The documentary Kim Novak’s Vertigo takes a deeply personal look at actress Kim Novak (Vertigo, Picnic, Bell Book and Candle), who remains one of Hollywood’s most enduring enigmas – a luminous star who, at the peak of her fame, turned her back on the spotlight to embrace a life of solitude and self-expression as an artist in Oregon. Once the top box office draw in the world, Novak defied the expectations of the studio system and the confines of celebrity, choosing individuality over image, and art over artifice.

The film paints a lyrical and intimate portrait of a woman who refused to be remade by the industry that sought to define her. Using a mix of rare archival footage with the Hollywood star’s own personal reflections, along with glimpses into her reclusive life along Oregon’s wild Rogue River, Kim Novak’s Vertigo traces her extraordinary path, from mid-century icon to fiercely private visual artist.

Entertainment documentarian Alexandre O. Philippe has a fascinating sit-down with the 92-year-old film icon as she holds forth on her choices in both her career and life, as well as her signature performance as the mystery woman in the 1958 Alfred Hitchcock thriller Vertigo.

Kim Novak’s Vertigo premiered during the 82nd Venice International Film Festival, during which Novak made a rare public appearance, her first since attending the Toronto International Film Festival 10 years prior. On September 1, 2025, Novak received the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement. The documentary premiered on the same day.

Distributor Kino Lorber secured North American rights to Kim Novak’s Vertigo and premiered it on their own Kino Film Collection August 5, 2026, also making it available to stream through Apple TV+, Fandango at Home, Amazon Prime Video and Google Play. Kino Lorber releases a DVD edition of the film on October 13, 2026, featuring the movie trailer as bonus material.

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