COMING IN 2017: ACADEMY AWARD-WINNER KEVIN MACDONALD TO DIRECT OFFICIAL WHITNEY HOUSTON DOCUMENTARY, THE DEFINITIVE STORY OF THE GLOBAL SUPERSTAR

buzzz worthy. . .

Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Kevin Macdonald (MARLEY, TOUCHING THE VOID, ONE DAY IN SEPTEMBER) and Academy Award®-winning producer Simon Chinn (MAN ON WIRE, SEARCHING FOR SUGAR MAN) and his Lightbox Media partner Jonathan Chinn (FANTASTIC LIES, AMERICAN HIGH) have partnered with multi-Emmy award nominated producer Lisa Erspamer (RUNNING FROM CRAZY) on the official Whitney Houston documentary, a revealing theatrical feature documentary about the life and genius of global superstar Whitney Houston.

While this is the first documentary to be officially authorized by the estate since Whitney's death, Macdonald and the producers have been given the estate's blessing to tell the unvarnished and authentic story of the singer's life in a film that will examine both the highs and lows of her dramatic career.

With unprecedented access to friends, family and collaborators - some of whom have never told their side of the story, the documentary will for the first time tell the complete story of Whitney Houston's life and work from the point of view of those who knew her best, including an interview with Clive Davis, founder and president of Arista Records, currently chief creative officer of Sony Music Entertainment and who is universally acknowledged for bringing Whitney Houston to prominence.

Macdonald says, "The story that is never told about Whitney is just how brilliant she was as an artist; by many measures she had the greatest voice of the last 50 years. She changed the way pop music was sung - bringing it back full circle to its blues and gospel roots. She was also completely unique in being a black pop star who transcended her race globally with her work sold in countries where black artists don't sell.

"We have access to never-before-seen footage of Whitney that charts her whole life from her beginnings singing in her Church's gospel choir, to the day of her tragic death at the age of 48 and three decades of her music including exclusive demo recordings, rare performances and audio archive. Although we won't shy away from the darker parts of Whitney's life - her descent into addiction - I want audiences to walk out of the cinema and feel positive about Whitney and her music. I want to reveal a woman that even her most die-hard fans never knew; and a woman those new to her life and music will never forget."