After making headlines for its most recent – and arguably most eventful – edition of the festival, Burning Man will be receiving the docuseries treatment.
A week ago, news spread of disaster from Burning Man’s ill-fated turn in Nevada this year. After extreme weather and flooding, the festival (held in Nevada) saw attendees stranded with few resources and seemingly no escape, leading to the festival making headline news for the apocalyptic events. It will then come as no surprise that a documentary series about the festival has been confirmed to be in the works.
Titled The Man Will Burn, production companies Double Agent, Noujaim Films, and The Othrs will come together to bring us this series on the famous desert festival. The series will explore the history of the festival, documenting how it became the cultural staple attended by thousands today, and cover the events of this summer.
Founded in 1986 by Larry Harvey and Jerry James, Burning Man describes itself as “a global ecosystem of artists, makers, and community organisers who co-create art, events, and local initiatives around the world.” While documentaries about the festival have been made in the past, this will mark the first time that the Burning Man Project, the non-profit behind the festival, has given permission for the use of official archival footage. The series will also include footage filmed over the past three years.
Production for the series began during the pandemic in 2021 and continued to cover the festival’s official return in 2022 and the disastrous events of 2023’s festival. Directors Jehane Noujaim (The Vow) and Vikram Gandhi (69: The Saga of Danny Hernandez) will helm the project. While there is little information on offer regarding the distribution of The Man Will Burn, as the series is yet to be attached to any networks or streamers, keep your eyes peeled. Interest in the festival has never been higher.
Words by Nadira Begum
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