Dawn Porter, Eli Holzman, Aaron Saidman, Tom Mackay, Richard Story, Jon Platt, Brian Monaco, Colin Firth, David Gottlieb, Phil Thornton

Producers

Trish D. Chetty, Ged Doherty, Jamie Foxx, Datari Turner, Leah Smith

Editor

Mark Fason

Cinematographer

Bryan Gentry

Luther Vandross always believed he would be a star, but his journey to success was far from overnight. He began his career supporting industry icons like David Bowie, Roberta Flack, and Bette Midler. Despite earning platinum records and accolades, Luther initially struggled to break into mainstream success beyond the R&B charts. Driven by unwavering determination, he overcame personal and professional hurdles, ultimately establishing himself as one of the greatest vocalists in history.

In this captivating musical exploration, acclaimed filmmaker Dawn Porter invites audiences to delve into the iconic singer’s life, celebrated for his singular soulful velvet voice. Through a rich tapestry of archival performances and recording sessions, Porter’s narrative extends beyond the stage, offering insights from musicians and friends and archival interviews with Luther himself. These reveal his humor, struggles, and unyielding dedication to his artistry, against an industry often focused more on his weight fluctuations than the range of his octave.

Luther: Never Too Much is a heartfelt and joyous tribute to Luther Vandross and his music, resonating with profound emotion. For some, it will inspire newfound admiration for Luther, while for others, it will transport them to moments when his timeless melodies were the soundtrack to their lives.

Courtesy of Sony Music Entertainment and Sony Music Publishing

Presented in partnership with:

Post-screening discussion (June 14) with director Dawn Porter, producer Leah N. Smith, jazz musician and long-time artistic collaborator Nat Adderly, Jr., the curator of music and performing arts for the National Museum of African American History and Culture, Dr. Steven Lewis, moderated by CNN’s Chief Legal Analyst, Laura Coates.

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Dawn Porter

Director, When a Witness Recants

Dawn Porter is an acclaimed American documentary filmmaker and founder of Trilogy Films, known for her storytelling on social justice, history, and cultural icons. Her documentaries, including TRAPPED, JOHN LEWIS: GOOD TROUBLE, and THE LADY BIRD DIARIES, have aired on platforms including HBO, Netflix, Amazon, Apple, CNN, and PBS.

Her recent film LUTHER: NEVER TOO MUCH highlights the life and legacy of Luther Vandross. Produced with Sony Music Entertainment, Jamie Foxx’s Foxxhole, and Colin Firth’s Raindog Films, the film was released in theaters and premiered on CNN/MAX on January 1, 2025. Her recent work, THE SING SING CHRONICLES, won the Best Documentary Emmy at the 46th annual News & Documentary Emmy Awards.

A three-time Sundance Film Festival alum, Porter’s film GIDEON’S ARMY was nominated for an Emmy and an Independent Spirit Award and won the Ridenhour Prize and the American Bar Association’s Silver Gavel Award. TRAPPED also earned a Silver Gavel, along with a Peabody Award and the Sundance Special Jury Prize for Social Impact Filmmaking, while JOHN LEWIS: GOOD TROUBLE won the 2021 NAACP Image Award.

Her work has been widely recognized with honors including the Critics’ Choice Impact Award (2022) and Gracie Awards (2022, 2023). She was recently awarded the National Humanities Medal by Joe Biden, elected to the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, and received the IDA Career Achievement Award.