In Whose Name? | |
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Directed by | Nico Ballesteros |
Produced by |
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Starring | Kanye West |
Edited by |
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Music by | Leon Lacey |
Release date |
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Running time | 106 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
In Whose Name? is an upcoming American documentary film directed by Nico Ballesteros about the life of the American rapper Kanye West. It is scheduled to be released to theaters on September 19, 2025, through AMSI Entertainment.
In Whose Name? covers six years of the American rapper Kanye West's life, including his struggles with bipolar disorder, performances with the Sunday Service Choir, unsuccessful 2020 presidential campaign, the collapse of his marriage with Kim Kardashian, and his hateful and antisemitic public outbursts. [1] [2] Drake, Elon Musk, Marilyn Manson, Pharrell Williams, Playboi Carti, and Swizz Beatz make appearances. [2]
Nico Ballesteros began recording In Whose Name? in 2019, when he was eighteen years old. According to the synopsis, he shot the film in 15-hour shoot days. [3] Ballestros recorded over 3,000 hours of footage, which was cut down to an hour and 46 minutes for the final film. [4] The film is produced by Ballesteros and Simran A. Singh, with Shy Ranje serving as co-producer. [5]
Ballesteros began filming his own life when he was eight years old, saying in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter that "[f]or a shy kid, the camera became both a shield and a window, a way to channel my introspection while still engaging with the world." [1] He theorized that this might be the reason why he and West "understood each other without saying much. I was able to fade into the background, stay present, the camera always rolling, catching moments outside the public performance." [1]
The documentary was publicly revealed on November 1, 2024, through an exclusive story with Variety . The article revealed the film's synopsis and producers, as well as claiming it was currently in post-production. The film was set to be released to the American Film Market through Goodfellas and Utopia, with a promo reel being shown on November 7. [6] During that time, Ballesteros would post a text exchange he had with West, who called the documentary "very deep. It was like being dead and looking back on my life." [7]
On August 13, 2025, a trailer was released for In Whose Name?, featuring a clip of West and Kardashian. [5] Following the trailer, producer Simran A. Singh stated the film will not include any "commentary or conclusion" on West, wanting the audience to come to their own conclusions. [3] A second trailer was released on August 27. [2]
In Whose Name? is scheduled to be released to theaters on September 19, 2025, through AMSI Entertainment. It will be distributed to 1,000 theaters in partnership with AMC Theatres, Regal Cinemas, and Cinemark Theatres. [5]