EXCLUSIVE: Principal photography has wrapped on a documentary feature based on the lives of the veteran musical group The Blind Boys of Alabama. 

The film is directed by Nick Nanton and is said to follow the group’s eight-decade-long journey.  

“The Blind Boys of Alabama set the tone and rhythm of life, bridging the gap between generations, bringing people of all races, colors, and creeds together, and creating a powerful and heartfelt musical and cultural movement against all odds,” Nanton said in a statement. “Through their incredible story, the film reflects on pivotal eras including the Civil Rights Movement, decades of social change, and the enduring power of faith and music as forces for unity.” 

Formed in 1939 at the Alabama Institute for the Negro Deaf and Blind, the Blind Boys of Alabama are one of the longest-running groups in America. Over the course of their career, the group has earned six Grammy Awards, including a lifetime honor, the National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship,  and Gospel Hall of Fame induction.

The group’s collaborators include Ben Harper, Bon Iver, Bonnie Raitt, Peter Gabriel, Tom Petty, Tom Waits, Willie Nelson, George Clinton, Mavis Staples, Taj Mahal, and Susan Tedeschi. 

The group has been profiled in several previous documentary projects. They said in a statement: “This music has always been bigger than us — it’s about faith, perseverance, and hope. From the very beginning, Nick Nanton and his team understood that. They created a space where our voices, our history, and our purpose could be honored honestly, and that’s why we trusted them to tell this story.”