Award Winning Independent Doc Film Ballad for Syria
A film by Eda Elif Tibet and Maisa Alhafez, a ballad, narrates poetic stories in short stanzas, hence this self-reflective musical documentary mirrors’ the life of Maisa Alhafez a musician and a Syrian refugee living in Istanbul. The film is about her longing to her loved ones as she tries to make a place for her self in the world of the displaced. Her family still in Syria, Maisa's true love (fiance) is in the Netherlands. As of the current EU-Turkey border regime, to unite is very challenging. Not giving up, Maisa works hard for her vision to transform the borders; by building a multicultural community “The oriental Istanbul Mosaic Choir”. A diverse family that sings together, in which she believes through music and love one can heal the wounds of her people and children.
www.balladforsyria.com
Filmin Türkçe Özeti:
Bu öz-sorgulayıcı müzikal belgesel, Suriyeli müzisyen Maisa Alhafez’in İstanbul’daki hayatına ayna tutmaktadır. Ailesi halen Suriye`de olan Maisa, her seye ragmen Istanbul`da kendine yeni bir hayat kurmaya calisir. Aidiet, kayip, varlik ve yoklugu sorgulayan Maisa`nin hayatinin aşki (nişanlısı) ise Hollanda’ya goc etmistir. Katılaşan Avrupa ve Türkiye sınır politikalarindan ötürü biraraya gelmeleri guclessede Maisa, sinirlari donusturme hayalinden vazgeçmez . Kurdugu cok sesli Istanbul Mozaik Oriental Korosu ile birlikte halkının ve çocuklarının yaralarıni sifa bulmaya calisirlar.
Festivals & Awards:
- Award of Recognition, by Hollywood Independent Documentary Film Festival, May 2017, California (USA).
- Outstanding Achievement Award for Free Speech, by Calcutta International Cult Film Festival, India, May 2017.
-official selection at DOCUMENTARIST , Istanbul-Turkey, June 2017
-official selection at DOCfeed, Eindhoven ,The Netherlands February 2017
-Official Selection at Impact DOCS Awards May 2017, Italy
-Roma Cinema Doc, Italy, June 2017
-official selection, Largo Film Festival 2017
- XXVI International Festival of Ethnological Film, Belgrade, Serbia. October 10-14 th, 2017.