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“Part comedy, part zany existential inquiry, the film follows Lough as he attempts to craft a meaningful film around his interview and interactions with the bot.” - The Hollywood Reporter

“Entertaining, insightful, and unexpectedly emotional.” - FandomWire

“There perhaps isn’t a more relevant and timely feature that should be seen at SXSW 2025, and Deepfaking Sam Altman will undoubtedly create plenty of buzz and conversations.” - Discussing Film

“A thought-provoking approach to the dilemmas of the new digital era.” - Fast Company 

“Deepfaking Sam Altman captures the world on a precipice.” - Film Obsessive

“A comfortable spot of non-cringe, honest self-reflection.” - ZINE

“A super-timely doc about artificial intelligence and the ethics thereof” - Stephen Silver

“Lough offers more insight into the status quo of artificial intelligence than a standard talking head documentary ever would, and also creates something much funnier, and even sometimes sadder, than one would expect.” - FandomWire

“Watching a skeptic get drawn into the universe of something they know is not real, and going through with this project, is one that you can’t look away from.” - Movie Madness Podcast

“Voyeuristically watching the journey of one’s reflective struggle is significantly more satisfying than their originally intended story” - ZINE

“The existential questions that Lough asks himself are timeless – how will AI affect my family in future generations?  What is the meaning of free will even in the concept of an entity that becomes more conscious of its own existence?  These are deep philosophical questions that are sure to surface as artificial intelligence continues to grow and progress.” - Shade Studios

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I'm Emmy nominated!

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We won the Critics Choice Award for Best True Crime!

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The original three-part documentary series TELEMARKETERS, exploring and exposing the American telemarketing industry, is the most-watched HBO documentary series (non-sports) in over two years, with 1.9 million average viewers per-episode.

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Tonight at 10pm!

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August 13th, 10pm on HBO. Know when to hang up.

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For the 15th anniversary of Lil Wayne's biggest selling album THA CARTER 3, which I documented the making of, I did a special interview with Eric Skelton at Complex.

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Criterion Channel has listed The Upsetter in their new “Music Films” playlist.

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The Upsetter has been out of print for years, but now it’s back in stores thanks to a collaboration with Factory25 and Vinegar Syndrome! Get your Blu-ray today before they sell out- we only made a very limited quantity! 

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Our new film MISSISSIPPI RIVER STYX premieres tonight at Big Sky! If you happen to live in Missoula, check it out!

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In memory of Edward R. Pressman, movie producer and patron of the arts

I was saddened to hear of the recent passing of Ed Pressman. Ed was a friend and a collaborator of mine for many years. I like to think of him as a patron of the arts because he supported a lot of young filmmakers like me as we were just coming into the industry, and he wanted nothing in return other than hard work and appreciation for the effort he put forth setting up pitches with execs and financiers and meetings with actors and actresses. During the most difficult spell of my career, when I needed it the most, he was there with support- both financially and otherwise. It’s not an exaggeration to say Ed kept me alive, kept my family fed, my bills paid and my mortgage paid with options on numerous scripts I had written on spec (Splatter Sisters, Cruisin’ for a Bruisin’) and with rewriting / ghost-writing jobs for big budget projects (Beijing Bullet- pictured above with director Rob Cohen at a meeting in Beverly Hills). 

I enjoyed spending time with Ed and hearing him tell stories about filmmakers I idolized - like Oliver Stone. Once before a meeting at a private club in Manhattan (jackets required) he told me how he discovered Arnold Schwarzenegger and gave him his first big break in Conan. He knew I loved hip hop and would tell me hilarious stories of smoking weed with DMX- apparently DMX said Ed was the only person he’d ever met who could smoke him under the table. And of course I picked Ed’s brain almost constantly about Terrance Malick and what it was like to work with a living legend. 

Ed Pressman was absolutely a one of a kind. No film producer has ever come before quite like him, nor will ever come after. He deserves to be celebrated. If there were more producers like Ed out there today, independent film in general would be better off. He was unselfish, generous with his time and money and an old fashioned fan of movies who was in it for all the right reasons. He will be missed. My condolences to his wife Annie and son Sam Pressman. With love - ABL.

