/https%3A%2F%2Fassets.festival.sundance.org%2Funsafe%2F1920x1080%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Fd2wsrejhnxatgp.cloudfront.net%2Fpartner%2Fqclnnjqh1The_Best_Summer-Still_3.jpg)
Give as a gift
Immersive POV camera footage reveals electric performances, candid interviews, and intimate backstage life with Beastie Boys, Sonic Youth, Foo Fighters, Pavement, Rancid, Beck, The Amps, and Bikini Kill — an all-access view inside an era-defining moment in music.
While evacuating from the Palisades fires in January 2025, director Tamra Davis discovered a box of videotapes she shot in 1995 at Summersault, a little-known Australian indie music festival. With The Best Summer, Davis creates an oral and visual history of the tour, showcasing her treasure trove of never-before-seen footage. With her exclusive access, Davis captures band performances from her stage-adjacent perch, along with candid backstage banter and interviews conducted by Kathleen Hanna with the likes of Kim Gordon and Dave Grohl. A nostalgic time capsule, this 30-year-old archival film takes on a weighty significance by what it preserves and shares: rare moments of youth, friendship, and good music with arguably the coolest bands of the time. — KY
This film contains strobe effects.
Available in person. Also available online for the public (January 29–February 1) and credentialed press and industry (January 28–February 1).
- Year2026
- Runtime84 minutes
- LanguageEnglish
- CountryUnited States/Australia/Indonesia/Thailand
- directorTamra Davis
- producerTamra Davis, Shelby Meade
- cinematographerTamra Davis
- editorJessica Hernandez
- leadartistKathleen Hanna
Immersive POV camera footage reveals electric performances, candid interviews, and intimate backstage life with Beastie Boys, Sonic Youth, Foo Fighters, Pavement, Rancid, Beck, The Amps, and Bikini Kill — an all-access view inside an era-defining moment in music.
While evacuating from the Palisades fires in January 2025, director Tamra Davis discovered a box of videotapes she shot in 1995 at Summersault, a little-known Australian indie music festival. With The Best Summer, Davis creates an oral and visual history of the tour, showcasing her treasure trove of never-before-seen footage. With her exclusive access, Davis captures band performances from her stage-adjacent perch, along with candid backstage banter and interviews conducted by Kathleen Hanna with the likes of Kim Gordon and Dave Grohl. A nostalgic time capsule, this 30-year-old archival film takes on a weighty significance by what it preserves and shares: rare moments of youth, friendship, and good music with arguably the coolest bands of the time. — KY
This film contains strobe effects.
Available in person. Also available online for the public (January 29–February 1) and credentialed press and industry (January 28–February 1).
- Year2026
- Runtime84 minutes
- LanguageEnglish
- CountryUnited States/Australia/Indonesia/Thailand
- directorTamra Davis
- producerTamra Davis, Shelby Meade
- cinematographerTamra Davis
- editorJessica Hernandez
- leadartistKathleen Hanna