“It’s Never Over: Jeff Buckley,” the biopic dedicated to one of the most intense, fascinating, and talented American singers and songwriters of contemporary music, is coming to Italian cinemas. It will only be screened for three days, on March 16, 17, and 18, 2026.
Directed by Oscar-nominated director Amy Berg and co-produced by Brad Pitt, the film is being released 60 years after the birth of this beloved musician and is already a global trending topic on TikTok.
Born in 1966 and tragically killed at the age of 30 in 1997 when he drowned in a tributary of the Mississippi River, the Californian talent is remembered for “Grace,” “Last Goodbye,” and his cover of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah,” but also for “Lover, You Should’ve Come Over.” It took just one album, “Grace,” released in 1994, to propel him into the pantheon of the greatest.
The documentary was acclaimed at the Sundance Festival and the Rome Film Festival, and reconstructs the life and artistic journey of this young man, son of another music great, Tim Buckley.
The story is set in the cultural context of New York in the 1980s and 1990s and reveals a portrait constructed from previously unseen archive material from Buckley’s personal estate.
There are many intimate testimonies about him—from those of his former partners Rebecca Moore and Joan Wasser to his former bandmates such as Michael Tighe and Parker Kindred, as well as artists such as Ben Harper and Aimee Mann.
No less important in building this biopic was his mother, Mary Guibert, guardian of unique memories such as the last poignant voice message left on his answering machine.
“I can’t remember a time in my life when I wasn’t thinking about making a film about Jeff Buckley. I’ve been thinking about it at least since I started making films in 2006. Or maybe since 1994, when I first heard Grace,” says director Amy Berg.
“Mary, Jeff’s mother, was the first person I met to sketch out the idea. At the time, 18 years ago, she was thinking of a biopic. I was certain that her unforgettable memories would make for a documentary, and in 2019, my proposal was accepted. It was a beautiful labor of love for us who never knew him to get as close to him as possible,” she added.
Known for ranging across multiple musical genres—from folk to rock, blues to jazz—his main sources of inspiration included Nina Simone, Billie Holiday, Van Morrison, Leonard Cohen, Led Zeppelin, Bob Dylan, and Édith Piaf.
After the release of his first album in August 1994, Buckley and his band first embarked on several tours and then, in 1995, received the prestigious Grand Prix International du Disque – Académie Charles Cros 1995, a prestigious award given by a jury composed of top music industry professionals along with producers, journalists, and the president of France Culture. Previously, many giants in the music world, including Jacques Brel, Yves Montand, Georges Brassens, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, and Joni Mitchell had received the award.
He then worked on his second album from 1997, recording in New York and Memphis. He often performed anonymously at Barrister’s in Memphis every Monday night to test out his new material.
Almost thirty years after his death, and with numerous posthumous releases, Jeff Buckley’s legacy continues to grow and his music lives on. His fans include rock legends, pop artists, loyal followers, and a whole new generation of enthusiasts around the world. Buckley’s only studio album released during his lifetime, Grace, continues to stand the test of time.
The film is distributed exclusively in Italy by Nexo Studios in collaboration with Radio Capital, My Movies, and Sony Music Italia.
On April 17, Sony Music will release a remastered version of the iconic album Live À L’Olympia on double LP. The tracks were recorded during two nights in Paris on July 6 and 7, 1995, during Jeff Buckley and his band’s European tour in support of his album Grace.
The album features Buckley performing in front of an enthusiastic French audience, playing half of the songs from his beloved debut album, as well as covers of various genres, such as “Kick Out The Jams” by MC5, a parody of Led Zeppelin, and songs made famous by Nina Simone and Edith Piaf, and a further live performance duet between Buckley and Alim Qasimov.
Since February they have also released a deluxe vinyl and CD version of “Live at Sin-é,” Jeff Buckley’s acclaimed EP released in 1993.