A deeply personal new documentary chronicling the life, artistry, and cultural influence of Sly Stone is officially in the works — and it’s being shaped by someone who knew him best.
Sylvester Stewart Jr., the son of the legendary Sly and the Family Stone frontman, is teaming up with filmmaker Leslie Small to direct the feature-length project for Winter State Entertainment. The documentary promises an unprecedented look at one of America’s most revolutionary artists, blending family access with a broader exploration of Stone’s enduring impact on music and culture.
While Sly Stone’s public persona helped redefine funk, soul, and rock, the man behind the myth remained famously elusive for decades. This new film aims to move past the iconography and into the private world Stone carefully guarded, offering audiences an intimate portrait that captures both his creative brilliance and his humanity.
The project builds on renewed interest in Stone’s legacy following the release of ‘Sly Lives! (aka The Burden of Black Genius)’, the acclaimed Questlove-directed documentary that aired earlier this year. That film reframed Stone’s career within a larger conversation about race, genius, and the pressures placed on Black artists. Stewart Jr.’s documentary, however, shifts the lens inward — telling the story from inside the family and drawing directly from the artist’s personal archives.
More than 50 hours of never-before-seen footage form the backbone of the film, alongside rare family photos and home videos captured by Stewart Jr. himself. Together, they document Stone’s daily life, creative process, and private reflections, while also tracing the rise of a musical family that helped reshape American pop culture.
From their racially and gender-integrated lineup to their genre-blending sound, Sly and the Family Stone became a defining force of their era. Songs like ‘Everyday People,’ ‘Dance to the Music,’ ‘Family Affair,’ and ‘Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)’ didn’t just dominate the charts — they helped shape the social and political consciousness of a generation. The group’s influence continues to echo through artists such as Prince, Kendrick Lamar, The Roots, and will.i.am, among many others. Their legacy has been cemented through multiple honors, including induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and recognition among Rolling Stone’s 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.
In addition to archival material, the documentary will feature new interviews with fellow musicians, collaborators, cultural historians, and creatives impacted by Stone’s work. Producers on the project include Camille and Hamid Torabpour, Nick Hagen, Dr. Mark Smith, Alexis De La Jara, Stewart Jr., and Small.
For Stewart Jr., the film marks his feature directorial debut after more than two decades working behind the scenes in film and television lighting.