On the Banks of the Tigris: the hidden story of Iraqi music 

(2015, 79 minutes, producer/director: Marsha Emerman, winner Best Documentary, Baghdad International Film Festival)

This musical odyssey tells the story of Majid Shokor, an Iraqi-Australian who seeks the source of songs he loves and discovers a hidden history.  To find out more, Majid makes a bold journey around the world to meet Iraqi musicians - Jewish, Muslim and Christian - and unite them in a concert for peace and reconciliation. Featuring: oud master Ahmed Mukhtar, Iraqi-Israeli star Yair Dalal, and the great Iraqi maqam singer Farida and her ensemble.

Co-writers: Majid Shokor & Marsha Emerman; Editor: Lucy Papkinska; Production Manager: Merran Williams; Cinematographers: Sander Snoep, Philippe Bellaiche, Peter Zakharov; Script Editor & Sound Recordist: Bob Phelps

                                                              CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE THIS AWARD-WINNING FILM


Back to Top

Trailer

To view this 2 minute trailer click the play button.


Back to Top

Screenings & Awards

Awards

 

Festivals

Montreal World Film Fesitval - Canada - World premiere

Baghdad International Film Festival, Iraq

Global Peace Film Festival - Orlando, FloridaUSA premiere

Arab Film Festival,  San Francisco & Los Angeles, USA 

Jewish International Film Festival, Melbourne & Sydney, Australia

Boston Jewish Film Festival, USA

Ahbab Festival, Cambridge, UK

Washington Jewish Film Festival, USA

Re-Orient, Stockholm, Sweden

New York Sephardic Film Festival, USA

St. Petersburg Arab Film Festival, Russia

Nepal Human Rights International Film Festival, Nepal

Krakow Festival of Jewish Culture, Poland

Los Angeles Sephardic Film Festival, USA

Cineblend Documentary Film Festival, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Shanasheel Iraqi Cultural Festival, Sydney, Australia

Rumman Festival, Glasgow, Scotland

Sonoma Jewish Film Festival, California, USA

Rutgers Jewish Film Festival, New Jersey, USA

Palm Beach Jewish Film Festival, Florida, USA

Maine Jewish Film Festival, Portland Museum of Art, USA

Firenze Archeofilm, Florence, Italy

The Archeology Channel Film Festival, Eugene, Oregon, USA 

Adelaide International Women’s Film Festival, Australia

Barcelona Jewish Film Festival, Filmoteca de Catalonia, Spain

Arkhaios Cultural Heritage and Archeology Film Festival, South Carolina, USA

International Folk Music Film Festival, Nepal

Kleztival Music Festival, Sao Paolo, Brazil
 
 

TV Broadcast

Link TV - national cable broadcast in USA


Cinema & other screenings

Lido Cinema, Melbourne - 3 week season
New Farm Cinemas, Brisbane
Cameo Cinema, Belgrave, Vic
Mornington Cinema, Vic - benefit for Refugee Council of Australia
Mercury Cinema, Adelaide - hosted by Graham Smith Peace Foundation
Mercury Cinema, Adelaide - hosted by Arabic Language & Culture Association SA
Theatre Royale Cinema, Castlemaine, Vic
Star Cinema, Eaglehawk, Vic - with Rural Australians for Refugees
Academy Cinema, Auckland, New Zealand
Clinton Street Theatre, Portland, OR, USA
Pickford Film Centre, Bellingham, WA, USA
Northwest Film Forum, Seattle, WA, USA
City Lights Cinema, Florence, OR, USA
Bijou Cinemas, Eugene, OR, USA
Magnes Museum, Berkeley, CA, USA
JW3 Community Centre, London, UK
Iraqi Association, London, UK
Karim Wasfi Center for Creativity & Peace Through Arts, Baghdad, Iraq
New Haven Public Library Mid-East Film Series, CT, USA
Temple Beth Israel, Eugene, OR, USA
Gemco Theatre, Emerald, Vic - benefit for Asylum Seeker Resource Centre
Initiatives of Change, Toorak, Vic
Sydney Jewish Museum
Longplay, Fitzroy North, Vic - benefit for Asylum Seeker Resource Centre
Bialik College - Council of Christians and Jews, Melbourne
Spertus Institute, Chicago, ILL, USA



Download study guide

http://theeducationshop.com.au/downloads/atom-study-guides/on-the-banks-of-the-tigris-the-hidden-story-of-iraqi-music-atom-study-guide/

 

Read archived news

 


Back to Top

Music clip


To view this music clip, click the play button.


