Bill Cunningham New York (2011)

In the bustling heart of New York City, 80-year-old Bill Cunningham exists as an unsung hero documenting the city's sartorial heartbeat. Despite being a revered photojournalist and columnist for the New York Times for over three decades, Bill humbly refuses to call himself a photographer. His sharp eye, honed during his early career as a milliner, captures the pulse of fashion on the city's streets, uncovering emerging trends before they're even recognized, and immortalizing the unconventional in the everyday. Bill Cunningham New York (2011) is a fascinating chronicle of a man consumed with capturing the essence of style, his twin photographic columns in the Times' Style section painting a vivid tapestry of a city's evolving fashion landscape. Yet, to the world he chronicles, he remains an enigma. His camera lens, more interested in the creative spirit of his subjects than their celebrity status, reveals a man in pursuit of authentic expression over the trappings of fame or wealth. Living a life as non-conformist as the fashion outliers he captures, Bill cycles through the city's veins, returning home to a tiny apartment crammed with filing cabinets full of negatives. This eccentric home, nestled in the historic Carnegie Hall Studio, echoes with the stories of its few infamous longtime residents, all soon facing eviction. Bill Cunningham New York is not just a film about fashion; it's a captivating glimpse into the life of a man whose passion for individuality and creativity transcends the boundaries of his iconic photographs, a man whose dedication to his craft paints a vibrant portrait of New York City's dynamic fashion tapestry.

Bill Cunningham New York is a documentary movie featuring Bill Cunningham and directed by Richard Press.

Bill Cunningham New York is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on Kanopy and it's also available on Max Amazon Channel.

It is also possible to buy Bill Cunningham New York on Amazon Video, Apple TV and Kino Now.