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I’m joining the Criterion Collection!!!

Criterion Collection presents the streaming debut of The Upsetter: The Life & Music of Lee “Scratch” Perry. Out February 1.

Directed and produced by filmmakers Ethan Higbee and Adam Bhala Lough, Narrated by Academy-Award winner Benicio Del Toro

A captivating, unparalleled exploration charting 70 years in the life of the Godfather of Reggae, includes music and archival footage from throughout Perry’s career ft. Bob Marley and the Wailers, Paul McCartney, The Clash and Beastie Boys The Upsetter: The Life & Music of Lee “Scratch” Perry will join Criterion's February lineup under their new Roots & Revolution: Reggae on Film collection and will be featured alongside several other classic reggae films. 

_ “The Upsetter,” originally coined as the name of Lee "Scratch" Perry’s record label, house band and first album title, eventually became a nickname that would grow to be his moniker to this day. Filmmakers Ethan Higbee (Red Apples Falling, The Anti-Fascist, Basedworld) and Adam Bhala Lough (Alt-Right: Age of Rage, Bomb The System,The Carter) tell Perry’s story through an exclusive in-depth interview with the notoriously reclusive late artist. After infamously burning his renowned studio, The Black Ark, to the ground in a fit of rage during a time of personal difficulty in the early 1980s, Perry took refuge in Switzerland to confront his demons, many of which he addresses in The Upsetter.

The film also features musical tracks and iconic archival footage selected from throughout Perry’s extensive career. These video footage gems and extraordinary photographs taken from the vaults of music history span nearly five decades and feature Bob Marley and the Wailers, Paul McCartney, The Clash and Beastie Boys, all of whom Perry produced, and speak to the breadth of his influence as a producer, artist and icon.

The Upsetter is not only a fascinating character study of an artist who revolutionized music through the invention of dub, the predecessor to hip-hop, techno and modern electronic music, but a one-of-a-kind documentation of 30 years of Jamaican music and culture.

With a storied past and an indelible imprint not only on music history but the sound of music itself, Lee “Scratch” Perry - singer, songwriter, producer, poet, painter, genius and madman – has never been portrayed more accurately, thoughtfully or powerfully than he is in The Upsetter. For all of his enigmatic ways, this documentary might just be best described by this matter-of-fact statement from Lee “Scratch” Perry himself: "This is my movie and this is the truth." Lee “Scratch” Perry said, “Hallo to you my Peeples out there this is my movie of the Past AND the Present....Enjoy it God Bless it Lee $cratch Perry Vi$$ions."

Benicio del Toro explains “With the blessing of the legendary Lee Scratch Perry, Ethan Higbee and Adam Bhala Lough’s The Upsetter opens a window into the little-known story of one of the geniuses of Reggae music and, for that matter, of any kind of music. The Upsetter is a testament to the unique career of a true snow leopard. Yah, mon.”

Filmmaker Adam Bhala Lough says, "The Criterion Collection giving love to The Upsetter is fucking awesome. Props to them and Criterion curatorial director Ashley Clark."

Filmmaker/musician Ethan Higbee says, "It’s quite remarkable that the history of the film has taken a similar trajectory to Lee’s story. My house and studio in Ojai, California burned down in the 2017 Thomas Fire. Inside the studio were all the master tapes and elements to the film as well as over 30 Lee Perry art works. It’s a miracle we’ve been able to create a new master for this release with Criterion. Much like Lee’s studio burning down and his rebirth outside of Jamaica, the film too is now having a rebirth. We believe Lee’s magic is still at work!"

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MF DOOM NFT’s. MF DOOM is among the greatest artists of his time. This long-lost piece we made together in 2000 belongs in a proper gallery so I'm putting it on auction today. 50% of proceeds go to MF DOOM’s estate. 

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My conversation with The Ringer podcast on Spotify about MF DOOM. This was emotional to do, 48hrs after his death. Thank you Charles Holmes and Justin Sayles for putting this together.