The iconic American musician – Johnny Cash – stands among the giants of 20th century American life. But his story remains tangled in mystery and myth. THE GIFT: THE JOURNEY OF JOHNNY CASH, created with the full cooperation of the Cash estate and rich in recently discovered archival materials, brings Cash the man out from behind the legend. Taking the remarkable Folsom Prison recording as a central motif and featuring interviews with family and celebrated collaborators, the film explores the artistic victories, the personal tragedies, the struggles with addiction, and the spiritual pursuits that colored Johnny Cash’s life.
THE GIFT: THE JOURNEY OF JOHNNY CASH is slated to open in theaters in New York on October 11 exclusively at the Cinema Village, and in Los Angeles on October 25 at the Laemmle Music Hall Beverly Hills.
Told with original interviews from Johnny Cash himself and with his family – daughter/singer Roseanne Cash and son John Carter Cash, this insightful film provides an intimate look inside the life of this prolific songwriter, performer, and man. Additional interviews and commentary include Jackson Browne, June Carter, Emmylou Harris, Loretta Lynn, Sam Phillips, Graham Nash, Rick Rubin, Dwight Yoakam, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Robert Duvall, and Bruce Springsteen brings his influence, inspiration, and impact to light.
THE GIFT: THE JOURNEY OF JOHNNY CASH had its world premiere at SXSW 2019 to sold-out screenings and enthusiastic audiences and continues on the festival route including Telluride Film Festival, Mill Valley Film Festival, and the Nashville Film Festival. After the theatrical run, it will be available streaming as a YouTube Original in November.
THE GIFT: THE JOURNEY OF JOHNNY CASH is directed by Thom Zimny and produced by Thom Zimny, Glen Zipper, Sean Stuart and Jillian Apfelbaum. Frank Marshall, Ryan Suffern, Jeff Pollack, John Carter Cash, Josh Matas, Dan Friedkin, Bradley Thomas, Ryan Friedkin and Jasmine Daghighian serve as executive producers. The documentary is an Imperative Entertainment and Kennedy/Marshall production in association with Sutter Road Picture Company and The John R Cash Trust. The original composition for this project was composed and performed by Mike McCready
SOUNDTRACK INFO (FROM SONY)
NY-Columbia/Legacy Recordings, the catalog division of Sony Music Entertainment, will release The Gift: The Journey of Johnny Cash (The Original Soundtrack) on Friday, November 8. Available in 1CD and digital configurations, the soundtrack showcases a career-spanning selection of 16 essential Johnny Cash recordings alongside original music written and performed for the film by Mike McCready (Pearl Jam). McCready’s original score blends with revelatory interview soundbites of Johnny Cash and others featured in the film including Bruce Springsteen, Jackson Browne, June Carter Cash, Loretta Lynn, Ray Cash, John Carter Cash and more.
