The George Michael no one has seen yet: a rediscovered 1988 Paris concert is coming to cinemas

The concert film George Michael: The Faith Tour is coming to cinemas. It was put together from 1988 footage long thought lost, showing George Michael performing at the Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy arena in Paris at the height of the Faith tour.

The release dates are given in the official Universal Pictures trailer and the Bleecker Street trailer.

The film opens internationally on 4 November, in the UK and Ireland on 6 November, and in the US and Canada on 11 December. A live album of the same name also comes out on 6 November, with 18 previously unreleased recordings. We have not yet found any information about screenings in Ukraine.

Two nights in Paris

The concert was shot over two nights in May 1988, with 14 cameras on 35mm film. The shoot was led by Andy Morahan, director of the Faith and Careless Whisper videos, and he made the film together with David Austin, Michael's longtime co-writer. The footage was long thought lost; it has now been restored and remastered.

This is more than a concert. A previously unheard interview with Michael plays in voice-over, and the film includes photographs by Herb Ritts and behind-the-scenes footage from the shoot for the Faith video. Before the screening, audiences will see Finding Faith, a short film by Mary McCartney that sets out the context of the tour.

Nearly ten years later

George Michael died in December 2016. Ahead of the film and album, the singer's official channel has already shared live versions of Father Figure, Careless Whisper and, at the end of October, Faith, all recorded in Paris in 1988.

In the US, Bleecker Street and IMAX are preparing exclusive early screenings. Michael's music is a constant on our air: more than 40 plays in the past month, most often Outside and Fastlove in club mixes.

Last week, the guitar from the “Faith” video sold at auction for £180,000.