Shawn Mendes: For Friends and Family Only (A Live Concert Film) is a concert film starring Canadian singer-songwriter Shawn Mendes. It was released globally in select theaters on November 14, 2024. The film depicts Mendes as he performs all songs from his fifth studio album, Shawn (2024) on an intimate concert tour, "For Friends and Family Only".
Synopsis
Shawn Mendes performs the new album "from top to bottom" as part of an intimate concert tour, "For Friends and Family Only".
Background and production
"Performing this album for the first time in such an intimate setting, surrounded by close friends, family, and the people who helped bring it to life, was truly special. I’m excited for fans around the world to feel that same connection through the film and get to experience the Friends & Family shows before the album release."
– Shawn Mendes, reflecting on the concert's unique nature.[2]
To promote his fifth studio album Shawn (2024), Mendes embarked on an intimate concert tour of theatre shows throughout the places where he recorded the album.[3] Billed as "for friends and family only", its selected venues hold between 2,000 and 3,000 attendees.[4] The concerts started at the Bearsville Theater in Woodstock, New York[5] on August 8, 2024, coinciding with Mendes' birthday and the release of the first singles from the album, "Why Why Why" and "Isn't That Enough" and will conclude in Seattle on October 24, 2024.[6] The show's set list contains the songs off Shawn "from top to bottom".[7]
The singer commented that it was his first time performing for a large crowd in two years, as well as the first time playing the album live.[8] He expressed his desire to release the concert film for fans worldwide to be able to experience the concerts.[9]
Mendes announced that he would postpone the release of his fifth album, Shawn, from October 18 to November 15, 2024.[10] On October 10, 2024, the singer announced the release of the accompanying concert film for the album.[11] It was filmed at the Bearsville Theatre in Woodstock, New York, with capacity for 500 seats and, along with the performances, it features footage of the singer explaining the inspiration behind every song on the album.[12]
Release
The concert film was released on November 14, 2024, the night before the release of the album, Shawn.[13] It was released for one night only, in select theatrs worldwide.[14] On October 24, the singer released the trailer for the film.[15] The teaser depicts a car rolling into a drive-in movie theater, while the concert film is played on the big screen amongst some trees, with Mendes expressing that he wants the concert to "feel like light [...] effortless and fun and free".[16]
Tickets for the worldwide screenings of the film were made available through the film's official website.[17] On November 17, 2024, after its one-night-only theater release, the movie was subsequently made available for digital renting on the website Veeps.[18]
