Louis Armstrong documentary to mark jazz legend’s 125th birthday in Lisbon – Portugal Resident

An Emmy Award-winning documentary revealing the hidden family life of jazz legend Louis Armstrong will be screened in Lisbon on Tuesday (August 4) to mark what would have been the musician’s 125th birthday.

Little Satchmo, which tells the story of Armstrong’s daughter Sharon Preston-Folta, will receive its first theatrical screening in the capital at Café Império, as part of the C.L.I.T. Film Festival.

Based on Preston-Folta’s memoir of the same name, the documentary explores how she spent decades concealing her identity as the daughter of Armstrong and Harlem dancer Lucille “Sweets” Preston. Armstrong acknowledged Preston-Folta as his only direct descendant, but their relationship remained largely unknown during his lifetime.

The film won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Historical Documentary (Southeast) in 2023.

Following previous screenings in Setúbal and Sesimbra, the Lisbon event marks the documentary’s debut in a cinema setting in the Portuguese capital.

The screening will take place at Café Império, a historic Lisbon jazz venue featuring a mural of Armstrong, providing an apt backdrop for the anniversary tribute.

After the hour-long film, audiences will have the opportunity to take part in a live question-and-answer session with its US-based director, John Alexander, and producer JC Guest, who will discuss the making of the documentary and Preston-Folta’s remarkable story.

The event celebrates the enduring legacy of one of the 20th century’s most influential musicians while shining a light on a personal chapter of his life that remained hidden for decades.

More information about the documentary is available at littlesatchmodoc.com