The rock band System of a Down and singer Serj Tankian are the subjects of a new documentary called “Truth to Power” that Live Nation Productions is debuting at the Cannes virtual marketplace, Live Nation announced Tuesday.
The film follows the rock band and specifically Tankian’s social justice activism work, including his role in inspiring the peaceful protests as part of the 2018 Velvet Revolution in Tankian’s native Armenia.
“Truth to Power” also includes appearances by System Of a Down band members John Dolmayan and Shavo Odadjian, the band’s manager David “Beno” Benveniste, filmmaker/journalist Carla Garapedian, Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello, and famed record producer Rick Rubin.
Also Read: 'I Am Not Alone' Trailer: Armenia's 'Velvet Revolution' Starts With a Step in New Documentary (Exclusive Video)
You can check out a teaser trailer for the film above, which shows Tankian on stage saying, “It’s...
The film follows the rock band and specifically Tankian’s social justice activism work, including his role in inspiring the peaceful protests as part of the 2018 Velvet Revolution in Tankian’s native Armenia.
“Truth to Power” also includes appearances by System Of a Down band members John Dolmayan and Shavo Odadjian, the band’s manager David “Beno” Benveniste, filmmaker/journalist Carla Garapedian, Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello, and famed record producer Rick Rubin.
Also Read: 'I Am Not Alone' Trailer: Armenia's 'Velvet Revolution' Starts With a Step in New Documentary (Exclusive Video)
You can check out a teaser trailer for the film above, which shows Tankian on stage saying, “It’s...
- 6/23/2020
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
Maya Entertainment
NEW YORK -- "Screamers" documents the attempts of Armenian-American rock band System of a Down to bring the genocide committed by Turks on Armenians in 1915 to public awareness. Directed by Carla Garapedian ("Lifting the Veil"), it is a committed piece of agit-prop, which benefits from the passion of its protagonists. Followers of the band will need no introduction to the subject matter, which is referenced in their musical repertoire. The film also should play well with those interested in liberal causes.
The Armenian genocide was in the news recently, when France caused a diplomatic ruckus with Turkey by enshrining the event into law: It now is illegal in France to say it didn't happen. Although the Turks always have claimed otherwise, it is accepted by the U.S. and the rest of the world that Turkey murdered as many as 1.5 million Armenians during a forced racial deportation. The band -- whose ancestors were killed -- lobby the U.S. government to formally recognize the event as a genocide.
The format of the docu follows the band on a U.S. tour. In between gigs they try to mobilize public opinion and meet with politicians. There are some musical performances that play out as laments for a lost homeland and the victims. The political highlight is when singer Serj Tankian politely collars then-House Speaker Dennis Hastert, who is responsible for blocking the passage of a resolution recognizing the killings as genocide. When Hastert discovers the band is more than just a bunch of long-haired noisemakers, he makes a speedy exit.
"Screamers" says that while the U.S. government accepts that the massacres happened, it is afraid to use the word "genocide." Politicians of all stripes are generally terrified of using the "g word," especially for current examples like Darfur. If they do, the public will expect them to do something. Garapedian's film argues that unless genocide is labeled as such, repressive governments will feel that they can avoid international condemnation for such acts, thus increasing the chances of more genocide.
NEW YORK -- "Screamers" documents the attempts of Armenian-American rock band System of a Down to bring the genocide committed by Turks on Armenians in 1915 to public awareness. Directed by Carla Garapedian ("Lifting the Veil"), it is a committed piece of agit-prop, which benefits from the passion of its protagonists. Followers of the band will need no introduction to the subject matter, which is referenced in their musical repertoire. The film also should play well with those interested in liberal causes.
The Armenian genocide was in the news recently, when France caused a diplomatic ruckus with Turkey by enshrining the event into law: It now is illegal in France to say it didn't happen. Although the Turks always have claimed otherwise, it is accepted by the U.S. and the rest of the world that Turkey murdered as many as 1.5 million Armenians during a forced racial deportation. The band -- whose ancestors were killed -- lobby the U.S. government to formally recognize the event as a genocide.
The format of the docu follows the band on a U.S. tour. In between gigs they try to mobilize public opinion and meet with politicians. There are some musical performances that play out as laments for a lost homeland and the victims. The political highlight is when singer Serj Tankian politely collars then-House Speaker Dennis Hastert, who is responsible for blocking the passage of a resolution recognizing the killings as genocide. When Hastert discovers the band is more than just a bunch of long-haired noisemakers, he makes a speedy exit.
"Screamers" says that while the U.S. government accepts that the massacres happened, it is afraid to use the word "genocide." Politicians of all stripes are generally terrified of using the "g word," especially for current examples like Darfur. If they do, the public will expect them to do something. Garapedian's film argues that unless genocide is labeled as such, repressive governments will feel that they can avoid international condemnation for such acts, thus increasing the chances of more genocide.
- 12/13/2006
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
As the 11-day film festival drew to a close, the AFI Fest 2006 juries awarded prizes Sunday to a wide range of international contenders. Taking home the international feature competition's narrative grand jury prize was rookie filmmaker Jasmila Zbanic's Grbavica: The Land of My Dreams, Bosnia and Herzegovina's official entry for the 2006 best foreign language Oscar, starring Mirjana Karanovic (When Father Was Away on Business) as a mother dealing with the Third Balkan War. Strand Releasing is distributing the film in the U.S.
The international documentary grand jury prize went to Mark Verkerk's Dutch-French co-production Buddha's Lost Children, about a Thai Buddhist monk who fights for orphans. Verkerk also received a $10,000 grant from Aquafina.
Winning feature audience awards in a tie were Carla Garapedian's rock activist docu Screamers and Lucy Walker's Tibetan climbing docu Blindsight, plus Swiss filmmaker Fredi M.
The international documentary grand jury prize went to Mark Verkerk's Dutch-French co-production Buddha's Lost Children, about a Thai Buddhist monk who fights for orphans. Verkerk also received a $10,000 grant from Aquafina.
Winning feature audience awards in a tie were Carla Garapedian's rock activist docu Screamers and Lucy Walker's Tibetan climbing docu Blindsight, plus Swiss filmmaker Fredi M.
- 11/13/2006
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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