Glitterbox launches debut nightlife documentary Where Love Lives with unique three-part live watch-along event exclusively on YouTube

A project that has been two years in the making, with filming taking place around the world pre-lockdown, nightlife phenomenon Glitterbox can now reveal the global release of its debut feature documentary, Where Love Lives. Exclusive to YouTube and free to view, the three-part event will kick off with sets from Glitterbox’s world-class DJs, moving seamlessly into the film’s world premiere. Viewable on YouTube from March 18 2021 starting at 8pm GMT, the premiere will be followed by a virtual after-party (with more details to be announced soon), using YouTube’s new Live Redirect technology. The film will then continue to be available to watch globally on the service.

Dan Chalmers (Head of Music, YouTube) Says: “With the absence of the physical dancefloor over the past year, this docu-film is a poignant reminder of the ways in which music and dancing brings communities together in an inclusive way unlike no other. Defected has celebrated electronic music throughout tough times and continue to do so with this exultant new film. YouTube are proud to support this important moment by providing a global platform for them to tell their story."

Where Love Lives is a story of music’s enduring power to manifest diverse and inclusive community, and the power of that community to accept and embrace, to liberate, even to save lives. It’s a story of acceptance and creative expression – empowered, enabled and soundtracked by club music. Glitterbox ambassadors Lucy Fizz, TeTe Bang and The Mx Fit take centre stage, opening up about the deeply personal moments that brought them their calling in clubland, and what they found there that made them stay. Through extensive exclusive interviews with titans of nightlife culture, Where Love Lives contributors Billy Porter, Honey Dijon, Kathy Sledge, Kiddy Smile, John ‘Jellybean’ Benitez, Kae Burke (House Of Yes), Fiorious and many more explore how those driven to the margins of society are welcomed unconditionally to the centre of the dancefloor.

“Dancefloors can unify people in ways governments and religions can’t and I stand by that sh*t 100%” Honey Dijon

Through the stories of Glitterbox’s kaleidoscopic family of artists, dancers and queer performers, Where Love Lives explores themes of identity and self-expression and the vital importance that clubland plays for those whose identities are not fully accepted in the mainstream. Expertly navigating through nightlife culture’s history, and introducing its present, the film meets the fabulous creatures that inhabit it, and connects the dots that drew each of them to answer dance music’s call. 

“Do not look for validation on the outside. Be your own validation, speak life into yourself. Find your tribe, find your family, find your chosen family, who understands how to love you unconditionally.” Billy Porter

For the first time using YouTube’s recently released Live Redirect and ‘premiere’ technology, Glitterbox alongside parent label Defected will be connecting the dots between live streaming and film launch to turn the premiere into a huge global watch-along event – the next step in Defected’s multi-award-winning Virtual Festival series in 2020, which saw YouTube collaborate with the labels to reach millions of people worldwide through live streamed events.

The documentary, which was filmed at various New York, Ibiza, Paris and London locations, is a clockwise.film and Defected production directed by Brilliams and produced by Oliver Prince, whose previous work includes film projects for Red Bull, Resident Advisor, BBC Three, L’Oreal and more. With Defected and Glitterbox founder Simon Dunmore as Executive Producer, further contributors include rising star of the art world Haris Nukem, Sink The Pink co-founder Glyn Fussell and legendary DJ/producer Nicky Siano.

Director Brilliams describes his intentions for the film: “I’ve always been fascinated by the positive effects of music and the communities that grow around it. Since the inception of dance music, dancefloors have been rich ground for community, and an incredible representation of cultural identity and self-expression. Everyone has their own journey to the dancefloor and their own voyage of self-expression to navigate. Through the stories of the kaleidoscopic family of performers that give Glitterbox its heart and soul, we set out to show why those journeys are so incredibly important.”

Where Love Lives will be premiered exclusively across YouTube on Thursday 18^th March 2021 at 8pm GMT, and available to watch for free on the platform immediately after.