The Ballad of Judas Priest, a new documentary chronicling the legendary Grammy-winning English heavy metal band JUDAS PRIEST and their rise to rock and roll greatness, will have its world premiere at the 76th Berlinale – Berlin International Film Festival, running February 12–22.
The Berlinale is a unique place of artistic exploration and entertainment. It is one of the largest public film festivals in the world, attracting tens of thousands of visitors from around the globe each year. For the film industry and the media, the eleven days in February are also one of the most important events in the annual calendar and an indispensable trading forum.
The Berlin International Film Festival enjoys an eventful history. The festival was created for the Berlin public in 1951, at the beginning of the Cold War, as a “showcase of the free world”. Shaped by the turbulent post-war period and the unique situation of a divided city, the Berlinale has developed into a place of intercultural exchange and a platform for the critical cinematic exploration of social issues. To this day it is considered the most political of all the major film festivals.
Co-directed by acclaimed documentary filmmaker Sam Dunn and RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE’s Tom Morello, who makes his directorial debut, the film celebrates the legendary band’s enduring impact on music and culture, far beyond the metal world. Showcasing iconic anthems and pop culture staples such as “Breaking the Law” and “You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’,” The Ballad of Judas Priest captures the passion, resilience, and lasting legacy of a band whose story and music continue to inspire generations.
Dunn commented: “Super proud to announce that our JUDAS PRIEST doc The Ballad Of Judas Priest will premiere at Berlinale – Berlin International Film Festival this February. Beyond excited for all our German metalheads to get the first look.”
Rising from humble, working-class roots in Birmingham, U.K., to become global rock legends, JUDAS PRIEST didn’t just help shape heavy metal culture — they helped forge it. Widely regarded as pioneers of the heavy metal genre in the 1970s, the band has sold more than 50 million records worldwide and released 19 studio albums for their devoted global fanbase. In 2022, JUDAS PRIEST were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. With their 2024 album Invincible Shield, the band became the first heavy metal act to release studio albums 50 years apart, earning widespread acclaim and a Grammy nomination for “Best Metal Performance.” Last fall, JUDAS PRIEST toured North America on a co-headlining run with Alice Cooper.
JUDAS PRIEST said: “We have lived and breathed metal for over five decades, and finally in this documentary we are summoning our congregation to officially witness our lives uncensored, in a never-before-seen way…the cassock comes off, revealing PRIEST in all its metal glory!”
Co-directors Morello and Dunn said: “While some may know JUDAS PRIEST for their huge hits that have shaped the heavy metal genre, there is so much more to their story. Tracing their incredible 50-year journey, this film will capture how JUDAS PRIEST both defined the sound and look of metal, but also made it a more inclusive place along the way. We are grateful to the band for allowing us such intimate, unfiltered access to their lives and look forward to bringing this film to the metal masses around the world.”
Reeder, the visionary behind Metal Addicts, has transformed his lifelong passion for metal into a thriving online community for metal aficionados. As a fervent devotee of black metal, Reeder is captivated by its dark, atmospheric, and often unorthodox soundscapes.