‘Val’ explores the life of 80s acting icon Val Kilmer in his own words [Trailer]

For over 40 years Val Kilmer, one of Hollywood’s most mercurial and/or misunderstood actors has been documenting his own life and craft through film and video. He has amassed thousands of hours of footage, from 16mm home movies made with his brothers, to time spent in iconic roles for blockbuster movies like Top Gun, The Doors, Tombstone, and Batman Forever, to his current battle with throat cancer that has left him voiceless.

Says Kilmer, “At least once a day for years I looked around and got this bittersweet feeling that there are a thousand reasons that this project could’ve been shipwrecked. I mean, what could a film look like of a man filming himself, sometimes daily, years at a time? It is unimaginable that this movie actually could’ve ever come to light without the partnership of my dear friends, Leo and Ting, and my producing partners. Tireless hours of editing and endless emotions with each new cut! I couldn’t be more proud to share this with the world!”

This raw, wildly original and unflinching documentary reveals a life lived to extremes and a heart-filled, sometimes hilarious look at what it means to be an artist and a complex man. Val is directed by Leo Scott & Ting Poo, produced by Val Kilmer, Leo Scott & Ting Poo, Andrew Fried, Dane Lillegard, Jordan Wynn, Brad Koepenick & Ali Alborzi and executive produced by Ben Cotner.

A24 and Amazon Prime Video will release Val in theaters on July 23 after its premiere at the 74th Cannes Film Festival and on Amazon Prime August 6.