Nova '78
7.1
“The past was louder than you think”
East Village, New York, 1978. William Burroughs, Patti Smith, Frank Zappa, Allen Ginsberg, and other brilliant minds come together in an explosion of ideas, art, and rebellion.
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Cast
19 people
William S. Burroughs
Self (archive footage)
Known for
Drugstore Cowboy
Joy Division
Frank Zappa
Self (archive footage)
Known for
Head
Laurie Anderson
Self (archive footage)
Also in
The Rugrats Movie
Yoko Ono Lennon's Courage Awards 2016: Laurie Anderson, Mohammad el Gharani, Eileen Boxer, RoseLee Goldberg, LoftOpera
Anne Waldman
Self (archive footage)
Known for
Rolling Thunder Revue: A Bob Dylan Story by Martin Scorsese
Patti Smith
Self (archive footage)
Known for
Rolling Thunder Revue: A Bob Dylan Story by Martin Scorsese
Film Socialisme
Julia Heyward
Self (archive footage)
John Giorno
Self (archive footage)
Also in
The Final Academy Documents
Carrefour de la chaussée d'Antin
Allen Ginsberg
Self (archive footage)
Known for
Rolling Thunder Revue: A Bob Dylan Story by Martin Scorsese
John Cage
Self (archive footage)
Known for
At Land
Merce Cunningham
Self (archive footage)
Also in
Cunningham
Merce by Merce by Paik
Brion Gysin
Self (archive footage)
Also in
The Cut-Ups
The Dream Machine
Philip Glass
Self (archive footage)
Also in
The Truman Show
What Maisie Knew
Rodrigo Areias Director · Aaron Brookner Director Paulo Furtado Composer
United States release February 26, 2026 · Produced in Portugal, United Kingdom · Production Pinball London
Production
Bando à Parte
Production
Pinball London
Production
Portugal · United Kingdom
Produced in
Languages
Original language
English
Spoken on screen
English
Release dates
Switzerland · August 8, 2025
Premiere · Locarno Film Festival
United States · February 26, 2026
Premiere · Doc Fortnight
Portugal · July 30, 2026
Theatrical
Australia
February 7, 2026 · Premiere · Antenna Documentary Film Festival
July 10, 2026 · Premiere · Revelation Perth International Film Festival
Austria
October 25, 2025 · Premiere · Vienna International Film Festival
Brazil
October 18, 2025 · Premiere · São Paulo International Film Festival
France
March 21, 2026 · Premiere · Cinéma du Réel
Portugal
July 30, 2026 · Digital
Russia
June 11, 2026 · Premiere · Beat Film Festival
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