2026 Nominees

Sly Lives! (aka The Burden of Black Genius)

MRC, Network Entertainment, Two One Five Entertainment, RadicalMedia, Stardust Films LLC, ID8 Multimedia, Sony Music Entertainment

USA

- Arts & Culture

Sly Lives! ( aka The Burden of Black Genius) examines the life and legacy of Sly & The Family Stone, the groundbreaking band led by the charismatic and enigmatic Sly Stone. This film captures the rise, reign and subsequent fadeout of one of pop music’s most influential artists, who passed away in 2025. In telling Sly’s story, the film also shines a light on how Black artists in America have navigated the unseen burden that comes with their success. The film is directed by Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson and produced by Joseph Patel, their follow-up to Summer of Soul (...Or, When The Revolution Could Not Be Televised), which won the Academy Award for Best Documentary of 2021. Drawing from his own personal experience and relationships, Questlove tells an empathetic human story about the cost of genius, reframing the way we all engage with pop culture.