Murray Lerner is one of the great forerunners of the music documentary (alongside illustrious names like the Maysles brothers or D.A. Pennebaker), in addition to his multi-faceted talent and innovation in sectors like 3D (his film Magic Journeys from 1983 is considered a landmark of the technique). 

But if we're paying homage to Murray at this year's Beefeater In-Edit Festival, it is for his constant and acclaimed work with music, both in documentaries and live music films, for which he has been awarded important accolades and prices (including an Oscar for the modern-day classic Mao to Mozart: Isaac Stern in China).

A graduate from Harvard University, Murray has always believed that film should be a unified art form and has tirelessly worked to develop all aspects relating to the art of filming, to the max. Renowned director of photography and member of the American Associations of Directors and Screenwriters, Murray has written, directed, filmed and edited the majority of his own works.

In 1967, Lerner produced and directed Festival!, earning him an Oscar nomination and was the first music documentary about festivals to achieve a cinema release, overtaking films like Monterey Pop or Woodstock. Continuing his relationship with the Oscars, in 1980, the chronicle of Isaac Stern's tour in China earned him the eagerly awaited award and symbolized a summit in cultural union through music.

In 1995, Message to Love: The Isle of Wight Festival, finally saw the light: A legendary documentary about a festival attended by around 600.000 people, it featured performances by huge groups like The Who, Jethro Tull, Jimi Hendrix, Leonard Cohen and The Doors. In the years that followed, some of these concerts have also been released as independent films.

And in the 21st century, he has added more renowned works of the genre to his filmography like Amazing Journey: The story of The Who, or Miles Electric: A Different kind of blue.

For these reasons, this Beefeater In-Edit homage is justified and necessary, to honor another giant of the genre and the reason that festivals like this can exist. Thanks Murray.

Murray Lerner's work will feature in the Homage section but will also form the nucleus of the London's Backstage All-Night Marathon (From London to Isle of Wight), to showcase some of the integral concerts of the legendary 1970 edition of the Festival, filmed by Lerner 

The tribute programm, here.