Filmmaker Ken Burns previews ‘Leonardo da Vinci’ documentary, Nov. 12

Renowned American documentary filmmaker Ken Burns and his co-directors Sarah Burns and David McMahon will discuss their new film on the life of Leonardo da Vinci at a National Press Club Newsmaker event at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 12.

The film, "Leonardo da Vinci," tells the story of the remarkable Italian Renaissance visionary who produced timeless works of art including "Mona Lisa," "The Last Supper," and detailed sketches of futuristic devices of warfare and flight that continue to astound and inspire millions.

This Headliners Newsmaker event is open to Club members and credentialed media. Registration is required. 

To submit a question for the speakers, please email [email protected] and put LEONARDO in the subject line. The deadline for submitting questions in advance is 10 a.m. on the day of the event.

From Leonardo's out-of-wedlock birth to a notary and peasant woman and his apprenticeship to a distinguished Florentian painter to his emergence as a scientist, engineer, painter, architect, cartographer, sculptor and muralist, the film offers an intimate portrait of a singular talent during a time of war and religious upheaval.  

"Leonardo da Vinci" will be broadcast Nov. 18 and 19 on PBS.

Burns has been making documentary films for almost 50 years. From the Academy Award-nominated "Brooklyn Bridge" in 1981, Burns has gone on to direct and produce some of the most acclaimed historical documentaries ever made. Sarah Burns is the author of "The Central Park Five: A Chronicle of a City Wilding" (Knopf, 2011) and, along with McMahon and Ken Burns, produced the documentary "The Central Park Five."  

Sarah Burns, McMahon and Ken Burns also have worked together on "Jackie Robinson," a biography of the trailblazing baseball player and civil rights leader. Among other projects, Sarah Burns produced and directed a four-part biography of Muhammad Ali, again with McMahon and Ken Burns, which premiered on PBS in September 2021.