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Description: This documentary follows heavy metal pioneers Judas Priest and their half-century journey from working-class origins in England’s industrial “Black Country” to their recent induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. The film dives deep into vocalist Rob Halford’s long struggle as a closeted gay man in heavy metal, and explores the “culture war” surrounding the band’s controversial, high-profile trial during the Satanic panic of the 1980s. Featuring exclusive band interviews, appearances by Jack Black, Ozzy Osbourne, Metallica, Run-DMC, Billy Corgan and other celebrity musicians, as well as an abundance of previously unpublished personal archive, the film captures how Judas Priest defined the sound and look of metal, and also made it more inclusive. Sexuality, censorship, community – The Ballad of Judas Priest speaks directly to our current moment. [Berlin]