Spike Lee’s Film of David Byrne’s American Utopia Grabs Six Emmy Noms

Spike Lee’s film of David Byrne’s American Utopia has been nominated for six Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded) and Outstanding Directing, for Lee. The complete list of nominees for the film, which debuted on HBO and HBO Max in October, are:

• Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded)

• Outstanding Directing for a Variety Special: Spike Lee

• Outstanding Lighting Design/Lighting Direction for a Variety Special: lighting designer Rob Sinclair, lighting director Brian Spett

• Outstanding Music Direction: music director Karl Mansfield

• Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Variety Series or Special: re-recording mixer Paul Hsu, production mixer Michael Lonsdale, music mixer Pete Keppler

• Outstanding Technical Direction, Camerawork, Video Control for a Special: camera operators Ellen Kuras, Gregor Tavenner, Peter Agliata, Charles Libin, Declan Quinn, Sam Levy, David Waterston, Tim Ives, Kerwin DeVonish, Yousheng Tang

Winners of the 2021 Emmy Awards will be announced on Sunday, September 19, just two days after David Byrne’s American Utopia returns to Broadway at the St. James Theatre on September 17. The production features David Byrne with returning band members Jacquelene Acevedo, Gustavo Di Dalva, Daniel Freedman, Chris Giarmo, Tim Keiper, Tendayi Kuumba, Karl Mansfield, Mauro Refosco, Stéphane San Juan, Angie Swan, and Bobby Wooten III. David Byrne’s American Utopia will receive a Special Tony Award for the 2019–2020 Broadway season on September 26.