Sikhs Across the World II
10:15 AM – 12:15 PM
One of the most widely-travelled minority groups in the world, Sikhs have made their home in over 100 countries. They all share one thing in common: a struggle to assimilate into new cultures while still retaining meaningful degrees of Sikhi in their new lives and the lives of their children. A fascinating look at various Sikhs whose stories will inspire you. Three of the four films in this session are about music. “The Journey Within” is the longest “short” this week-end.
The Journey Within
The ‘Coke Studio’ Origin Story – In a post 9/11 Pakistan faced with challenges of war and conflict, a quest for self-identity leads the inspirational journey of a music show to help reclaim the rich and vast musical heritage of this region. In doing so it has become one of the biggest music initiatives from that side of the world, bringing together unique cultural experiences and genres, including but not limited to folk, sufi, rock, pop and rap music. The film explores this important period in music by discovering the show from its humble beginnings, living through its spirit to reach the heart of the experience, as artists unify eastern and western sounds to make music that will resonate across the globe.
Culture Strong
“Culture Strong” is a documentary about L-FRESH The LION (born Sukhdeep Singh Bhogal), an Australian hip hop artist. His music covers a range of issues with a social justice focus, which includes racism and prejudice. The acronym F.R.E.S.H. is for Forever Rising Exceeding Sudden Hardships, while the L and Lion refer to his middle name, Singh.
Nectar of Devotion
Guru Ganesha Singh illustrates his musical transition from an acid rock band with a party lifestyle to a kirtan rock band with an elevated lifestyle. Though the change was hard, he’s happier now than he’s ever been, and feels a sense of purpose serving the planet with uplifting music.
MAA
MAA is a movie about the love that a person holds for his or her mother. There are many fortunate people who still have a mother but fail to acknowledge her. At the same time there are those who don’t have a mother but can still feel her everywhere they look.