David Byrne’s Dazzling Tour Being Turned Into a Film by ‘Brutalist’ Director Brady Corbet, Shooting in 70mm

David Byrne’s innovative 2025-26 concert tour, “Who Is the Sky?,” is being immortalized in a high-profile concert film directed by Brady Corbet, known for his work on “The Brutalist.” The project is notable for its ambitious large-format cinematography, as the film was shot using a combination of 8-perf and 15-perf 70mm film, aiming to capture the expansive visual and auditory experience of Byrne’s live performances.

The filming took place over several nights at the Hippodrome theatre in Baltimore, Byrne’s hometown, during May of 2025. Attendees had noticed a production team on site, confirming the live capture of the shows. This marks a continuation of Byrne’s long history of having his concert tours documented by prominent filmmakers, following the legacy set by Jonathan Demme’s iconic Talking Heads film “Stop Making Sense” and Spike Lee’s recording of Byrne’s “American Utopia” tour.

Corbet’s approach to filming the tour is a departure from his previous narrative feature work, which utilized VistaVision. Instead, he embraced the grandeur of 70mm film to fully convey the scale and intricacy of Byrne’s multimedia stage design and choreography. The director has emphasized the community spirit of the performance, highlighting Baltimore’s cultural significance as a backdrop for the film.

The production is a collaborative effort involving The Deep End Films, Corbet’s company Pre-Code, and River Road Entertainment. Key producers include Amit Dey and Jason Fine of The Deep End, along with Corbet and Maddie Browning from Pre-Code, and Byrne himself. Executive producing credits feature industry figures such as Bill Pohlad, Andrew van Wyk, and Michael Overman from River Road, alongside representatives from The Deep End and Townhouse Media.

Distribution details remain undisclosed, with negotiations ongoing. The film’s global rights are managed by Byrne’s representatives at the Gersh Agency and The Deep End. Whether the film will be widely screened using 70mm projections or primarily in digital formats has not yet been revealed.

The “Who Is the Sky?” tour has garnered significant critical acclaim throughout its run, with Variety naming Byrne’s November 2025 performance at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood the best concert of the year. The tour is distinguished by its fusion of synchronized musician choreography and immersive LED visuals, creating a dynamic and human-centered multimedia experience that challenges traditional concert formats.

Following its Hollywood engagements, the tour continued with dates in Mexico before moving to its final North American leg, culminating at Forest Hills Stadium in Queens in September 2026. Fans and critics alike have praised the production’s innovative blend of dance, rock, and cutting-edge multimedia staging.

Brady Corbet’s work on the Byrne film aligns with his ongoing interest in music-related projects, as seen in his previous feature “Vox Lux.” After completing the concert film, Corbet is slated to direct “Origin of the World,” a narrative feature starring Cate Blanchett, Michael Fassbender, and Selena Gomez.

This concert film represents a significant moment in capturing live music on film, especially with the choice to utilize 70mm technology, which offers unparalleled visual clarity and scale. As Byrne continues to push boundaries in live performance art, this new film aims to preserve and amplify the unique qualities that make “Who Is the Sky?” a landmark tour.

While further information about the film’s release date and distribution strategy is awaited, the collaboration between Byrne and Corbet promises a visually stunning and immersive concert experience for cinema audiences, continuing a tradition of artistically ambitious music documentaries.