In the pantheon of music’s fleeting comets, Jeff Buckley shines as one of the brightest and most enigmatic. His 1994 debut album Grace—a singular masterpiece blending raw emotion, otherworldly vocals, and genre-defying artistry—left an indelible mark on the ’90s music scene. Tragically, Buckley’s life was cut short at age 30, when he drowned in the Wolf River in Memphis, leaving behind a legacy that feels both mythic and unfinished. In her new documentary, It’s Never Over: Jeff Buckley, Oscar-nominated filmmaker Amy Berg (Deliver Us from Evil, Janis: Little Girl Blue, West of Memphis) crafts a poignant tribute to the artist, weaving never-before-seen footage with intimate accounts from those closest to him. In an exclusive interview with AMFM Magazine, Berg opens up about the five-year journey to bring Buckley’s story to the screen and the emotional weight of celebrating a voice gone too soon.
Berg’s connection to Buckley began in 1994, amidst the grunge-heavy era of Nirvana. “I was reading every fanzine and every magazine that existed on the music that was coming out,” she recalls. “Someone handed me the CD of Grace… it totally changed my life. It was so beautiful to be able to experience something that wasn’t so aggressive and heavy and testosterone-driven.” Though she saw Buckley perform once while working with the opening band 16 Horsepower, her focus was on logistics, not fandom. Still, his presence was undeniable: “It was amazing.”
It’s Never Over: Jeff Buckley dives deep into the artist’s archives, unearthing demos, live recordings, and glimpses of his evolving creative process. “Seeing songs change and lyrics change… it was really beautiful to be able to dig into that,” Berg says. The film features intimate interviews with Buckley’s mother, Mary Guibert, former partners Rebecca Moore and Joan Wasser, bandmates Michael Tighe and Parker Kindred, and luminaries like Ben Harper and Aimee Mann. These voices paint a vivid portrait of a man whose humor, sensitivity, and brilliance left a lasting impression. “Everyone talked about how funny he was with his impressions and how he would just make people laugh all the time,” Berg notes, though much of that levity was trimmed to focus on the film’s emotional core.
The documentary’s production was a labor of love—and persistence. Berg spent a decade earning the trust of Buckley’s mother, Mary, who “loves Tim [Buckley, Jeff’s father] so much” and wanted her son’s story told with care. “She’s been through so much, and she was very honest and open with me,” Berg says. Conversations with Buckley’s former partners were equally heavy. “Being with Jeff and seeing him go so soon really stuck with both of his partners,” she explains, emphasizing the trust-building required to capture their candid reflections.
Berg’s own path to storytelling began with overcoming personal shyness. “I didn’t trust my own voice until, to be honest, I had a son pretty young, and being a mother encouraged me to push myself a little bit further,” she shares. By 2000, she found her courage, a journey that informs her advice to aspiring filmmakers: “Follow the lead of what the subject tells you and what the material gives you… Use your heart instead of your head.” This approach guided It’s Never Over, which she considers her “Hail Mary moment.” “I’ve been trying to do this since 2008, 2009… I should have walked away many times because it just seemed like it was never going to happen. But I’m here, and persistence pays.”
The film’s emotional resonance is amplified by a special 24-minute concert sequence, featuring remastered footage, screened in theaters after the documentary. “People can just get an experience of him all the way through,” Berg says. Her hope? That viewers leave inspired to create. “I would like people to go and make art… That’s what Jeff would want. Go write a letter to somebody, do a painting, start a film, take pictures, whatever makes you happy, go do it. Don’t let laziness or insecurity get in the way.”
For Berg, the project’s challenges—exhaustion, doubt, and years of effort—were tempered by a simple remedy: “Sleep. That’s the key to everything.” As she looks ahead to her next documentary on Chris Cornell, Berg’s passion for illuminating complex, influential figures remains undimmed. It’s Never Over: Jeff Buckley is a testament to her skill and Buckley’s enduring spirit, ensuring his music and memory continue to inspire. The film is out now, with additional content slated for release on platforms like TikTok. For more, visit the film’s official site or follow Amy Berg’s updates on social media.
