Film: On the Banks of the Tigris (Festival Opening Night)

Part of The Portland Jewish Music Festival!

Opening night of of the Portland Jewish Music Festival kicks off with our first week-end of music and culture of the Sephardic and Mizrachi diaspora. 

On the Banks of the Tigris is a musical odyssey that uncovers the hidden - and almost erased - story of Iraqi music. After escaping from Saddam's regime, Majid Shokor searches for the source of the songs he loved hearing in Baghdad's bustling streets and crowded coffeehouses. Australia is a safe haven, but the music of childhood lingers in Majid's mind. He begins to search and makes a startling discovery - that many of the best-known Iraqi songs were written by Iraqi Jews The Ba'ath Party purged Iraqi music of its origins, but Majid learns the truth, as he travels the world to meet exiled musicians who still sing and play these songs. The film’s message is that Jews, Muslims and Christians lived harmoniously in Baghdad and had a shared cultural heritage. This heritage is part of what defines Iraqi music. 

There will be a short talk back after the film with Michelle Alany and festival director Eric Stern.

$10-$15 Sliding Scale/ All Ages

More About the Film

(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

• BEST DOCUMENTARY - Baghdad International Film Festival

• AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD - Arab Film Festival, San Francisco & Los Angeles

• FINALIST, BEST DOCUMENTARY, Social & Political Issues - ATOM Awards, Australia

• BEST DIRECTOR (DOCUMENTARY), Nepal Human Rights International Film Festival

• MOST INSPIRATIONAL and AUDIENCE FAVORITE, The Archeology Film Festival, Eugene, Oregon

• BEST CULTURAL HERITAGE FILM, Arkhaios Film Festival, Columbia, South Carolina

• BEST LONG FILM, International Folk Music Film Festival, Nepal