Director Toby Amies joined our projectionist Ryan Bellett for a live Q&A after a screening of his latest documentary In the Court of the Crimson King: King Crimson at 50. They discuss the difficulties of making a film about a band with such a devoted following, his approach to documentary making, and the relationship between music, time, and death.

The film speaks to an audience beyond (and including) the fanbase. Flirting with mockumentary, In the Court of the Crimson King ultimately transcends the genre by exploring friendship, grief, and the artistic process. Pertinent here are also questions about the role of narcissism in art: did Robert Fripp’s perfectionism contribute to King Crimson’s success, or did it contribute to a joyless experience and the band’s demise?