In 2002, a documentary film Keeping Time: The Life, Music & Photographs of Milt Hinton was released. It was co-produced by David G. Berger and Holly Maxson and co-directed by them and Kate Hirson.

The film is narrated by Jeffrey Wright and features archival footage and extensive interviews with Milt as well as musicians, cultural critics, and concert producers, including Amiri Baraka, Ron Carter, Nat Hentoff, Gregory Hines, Quincy Jones, Christian McBride, Branford Marsalis, and George Wein. One hundred and eighty of Milt’s photographs were used in the film, and Milt performed on most of its music.

The documentary is a perceptive visual and oral history of the music business, race relations, opportunity, and achievement in the 20th Century America. It embraces the rich life of a remarkable musician who recognized and recorded history as he lived it. The film captures Milt Hinton’s extraordinary spirit and his solemn commitment to share what he learned and experienced with future generations.

Keeping Time had its international debut at the London Film Festival and premiered in the U.S. at the Tribeca Film Festival where it won the Audience Choice Award. It was broadcast on Independent Lens (PBS) and has been shown at film festivals in New Zealand and across the United States.

The film is not available commercially, but it can be screened for student audiences with a Q & A after the showing.