Ever since he first shot to mainstream stardom with his 2019 hit “Old Town Road,” rapper Lil Nas X has turned online trolling into an art form, weaponizing his social media finesse to swat down bigots’ failed attempts to discredit his art as an openly gay Black man. Now the Grammy Award-winner is opening up about his meteoric rise in the new documentary Lil Nas X: Long Live Montero, which will premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) next month.
Directed by Carlos López and Zac Manuel, the film was shot over the course of 60 days during Lil Nas X’s first-ever global tour, which wrapped up in March. López previously directed 2018’s Blindspotting and the Oscar-nominated 2021 film Raya and the Last Dragon, as well as music videos for artists like Billie Eilish, Carly Rae Jepsen, and Katy Perry. Meanwhile, Manuel has spent his career working on documentaries focused on Black masculinity and intimacy, including Time, Alone, and The Earth is Humming.
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The movie’s official synopsis describes Lil Nas X: Long Live Montero as “a remarkably intimate portrait of an artist on tour navigating identity, family, expectations, and acceptance, all while reflecting on his place within the legacy of Black, queer performers.”
In a statement, TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey called the film “a triumphant ode to the extraordinary power of self-expression, music, and identity.”
“In this groundbreaking documentary, we witness Lil Nas X challenging boundaries and reshaping the artistic landscape,” Bailey added. “The film’s captivating journey underscores the profound impact of Lil Nas X, who fearlessly brings audiences together through the universal language of music.”
At the time of writing, an official release date and trailer for Lil Nas X: Long Live Montero have not been announced. In the meantime, you can learn more about TIFF and how to get tickets to the film’s premiere screening here.
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