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Everybody Digs Bill Evans film image; two men playing instruments

Everybody Digs Bill Evans

Showcase

© Shane O’Connor 2026 Cowtown Pictures, Hot Property

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Canadian Premiere

June 1961, New York. Legendary jazz pianist Bill Evans (Anders Danielsen Lie) has found his musical voice and created the perfect trio, including bass player Scott LaFaro, his musical soulmate. A residency at New York’s Village Vanguard culminates in the live taping of two of the greatest jazz records of all time in a single day. Soon after, LaFaro dies tragically in a car crash. Numb with grief, Evans stops playing for the first time since childhood. This is the story of what happened next for one of the most influential and gifted figures in 20th century music.

Cutting between Bill’s present and future, his sobriety and intoxication, and his relationships with his family (Bill Pullman, Laurie Metcalf, and Barrie Ward) and on again/off again girlfriend (Elainne Schultz), who shares his taste in music and hard drugs, Grant Gee’s Everybody Digs Bill Evans portrays the inner life and personal impact of a troubled musical genius as he struggles to learn that sometimes an intermission is part of the music.

Content Considerations: Drug & alcohol abuse

 

Silver Bear for Best Director, Berlinale 2026

 

Showcase Series Supported by

Director

Grant Gee

Cast

Anders Danielsen Lie, Bill Pullman, Laurie Metcalf, Barry Ward, Valene Kane

Credits
Country of Origin

Ireland/UK

Year

2026

Language

English

Film Contact
18+
102 min
Art, Music & Photography Award Winners Drama
Cowtown Pictures, Hot Property

Book Tickets

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Credits

Producer

Janine Marmot, Alan Maher

Screenwriter

Mark O’Halloran

Producer

Piers McGrail

Editor

Adam Biskupski

Production Design

Ellen Kirk

Original Music

Roger Goula

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