IDFA on Stage: Intensely Soulful: Docu-Concert (NTR Avond van de Wolf)
A lyrical fusion of excerpts from Frank Scheffer’s upcoming documentary on Syrian clarinettist/composer Kinan Azmeh and live performances by Azmeh and mezzosoprano Dima Orsho, reshaping the narrative of contemporary Syria.
Festival IDFA
Location Rabozaal
Run time 100 minutes
Genre Film, theatre
World premiere
Intensely Soulful
Music and the artists that create it are recurring themes in the work of filmmaker Frank Scheffer. He has created a unique 90-minute docu-concert for IDFA on Stage, in which excerpts from his latest feature-length documentary (working title: Intensely Soulful) are weaved together with live music by the musicians featured in the film. Clarinetist and composer Kinan Azmeh and mezzosoprano and composer Dima Orsho were both born in the ancient city of Damascus, Syria and have been making music together since childhood. The eruption of war in Syria made it impossible for Azmeh to return, sparking his introspective journey into the power of art during times of conflict.
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The film fragments, interspersed with live solo performances by Azmeh and Orsho, form an emotional and artistic tribute illustrating the artists’ dedication to telling their own stories and reshaping the narrative of contemporary Syria. The captivating portrayal serves as an ode to cherished memories and enduring love despite the wounds inflicted by wars and conflicts.
About IDFA
IDFA strives to strengthen the international documentary climate by focusing more than ever on documentary film as an art form. This focus includes documentary films with an original visual language or structure, films that show lesser-known cultures or are filmed from a non-Western perspective, and interactive or immersive documentaries that innovate the field.