The Cameron Winter Carnegie Hall film, director Paul Thomas Anderson’s concert documentary, had its world premiere Oct. 1 at the New York Film Festival’s Alice Tully Hall, with Anderson and Winter attending, according to the festival. This story rounds up festival materials and published reviews. It is not a first-hand review.
In this story
5 essential things to know about the Cameron Winter Carnegie Hall film
- The concert: The film documents Winter’s solo show at Carnegie Hall on Dec. 11, 2025, where he accompanied himself on a Steinway grand piano.
- The filmmakers: Anderson directed, and the film was shot on 35mm and 16mm. Benny Safdie is a co-producer, and the music was recorded and produced by Ariel Rechtshaid, TheWrap reported.
- The length: Published reports put the running time at about 71 to 72 minutes.
- The release: Janus Films and Criterion have North American rights. An exclusive 35mm roadshow starts Nov. 20 in New York and Los Angeles, then expands to cities including Chicago, San Francisco, Washington and Atlanta through January 2027.
- The extras: A companion live album is scheduled for Oct. 9, and a title card after the credits reads “Dead at 23,” a wry nod to the mythology around Winter, who was 23 at the time of the show.
The concert behind the film
Winter’s Dec. 11 show at Carnegie Hall was sold out, according to BrooklynVegan, and Anderson and Safdie were filming that night. The 11-song set included “It All Fell in the River,” “Try as I May,” “Emperor XIII in Shades,” “Cancer of the Skull,” “If You Turn Back Now” and “Take It With You,” with “Vines” as the encore. The published reports reviewed for this story do not say which songs appear in the final film or how much of the show it includes.
What critics are saying about the Cameron Winter Carnegie Hall film
Early reviews are warm. Variety’s headline calls the film a “rapturous” solo concert movie built around Winter’s songs and the hall’s haunting sound. Consequence gave it an A-, describing the film as a still life of an artist frozen in time, and noting that it keeps interviews and extra production out of the way so the music carries the weight.
The Playlist was more measured, giving the film a B/B+. Its critic praised Anderson’s ability to balance spectacle with intimacy, with deep blacks and warm pockets of light, but acknowledged that the pacing can feel monotonous at times. The same review noted that deliberate zooms gradually erase Carnegie Hall until Winter’s face, hands and piano seem to fill the frame.
The festival’s artistic director, Dennis Lim, went further in the festival’s announcement, calling the film “a concert movie for the ages.”
About Cameron Winter
Winter, 23, is the frontman of the band Geese and released his debut solo album, Heavy Metal, in December 2024. His Carnegie Hall show followed Geese’s September 2025 album, Getting Killed. Reviewers have compared his voice and writing to artists such as Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, Tom Waits and Rufus Wainwright, according to The Playlist.
Anderson has an Oscar-winning run of his own. For background, read our coverage of the best picture win for “One Battle After Another”, the full list of 2026 Oscar nominations and a profile of Charli xcx’s journey in music, fashion and film.
What’s next
The 35mm roadshow begins Nov. 20, and the live album arrives Oct. 9. Ticket details and the full list of tour dates are available through the film’s official site. Because the release is built around film prints, the theatrical run will be the main way to see the film at first.
