Art & Life: The Story of Jim Phillips Premieres Sept. 25

Full release info here:

Boutique distributor Monkey Wrench Films has officially announced the global digital release of Art & Life: The Story of Jim Phillips, a feature documentary celebrating one of the most influential graphic artists in skate, surf, and music culture. The film will be available to rent and buy beginning September 25, 2025, across major streaming platforms including Apple TV, Amazon, Google Play, YouTube Movies, Vimeo On Demand, and Kanopy. Pre-sales open September 12 on Apple TV.

Release Date: September 25, 2025, platforms linked at ArtAndLifeMovie.com
Pre-sale: September 12, 2025 on Apple TV
Clips and BTS:@artandlifemovie

Directed by John Edward Makens and produced by Remind Productions, Art & Life is a 90-minute journey through the vivid, rebellious legacy of Jim Phillips—the creative force behind Santa Cruz Skateboards’ iconic imagery, including the legendary Screaming Hand. Combining over a decade of footage with rare archival material, the film paints a deeply human portrait of a visionary whose art reshaped global subculture.

“Jim’s work is instantly recognizable, even to people who don’t know his name,” said Tom Putnam, founder of Monkey Wrench. “This release isn’t just about accessibility—it’s about honoring that global impact with a true global launch.”

We awarded Jim the Eric Stricker Memorial Award in 2014:

Global Rollout Across Major Platforms

“From Brazil to Japan to Berlin, Jim’s art has spoken across borders. Now, his story gets to do the same,” said John Makens, director of the film.

Available On:
Apple TV – Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia Pacific, Africa, and the Middle East
Amazon – United States, Canada, UK, Australia, Germany, Japan, Belgium, Spain
Google Play & YouTube Movies – Most of the Americas, Europe, Australia, Japan, South Africa, and more
Vimeo On Demand – Worldwide availability
Kanopy – Available through participating academic and public libraries

A Film 12 Years in the Making

Art & Life began in 2011, when Makens and his crew drove a VW bus to Santa Cruz and camped in Phillips’ driveway, starting what would become a 12-year documentation project. Through interviews, behind-the-scenes footage, and more than 60 hours of raw material, the film captures Phillips’ evolution—from surf kid to skate art pioneer to fine art cult figure.

We also made this A Brief History piece six years ago that's worth a watch:

“Growing up in the 80s, I was constantly surrounded by the art of Jim Phillips,” said Makens. “From my very first skateboard, to my old skate magazine collection… Jim’s art was not just illustrations to me. They are memories. They are emotions. And they are inspirations.

“This project took 12 years to complete—12 years of capturing, editing, and paying homage to the life’s work of a man who’s had such a profound influence on us. Creating a documentary about Jim’s life wasn’t easy. The challenge was taking 60 hours of footage and cutting it down into a 90-minute movie, not to mention doing justice to the massive volume of amazing artwork Jim has created over a lifetime.

“My deepest gratitude goes out to Jim and Dolly for their generosity and trust in me. I’m honored to have this opportunity to share Jim’s story.”

Festival Accolades

The global digital release follows a 70-theater U.S. run and a successful film festival circuit, including the Audience Award for Best Human Interest Filmat Los Angeles Documentary Festival (2023).

• Los Angeles Documentary Festival (2023)
  Audience Award – Best Human Interest Film
• Santa Barbara International Film Festival (2024)
  Official Selection (North American Premiere) 
• Cannes World Film Festival
  Best Documentary Feature (Award)
• New York International Film Awards (NYIFA)
  Finalist / Best Documentary Feature
• Blow-Up Arthouse Filmfest (Chicago)
  Semi-Finalist / Documentary Film
• Documentary FEEDBACK Film Festival (Los Angeles)
  Official Selection – Documentary Feature Film
• Florida Film Festival (Orlando, 2024)
  Official Selection (Florida Premiere)
• Calgary Underground Film Festival (2024)
  Official Selection (Canada Premiere)
• SLO (San Luis Obispo) Film Festival (2024)
  Official Selection (SLO Premiere)
• San Francisco Documentary Festival (2024)
  Screened as a Featured Film (First Showing)
• Coast Film & Music Festival
  Featured as part of the festival lineup (2024–2025) 

A Film by John Makens
Produced by: Remind Productions
Distributed by: Monkey Wrench