Unseen David Bowie 1978 Concert Film Unleashed as Immersive Experience!
A long-lost 1978 David Bowie concert film, "Stage," is set to premiere on February 14, 2027, at Berlin’s Uber Arena, offering an immersive sound and light experience. Restored from unseen 35mm footage discovered by filmmaker Brett Morgen, the production promises to deliver Bowie at the peak of his performing prowess. This meticulous collaboration between Wonderworld, the David Bowie Estate, and Morgen aims to recreate an intimate, authentic concert experience for fans worldwide.
A previously unseen David Bowie 1978 concert film, titled Stage, is slated to make its debut at Berlin’s Uber Arena on February 14, 2027. This premiere promises an extraordinary experience that intricately combines archival live footage with cutting-edge immersive sound and light technology, designed to transport audiences back to a pivotal moment in Bowie’s career.
The concept for this unique sound and vision experience was meticulously developed around recently discovered and restored footage from Bowie's 1978 Isolar II world tour, a tour where he performed iconic songs from his landmark Heroes album. The ambitious production is a collaborative effort between Wonderworld, the David Bowie Estate, and acclaimed documentary filmmaker Brett Morgen, who is renowned for directing the critically acclaimed 2022 Bowie documentary, Moonage Daydream. Morgen’s involvement proved crucial, as he discovered the original camera negatives for Stage while working on the Grammy Award-winning Bowie documentary.
The film will be presented in a groundbreaking three-screen format, marrying large-scale projections of footage assembled from raw, unseen 35mm film with transparent LED screens. This visual spectacle is complemented by an elaborate lighting design crafted by the esteemed Patrick Woodroffe, celebrated for his work with artists like the Rolling Stones and Elton John. The auditory component is equally impressive, featuring a newly created sound mix by Oscar-winner Paul Massey, known for his work on films such as Bohemian Rhapsody and Michael. Producers emphasize that the immersive audio, leveraging Immersive Audio Mapping and a spread-out flown array system, will deliver pristine 7.1 surround sound to every seat in the venue. Additionally, Unilumin/Roe full-range transparent LED screens will be utilized to create the illusion that Bowie and his band are performing live in the room.
David Bowie himself conceived and produced Stage in 1978 during his Isolar II concerts at London’s Earls Court. Astonishingly, the legendary footage remained untouched in the late singer’s archives for over 50 years. According to a press release, this unearthed material showcases “Bowie at the zenith of his powers as a live performer” in what is heralded as one of his best live performances. By employing cutting-edge spatial audio and visual technology, Morgen and his team have endeavored to bring Bowie’s original vision to life, crafting a film that producers assert will feel like attending an authentic Bowie concert.
Rob Hallett, founder of Wonderworld and former AEG Live president of international, stated, “David Bowie has bestowed upon us an extraordinary treasure — an unprecedented concert experience that has yet to be witnessed. Working hand-in-hand with David Bowie’s Estate and Brett Morgen, we are ensuring this experience is 100% faithful to his legacy while making his genius accessible to global fans and a new generation.” Morgen reportedly dedicated nearly a decade to meticulously reconfiguring, editing, color-grading, and hand-painting the archival footage. He utilized longer, uninterrupted takes of Bowie’s performance to cultivate an intimate atmosphere that closely mimics a real-time live experience.
The film features Bowie backed by one of his all-time great bands, including lead guitarist Adrian Belew, rhythm guitarist and music director Carlos Alomar, bassist George Murray, drummer Dennis Davis, keyboardist Roger Powell, pianist Sean Mayes, and electric violin player Simon House. Together, they perform a setlist of hits such as “Ziggy Stardust,” “Rebel Rebel,” “Suffragette City,” “Fame,” and “‘Heroes,’” among others.
Designed for auditoriums and venues with capacities starting at 5,000, the world premiere of Stage will coincide with Valentine’s Day as part of the 77th Berlin Film Festival. Tickets are currently on sale through Eventim. A 30-second teaser trailer for the film was released on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, providing a glimpse of stage hands setting up the rigging for the show and enthusiastic fans entering the venue adorned in their Ziggy Stardust-inspired makeup and outfits.