In 1971, Roman Polanski spent a weekend with world champion driver Jackie Stewart as he attempted to win the Monaco Grand Prix. Polanski was given intimate access to Stewart's world for three days, both on the track and off. Weekend of a Champion gives a glimpse into the life of a gifted athlete at the height of his powers. The film premiered at the 1972 Berlin Film Festival and was largely unscreened for 40 years. The archive in possession of the negative contacted Polanski, inquiring as to whether they should keep the film or throw it away. Polanski chose to restore the film from the original print, remixing and slightly recutting it. An approximately 15-minute epilogue was added, showing Polanski and Stewart reminiscing in present-day Monaco.