Sky Arte Celebrates John Lennon's 80th Birthday with Documentary and Restored Imagine Film

On Friday, October 9, Sky Arte will air a special evening dedicated to John Lennon on the occasion of his 80th birthday, intertwining his story with that of Yoko Ono. The programming begins with the documentary "John & Yoko: Only the Sky Above Us," directed by Michael Epstein, who had full support from Yoko Ono and exclusive access to the John Lennon Estate's vast archive. The film reveals untold stories behind Lennon's 1971 album "Imagine," showcasing never-before-seen footage, including the first demo of the title track, audio interviews, and studio recordings, as well as testimonies from friends and colleagues. Following the documentary, Sky Arte will air the restored and remastered version of the film "Imagine," produced and directed by Lennon and Ono themselves. The film was restored from original reels and remixed in Dolby Atmos at Abbey Road Studios by Paul Hicks, featuring 15 minutes of previously unseen content, including studio performances of "How Do You Sleep?" and "Oh My Love" with George Harrison, Nicky Hopkins, Alan White, and Klaus Voormann.