"Whitney. Can I Be Me" (Photo: Showtime)
“Whitney. Can I Be Me” (Photo: Showtime)

Showtime Documentary Films has announced that it will premiere its original feature documentary “Whitney. Can I Be Me,” a film exploring the incredible career and complicated life of the memorable singer, at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York City on April 26 at the SVA Theater, with subsequent screenings all weekend.

Directed by acclaimed BAFTA Award winner Nick Broomfield, the film will air on Showtime later this year.

“Nick is a bold storyteller with an acclaimed track record of provocative documentary filmmaking,” said Vinnie Malhotra, Senior Vice President, Documentary and Unscripted Programming, Showtime Networks Inc. “Showtime Documentary Films is excited to partner with him on this project, as he delves deep into the life of Whitney Houston to tell the real story behind the rise and fall of one of America’s most iconic singers.”

With behind the scenes materials, candid interviews and performance footage – including many of Houston’s greatest hits – “Whitney. Can I Be Me” will offer a raw and uncensored look at Houston, exploring the impact her life and death had on the people around her and the world of music.

The film explores Whitney’s central dilemma: even though she had made millions of dollars, had more consecutive number ones than The Beatles and was recognized as having one of the greatest voices of all time, she still couldn’t do what she wanted to do, either professionally or in her personal life.

According to her band members, the title of the film “Can I be me?” was Houston’s favorite expression, one she used so much that they sampled it to play at the start of rehearsals.

Produced by Showtime and BBC, “Whitney. Can I Be Me” is executive produced by John Battsek through his Passion Pictures label, Patrick Holland, Shani Hinton, Charles Finch and Ben Silverman. Nick Broomfield co- directed the film with Rudi Dolezal. Broomfield also co-produced with Marc Hoeferlin.

No trailer at this time.