Carol Connors documentary wins top prize at ARPA International Film Festival

Carol Connors’ documentary Elvis, Rocky and Me: The Carol Connors Story won Best Feature Documentary at the ARPA International Film Festival on Sept. 27, 2026, at TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. Connors also received the festival’s Lifetime Achievement Award as the film continues its awards run ahead of a wider global release.

Why it matters: - The win adds momentum to a documentary about Carol Connors, whose career spans hit records, Oscar-nominated songs and work tied to major Hollywood franchises. - The festival recognition could help broaden audience interest ahead of the film’s planned global release.

What happened: - Carol Connors received the Lifetime Achievement Award on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, at the ARPA International Film Festival in Hollywood. - Elvis, Rocky and Me: The Carol Connors Story won Best Feature Documentary at the same event. - The festival took place at TCL Chinese Theatre in the Multiplex. - The film’s website is more information.

The details: - The event honored Connors for a career that includes two Oscar nominations and a Grammy nomination for the audiobook Elvis, Rocky and Me: The Carol Connors Story. - Connors is known for co-writing the Rocky theme song "Gonna Fly Now." - Connors also co-wrote "With You I'm Born Again," recorded by Billy Preston and Syreeta. - Connors’ hit "Little Cobra" reached No. 2 on the Billboard charts and helped drive sales of the Cobra muscle car. - Connors wrote songs for Disney’s Oscar-nominated animated film The Rescuers and contributed most of its lyrics and music. - The documentary’s subject matter includes Connors’ early success, her Hollywood songwriting career and relationships with figures including Elvis Presley and Phil Spector. - The film was produced by Dahlia Heyman and Chip Rosenbloom and directed by Alex Rotaru. - Carol Connors said she hopes the film continues its awards run and is excited for a global release. - Connors said Heyman, Rosenbloom and Rotaru did a masterful job telling her life story. - The event included appearances by Barbi Benton, Diane Warren, David Longoria, Maria Conchita Alonso, Suzan Hughes, Kiki Seto, Kate Linder and Florence LaRue.

Between the lines: - The award suggests the documentary is being positioned less as a niche music biography and more as a legacy project about a woman whose work shaped multiple corners of American pop culture. - The film’s references to awards, chart success and Hollywood connections point to a built-in audience beyond Connors’ core fans.

What's next: - The film is expected to continue its festival run and move toward broader release. - Connors’ team is signaling a global rollout for audiences to watch the documentary. - The audiobook nomination adds another layer of visibility around the project and Connors’ catalog.

The bottom line: - Elvis, Rocky and Me: The Carol Connors Story is emerging as a multi-award-winning tribute to a songwriter whose fingerprints are on some of the best-known songs in film and pop music.