‘Once Upon A Time In Harlem’ has just snagged the coveted Lavine/Ken Burns Prize, pocketing a cool $200,000 and sending shockwaves through the indie film circuit. The documentary, which blends gritty street footage with a jazzy soundtrack that would make even the Library of Congress tap its toe, tells the story of Harlem’s renaissance through the eyes of its unsung heroes. Judges praised the film’s “jaw‑dropping narrative gymnastics” and its ability to make history feel like a Saturday night party. Critics are already dubbing it “the love child of ‘Selma’ and a vintage vinyl collection.” With the prize money, the filmmakers plan to fund a traveling exhibit that will bring Harlem’s legacy to libraries across the nation—because nothing says “cultural preservation” like a pop‑up cinema in a reading room.
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