The premiere event for the 38th annual AFI Fest was a remarkable occasion, not just for the presence of legendary composer John Williams, but for the festival's decision to open with a documentary honoring his remarkable career. Steven Spielberg, a longtime collaborator and friend of Williams, took the stage to introduce the film, "Music by John Williams," and to pay tribute to the maestro's unparalleled contributions to the world of cinema.

Elevating the Art of Filmmaking: John Williams' Enduring Legacy

A Groundbreaking Opening Night

Even without the star power of John Williams, the opening night of the 38th annual AFI Fest would have been a notable event. Steven Spielberg, who has collaborated with Williams on 29 of his films, took the stage to introduce the festival's opening-night attraction – a documentary celebrating the composer's illustrious career. Spielberg expressed his gratitude to the AFI board for taking the bold step of opening the festival with a documentary, a decision he described as "a wonderful thing" that rightfully places the documentary form alongside the narrative form.

A Creative Partnership Unmatched

Spielberg's admiration for Williams is palpable, as he described the composer as "a family member" and "the greatest creative partner I have ever had." The two have worked together for over 52 years, with Williams scoring the music for Spielberg's films, a partnership that Spielberg considers the "greatest" he has ever had in the creative arts.

The Power of Music in Filmmaking

Spielberg eloquently illustrated the transformative power of Williams' music, recounting an experiment he and the composer had conducted during their joint concert tours. Spielberg would play a scene from "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" without any music, and the audience would find the sequence to be slow and dragging. However, when the scene was played again with Williams' iconic score, the same four-minute sequence felt like a mere minute and a half, captivating the audience. This, Spielberg said, is the "miracle of film scoring" and the consistent brilliance that Williams has brought to countless films, elevating them and leaving an indelible mark on audiences.

A Collaborative Masterpiece

The making of "Music by John Williams" was a collaborative effort, with Imagine Entertainment, Lucasfilm, and Amblin Documentaries coming together to produce the film. Director Laurent Bouzereau, who has known Williams for over 30 years, finally succeeded in convincing the composer to participate in the documentary, capturing his multifaceted persona – a humble genius, a driven artist, and a kind collaborator.

A Celebration of a Cinematic Icon

The red carpet at the AFI Fest premiere was graced by an impressive array of guests, including producers Frank Marshall and Kathleen Kennedy, filmmaker J.J. Abrams, LA Phil conductor Gustavo Dudamel, composer Alan Silvestri, songwriter Diane Warren, and actor Bryce Dallas Howard, all of whom came to celebrate the life and work of John Williams. Ron Howard, who also served as a producer on the film, shared his own connection to Williams, recalling their collaboration on the 1962 film "The Music Man" and spontaneously singing a stanza from the classic musical.The premiere of "Music by John Williams" at the AFI Fest marks a significant moment in the celebration of the composer's enduring legacy, a testament to his unparalleled contributions to the art of filmmaking and his enduring impact on audiences worldwide.