Max Richter’s Sleep

Synopsis

This film follows Max Richter as he consolidates the most ambitious performance of his critically acclaimed 8-hour opus, SLEEP. Centring around the open-air concert in Los Angeles, as well as footage from Berlin, New York and Paris, we are plunged deep into the artist’s life and process, transcending the work to explore his legacy. Personal reflections from Max Richter, and visual archive from his long-term creative partner, the BAFTA winning filmmaker, Yulia Mahr – the co-architect of SLEEP – help build this intimate portrait – along with contributions that illuminate both the science and story behind the work.
Directed by Emmy-nominated and award-winning South African filmmaker Natalie Johns, this ground-breaking visual portrait echoes the contemplative essence of Richter’s work, offering a poetic depiction of the ‘liminal state’ audiences experience.

Director Biography

Natalie Johns, Emmy-nominated and award winning South African director (DGA), is often found at the point where art and music collide with social consciousness. In 2007, she founded Dig For Fire, a studio capturing inspired music stories and live experiences, becoming a pioneer in the DIY digital filmmaker community. Commercial clients included Nike, iTunes, Coca Cola, Spotify, Amnesty International, Rock the Vote, and socially disruptive campaigns with The Yes Men. Throughout her career, Johns has been enlisted to collaborate with the world’s leading musical talent including Bono, Sam Smith, Childish Gambino, Solange, John Legend, and Gil Scott Heron. Her most recent collaboration with Max Richter is a feature documentary to be released in 2020. Her first feature documentary film, “I Am Thalente”, won the audience award at the LA Film Festival and reached #8 in the iTunes documentary charts. Johns received an Emmy Nomination in 2015 for Outstanding Directing of the television special, "Nostalgia, An Evening with Annie Lennox".