This week, The Sounds of Film with Tom Needham features an exclusive conversation with filmmaker Jake Sumner, the director of the acclaimed documentary Ron Delsener Presents. The film, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival, chronicles the extraordinary 60-year career of Ron Delsener, the iconic concert promoter behind New York City’s most legendary live music events.

From booking the Beatles at Forest Hills Stadium in 1964 to orchestrating the historic Simon & Garfunkel reunion in Central Park, Delsener helped redefine what a concert could be. Known for his relentless hustle, sharp ear, and rebellious charm, Delsener transformed New York’s music scene—paving the way for what would eventually become today’s billion-dollar live entertainment industry.

Directed by award-winning documentarian Jake Sumner (Fantastic Man, Bob of the Park, I Was There When House Took Over the World), Ron Delsener Presents is a fast-paced, visually rich ride through concert history, blending rare archival footage, animated sequences, and stories from Delsener himself and his many collaborators, including Bruce Springsteen, Patti Smith, Billy Joel, Paul Simon, Cher, Jon Bon Jovi, Gene Simmons, and Lorne Michaels.

In his conversation with Tom Needham, Sumner discusses what it was like to capture Delsener’s irreverent spirit, how he tracked down footage of seminal New York shows, and the behind-the-scenes stories that didn’t make the final cut. The interview also dives into Sumner’s larger body of work and his creative process bringing larger-than-life characters to the screen.