Paris Barclay’s ‘Billy Preston’ Doc Is First Film in Academy Screening Room for Oscar Season (EXCLUSIVE)

The race for the 99th Academy Awards has officially kicked off, with the first contender entering the fray. As exclusively reported by Variety, Paris Barclay's documentary "Billy Preston: That’s the Way God Planned It" has become the initial film uploaded to the Academy Screening Room. This private, members-only digital platform allows Oscar voters to stream eligible movies for awards consideration. This upload marks the unofficial start of a campaign that will span the next eight months—a period industry veterans frequently call a grueling marathon of screenings, Q&As, and strategic voter outreach. The Academy Screening Room, launched in 2020 to adapt to pandemic-era viewing habits, has since become a permanent fixture in the awards ecosystem, leveling the playing field for smaller productions that lack the marketing budgets of major studios.

A steady wave of new films is anticipated in the coming weeks, with fresh titles added every Friday across all categories—including best picture, documentary feature, animated feature, international feature, and short films. Distributed by Abramorama, the documentary currently holds a 90% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. It premiered globally at SXSW in Austin, Texas, in 2024, before debuting in select theaters on February 20, starting with a run at New York City’s Film Forum. Film Forum, a celebrated nonprofit cinema in Manhattan’s West Village, has served as a vital launchpad for independent and documentary cinema since its founding in 1970. In his review following the SXSW debut, Variety’s chief film critic Owen Gleiberman noted, "as the documentary reveals, Billy Preston was an elusive figure—ebullient and all there, and also hidden and mysterious." He added, "Just when you think you’re watching an upbeat pop doc, the dark side of Billy Preston’s life comes crashing in. And is it ever dark." Remarkably, the production overcame a legal challenge just before its SXSW premiere, demonstrating the resilience of its creative team in bringing Preston’s story to the screen. This legal hurdle, which threatened to derail the debut, underscores the often-unseen battles filmmakers face in preserving artistic integrity.

The film traces the life of the legendary keyboardist and Grammy winner, who performed alongside icons such as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Barbra Streisand, and Little Richard. Billy Preston, often dubbed the "fifth Beatle" for his collaborations on albums like "Let It Be," enjoyed a thriving solo career with No. 1 hits including "Outa-Space," "Will It Go Round in Circles," "Nothing From Nothing," and "You Are So Beautiful." His breakthrough single, "That’s the Way God Planned It," was recorded in 1969 for The Beatles’ Apple Records and produced by his close friend George Harrison. Preston passed away in 2006 and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2021, cementing his legacy as one of music’s most transformative figures. Directed by Barclay, who co-wrote the script with Cheo Hodari Coker, the documentary features interviews with Billy Porter, Ringo Starr, Merry Clayton, and Eric Clapton, alongside an original score by acclaimed jazz pianist Robert Glasper. Producers include Stephanie Allain, Coker, Jeanne Elfant Festa, and Nigel Sinclair—a team known for championing music-focused narratives. Notably, Preston’s influence extended beyond his hits; his signature Hammond B3 organ sound reshaped the sonic landscape of 1970s soul and rock, inspiring generations of musicians.

This documentary serves as Barclay’s first feature-length film, adding a new chapter to his already distinguished career. Over nearly 200 television episodes, he has directed acclaimed series such as "NYPD Blue," "ER," "The West Wing," "Lost," "The Good Wife," "CSI," "Sons of Anarchy," "House," and "Glee." Barclay has won two Emmy Awards for directing "NYPD Blue" and earned eight additional Emmy nominations, including three for "Glee" and one for "Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story." He remains one of the few directors in Emmy history to receive nominations across all three television formats—drama, comedy, and limited series—a rare achievement that underscores his versatility. The upcoming Oscar season also features highly anticipated titles from auteur filmmakers like Christopher Nolan ("The Odyssey"), Denis Villeneuve ("Dune: Part Three"), and Martin McDonagh ("Wild Horse Nine"). The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences recently announced it will present Honorary Oscars to veteran actress Glenn Close, legendary director Ridley Scott, and Disney’s first Black animator Floyd Norman. Producers Christine Vachon and Pamela Koffler, longtime advocates of independent cinema, will receive the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award. The ceremony, hosted by Conan O’Brien, will air live on ABC and Hulu from the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood on Sunday, March 14, at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT, marking a pivotal date in the awards season calendar. This year’s ceremony is expected to draw heightened viewership given O’Brien’s comedic appeal and the slate of blockbuster contenders.