Back to Top

Press

Reviews

Magnificent!  A rich array of personalities and music. - ABC Radio National

A much needed film that crosses boundaries, uncovers hidden story, and brings home universal truths
Arnold Zable, author 'Violin Lessons', 'The Fig Tree', 'Jewels and Ashes' and many others.

Riveting, moving, joyful and sad. Everything rang so deeply true – Anna Epstein, Curator and Editor

This re-examination of Iraqi-Jewish heritage unearths vital history – Deana Nassar, Artistic Director, Arab Film Festival

A nuanced and sympathetic view of the deep, intertwined roots of Muslim and Jewish people in Iraq – Kelly DeVine, Artistic Director, Global Peace Film Festival

Excellent! A fabulous story of cultural resilience and identity – Robyn Sloggett, Professor and Director, Centre for Cultural Materials Conservation, University of Melbourne

Articles & Interviews


Iraq Music Brought to Life, by Kevin Liepins, Weekend Notes, October, 2017

Interview on KLCC, Oregon National Public Radio, with Marsha Emerman, June 14, 2017

On the Banks of the Tigris to Deliver Hidden History, Daily Emerald, 18 November, 2016

Hidden Story of Iraq's Music Hits Big Screen in Bendigo, Bendigo Advertiser, 21 May 2016

Songs of Sadness, Songs of Love: Marsha Emerman's 'On the Banks of the Tigris', Metro Magazine Issue 188 (2016), by Brian Yatman

Interview on ABC Radio National - The Jewish Origins of Iraqi Music, with Marsha Emerman and Majid Shokor on 'The Drawing Room, 29 February 2016

Tracing Iraqi Music Roots Ranges Trader, 23 November 2015

Interview on ABC Radio National - Hidden Origins of Iraqi Music, on 'The Music Show', 8 November 2015

Forgotten Origins of Iraqi Music Celebrated in Award-Winning Doco
The Age, 30 October 2015, by Michael Dwyer

Documentary traces the forgotten history of Iraqi music
The Conversation, 30 October 2015, by Robyn Sloggett

The Hidden Story of Iraqi Music Review, Middle East Monitor, 2015, by Emanuelle Esposti

Iraqi Music and Peace Film Finished  AJDS News, December 2014

The Ballads of Baghdad  Australian Jewish News, 10 October 2008

Harmonies in Old Iraq   The Age, 22 September 2007


Back to Top

Photos

Click to Enlarge

Ahmed Mukhtar (visit website)

Click to Enlarge

Yair Dalal and Majid (visit website)

Click to Enlarge

Farida Mohammad Ali (visit website)

Click to Enlarge

Abraham Salman

Click to Enlarge

Alber Elias

Click to Enlarge

Elias Shasha

Click to Enlarge

Majid films in Baghdad

Click to Enlarge

Iraqi Chanting Group

Click to Enlarge

Iraqi musicians in rehearsal

Click to Enlarge

Majid interviews Afifa Iskander

Click to Enlarge

Looking out on the Tigris River

Click to Enlarge

On the Baghdad booksellers street


Back to Top

Read a full list of links


This film was developed with the assistance of Film Victoria and funded with the assistance of Creative Partnerships Australia, Documentary Australia Foundation and the San Francisco Film Society.   Thank you to: Australian Communities Foundation - Dennoch Fund,  Harold Mitchell Foundation, Shark Island Documentary Fund, Graham Smith Peace Foundation, Besen Family Foundation,  Finkel Foundation, Search Foundation, Annamila Foundation, Victorian Multicultural Commission, and many generous individual donors. 

PLEASE HELP THIS FILM TO BE SEEN IN AUSTRALIA & WORLDWIDE
CONTACT: marsha@fruitfulfilms.com.au


Back to Top

Sales

You can purchase your copy of On the Banks of the Tigris on our Sales page


Back to Top