On the brink of becoming an acclaimed filmmaker, 35 year-old Howard Brookner died of AIDS-related illnesses in 1989. His work captured a vibrant art and gay scene in downtown New York, including his cult classic but since lost documentary of William S. Burroughs. 25 years later, his nephew, Aaron, sets out to find the film. Discovering not only the missing negative but a treasure trove of archives featuring Andy Warhol, Laurie Anderson, and Madonna, Aaron connects with Howard’s friends (like Jim Jarmusch) to give a complex picture of his beloved uncle. An elegy to a life lived fiercely, Uncle Howard is a powerful and loving portrait of an artist who left this world far too soon.