Within the framework of the Tribeca Film Festival — one of New York’s most prestigious film festivals, founded by Robert De Niro — singer Katy Perry presented her new concert film Katy Perry: The Lifetimes Tour – Live from Paris. Journalist and communicator Olga Samofalova attended the premiere and spoke with Katy Perry exclusively for vogue.ua
The film is a cinematic version of the record-breaking world tour, The Lifetimes Tour. The movie was filmed during two Parisian shows in November 2025, in front of an audience of nearly 40,000. According to director Paul Dugdale, it’s not just a concert recording, but a complete immersion into the artist’s world: 60 cameras move above, around, behind the scenes, and throughout the arena, allowing the viewer to virtually step inside the show.
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The premiere took place in one of New York’s renowned cinemas in the financial district, overlooking the Hudson River — this is where the most high-profile screenings of the Tribeca Film Festival are held annually. Incidentally, this year marks the festival’s 25th anniversary since its inception. Even before the screening began, fans gathered by the entrance, chanting the singer’s name incessantly. Inside, the atmosphere felt more like a fashion show than a film premiere: berets, sequins, rhinestones, and dozens of outfits inspired by different stages of Katy Perry’s career created a sense of grand celebration for her devoted KatyCats.
On the red carpet, the singer appeared in a white Lanvin dress. Beside her was Justin Trudeau, for whom this outing marked his first public appearance with Perry. The former Prime Minister of Canada opted for a classic black suit with a white shirt.
For me, someone who isn’t part of the KatyCats army and only has a few songs on my playlist, this evening was an attempt to understand the artist’s phenomenon and her most dedicated fan base.
The answer came at the beginning of the screening.
When “Chained to the Rhythm” played, the entire audience rose to their feet. Hundreds of people sang along, and Perry immediately joined them. At that moment, it became clear: this wasn’t just a concert or a film screening — it was a living community where the audience weren’t observers, but participants in the event.
However, one of the most striking moments of the evening happened unexpectedly. During the song “Crush,” the projector suddenly stopped, and the audience groaned in disappointment. Perry didn’t let this pause disrupt the show — she instantly seized the moment, stood up, and began singing live, immediately engaging the audience. In a matter of seconds, the space between the stage and the viewers vanished: she moved among the rows, the public sang along with her, and her ballet dancers spontaneously picked up the energy, turning the technical glitch into a live performance. When the screening resumed, Perry simply smiled and quipped, “What the f***?”.
The film showcases not only the scale of the show but also Perry’s deep involvement in the creative process. As director Paul Dugdale noted, she participated in everything — from the concept to the final edit.
In an exclusive comment to Vogue, Perry spoke about the most challenging period of the tour: “Fortunately, we filmed the movie when I was already ready — closer to the end of the tour. The filming process itself wasn’t difficult. It took me time to feel the confidence needed for this project. Life happens both on and off stage, so the question always arises: what do you bring to the stage? What emotions from your life can you turn into the energy of the show? I take my emotions — good, bad, or anything in between — and transform them into fuel.”
After the screening, the singer shared that all great concepts begin with simple drafts. “For example, I drew the stage design for the tour on a cocktail napkin in Brazil — and from that grew a huge show.”
When asked what motivates her today, the singer mentioned that she is deeply in love, calling Justin Trudeau “the love of her life”: “I’ve always been drawn to the cosmos, but now I have an anchor that makes me whole. The butterfly that accompanied me all this time was a symbol of transformation — and it continues to this day.”
She also emphasized that this tour was the most successful in her life, not in terms of statistics, but due to the deep emotional experience that accompanied each show.
And even for those who only know Katy Perry from scandalous headlines, after this film, another thing becomes clear: she is an artist of great magnitude, discipline, and inner strength. This film is worth watching not only for the music or the spectacular production but also for the love of life, creative energy, and the motivation not to give up, which is felt in every frame.
The film will be released worldwide at the end of this summer.