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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

Consulting Editor

Co-Editor

Assistant Editor

Cinematographer

Bryan Gentry

Additional Cinematography

Music

Sound

Narration

Contact

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, Edge of Daybreak

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 celebrated documentaries, including Trapped, John Lewis: Good Trouble, and The Lady Bird Diaries, air on platforms like HBO, Netflix, CNN, and PBS. Her recent work, 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, this intimate portrayal of the Grammy-winning artist was recently released in theaters and premiered on CNN/MAX on January 1, 2025.

Porter’s achievements are widely recognized. Trapped earned a Peabody Award and the Sundance Special Jury Prize for Social Impact Filmmaking, while John Lewis: Good Trouble won the 2021 NAACP Image Award. She received the Critics’ Choice Impact Award in 2022 and Gracie Awards in both 2022 and 2023. Recently, Porter was elected to the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, awarded the National Humanities Medal by President Joe Biden, and received the IDA Career Achievement Award.

Porter’s 2024 MSNBC series, The Sing Sing Chronicles, offers unprecedented access to Sing Sing Correctional Facility, providing a raw look at justice and redemption. A former attorney, Porter holds degrees from Swarthmore College and Georgetown Law. Known for elevating marginalized voices and illuminating U.S. history’s lesser-known stories, she is a prominent figure in documentary filmmaking residing in New York City.

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