Depeche Mode 'M' Documentary Makes Stirring World Premiere at Tribeca Film Festival
Dave Gaham and Martin Gore (Depeche Mode) with the documentary director Fernando Frias. Photography by Orchid Clay @theorchidclay.
Tribeca has long celebrated reinvention, and in Depeche Mode: M, we find a band not just reflecting on its past, but reshaping its present in the shadow of absence and the echo of music.
Mexican director Fernando Frías (I’m No Longer Here) returns with a visually arresting and emotionally layered film that goes far beyond the typical concert documentary. Depeche Mode: M captures the iconic band's sold-out 2023 performances in Mexico City, using them as a lens to explore one of Mexico’s deepest cultural fixations: death.
Narrated by acclaimed actor Daniel Giménez Cacho, the film traces a straight line through Mexico’s relationship with mortality—from the ancient Aztec deity Mictlantecuhtli to the traditions of Día de los Muertos, culminating in Depeche Mode’s latest album, Memento Mori. Latin for “remember you must die,” the album’s title becomes the heartbeat of the film, a poignant reminder of life’s impermanence and the beauty that lies in accepting it.
Dave-Gaham-and-Martin-Gorel, photography by Orchid Clay @theorchidclay.
The songs, written during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and shadowed by the sudden 2022 passing of co-founder Andy Fletcher, carry a raw, reflective energy. Frías captures that emotional weight not only through stunning concert footage but also in the faces of the fans, whose rapt attention and synchronized movement transform the shows into a shared act of mourning and celebration.
Jennifer Sklias-Gahan, Dave Gahan, Martin Gore, and Kerrilee kaski. Photography by Orchid Clay @theorchidclay.
What sets Depeche Mode: M apart is how it interweaves personal stories, cultural commentary, and artistic reflections from audience members, creatives, and thinkers alike. It’s a film that doesn’t just document a band—it captures a cultural moment. One where grief becomes communal, music becomes ritual, and the lines between audience and artist, tradition and modernity, blur in powerful ways.
This isn’t just a film for Depeche Mode fans—though they’ll undoubtedly be moved—it’s for anyone who’s ever found solace in music, and anyone who’s ever faced loss with open eyes and an open heart.
Martin Gore, photography by Orchid Clay @theorchidclay.
Depeche Mode: M is a beautifully realized tribute to the band, to Mexico, and to the shared human experience of remembering—and living.
Cast & Credits
Directed by Fernando Frias de la Parra
Director
Fernando Frias
Producer
Stacy Perskie Kaniss, Nina Soriano, Saul Levitz
Cinematographer
Damian Garcia
Editor
Yibran Asuad, Melisa San Vincente, Liora Spilk
Cast
Depeche Mode
Martin Gore and Kerrilee kaski. Photography by Orchid Clay @theorchidclay.
Depeche Mode: A Video Retrospective
Directed by D.A. Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus, this film documents the band's 101st concert at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, featuring both live performances and a narrative about contest winners traveling across America to attend the show.
Directed by Anton Corbijn, this video album captures performances from the 1993 Devotional Tour, showcasing the band's energy and the challenges they faced during that period.
Also directed by Anton Corbijn, this release features a concert from the 2001 Exciter Tour at the Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy, accompanied by documentaries and interviews.
Touring the Angel: Live in Milan (2006)
Directed by Blue Leach, this film documents the band's 2006 tour, including a full concert from Milan and additional content like interviews and documentaries.
Directed by Anton Corbijn, this release captures performances from the 2013 Delta Machine Tour at the O2 World in Berlin, along with behind-the-scenes footage and interviews.
Directed by Anton Corbijn, this film documents the final concert of the Global Spirit Tour at the Waldbühne in Berlin, interspersed with stories from fans around the world.
Tour of the Universe: Live in Barcelona (2009)
This release features performances from the 2009 Tour of the Universe at the Palau St Jordi in Barcelona, along with a tour documentary and bonus content.
Additional Notable Releases
The Videos 86>98+ (2002)
This double DVD set includes music videos for all singles released between 1986 and 1998, along with rare videos and interviews.
Video Singles Collection (2016)
A comprehensive collection of the band's music videos, spanning their entire career.
1995–98: "Oh, Well, That's the End of the Band..." (2007)
A short documentary documenting the band's challenges and resurgence during this period.
1999–2002: "Presenting the Intimate and Delicate Side of Depeche Mode" (2007)
A short documentary focusing on the band's work during the late 1990s and early 2000s.
