Bill Evans Biopic 'Everybody Digs Bill Evans' Wins Silver Bear at Berlin 2026

The new biographical drama 'Everybody Digs Bill Evans' focuses on a pivotal period in the life of jazz pianist Bill Evans, specifically 1961, two years after his work on Miles Davis's 'Kind of Blue'. The film, directed by Grant Gee and written by Mark O’Halloran, is adapted from Owen Martell’s novel 'Intermission'. It premiered at the 2026 Berlin International Film Festival, where Gee won the Silver Bear for Best Director. The narrative centers on Evans's creative peak with his trio at the Village Vanguard, resulting in the landmark albums 'Sunday at the Village Vanguard' and 'Waltz for Debby'. The story takes a tragic turn when bassist Scott LaFaro dies in a car accident, plunging Evans into grief and heroin addiction, unable to play piano. The film explores his retreat from performing and his family's efforts to bring him back. The cast includes Anders Danielsen Lie as Evans, Bill Pullman and Laurie Metcalf as his parents, Barry Ward as his brother Harry, and Valene Kane as his girlfriend Ellaine. Gee, known for documentaries like 'Joy Division' and 'Meeting People Is Easy', uses a distinctive visual style with black-and-white sequences and saturated color flash-forwards. The film is set for UK release on 11 September 2026, with a preview at Curzon Soho in London on September 1st featuring a Q&A with Pullman and Gee. A US release is planned for later that fall.