"A FILM MIXED FROM POETRY, MUSIC, COLORS AND DREAMS HAS CREATED A NEW VISION OF THE SYRIAN TRAGEDY... MAKES YOU BELIEVE THAT NOTHING WILL GO IN VAIN."

Talal Derki

Academy Award Nominated director of OF FATHERS AND SONS

SYNOPSIS:

A Syrian rapper, tortured by Bashar Al-Assad for his lyrics, uses his music to survive one of our century's deadliest wars. Together with other creative personalities of the Syrian uprising, a Post-Rock musician, a breakdancer, and visual artists, they tell us their story of revolution and exile in a new documentary reflecting on a global battle for peace, justice and freedom of expression.

"ART HUMANIZES. AND THIS FILM HUMANIZES. 'THE STORY WON'T DIE' WILL MOVE AUDIENCES TO GREATER AWARENESS AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE SYRIA CRISIS. WE'VE ALL SEEN FOOTAGE OF BOMBED OUT BUILDINGS IN SYRIA AND STATISTICS, BUT IT'S THE INDIVIDUAL STORIES THAT WILL MAKE EVERYONE SEE THEMSELVES IN THE PEOPLE IN THIS FILM."

Shepard Fairey

Artist and Activist

WITH:

Medhat Aldaabal

Tammam Azzam

Diala Brisly

Abu Hajar
Bahila Hijazi
Omar Imam
Anas Magrhebi
Lynn Mayya
Mhd Sabboura (aka BBoy Shadow)

Directed by David Henry Gerson

Produced by Odessa Rae

Co-Produced by Abdalaziz Alhamza

Associate Produced by Martin Marquet

Executive Produced by Katherine Embiricos LeFrak

Co-Executive Produced by Omeed Malik, Marco Rotunno, Alexandra Schueler, Tauck Ritzau Innovative Philanthropy and Elaine Thomas

Cinematography by Luise Schröder

Editing by Christopher Robin Bell and David Henry Gerson

UPCOMING SCREENINGS:

June 26th, 2021 - USA Premiere, AFI Docs, Washington DC

Following the screening, watch a special Q&A with director David Henry Gerson, producer Odessa Rae and subjects Bahila Hijazi and Medhat Aldaabal moderated by President of the African American Film Critics Association Gil Robertson.

"In their homeland of Syria, artists are routinely tortured, kidnapped, imprisoned and killed. Living as refugees in Europe, the artists of THE STORY WON’T DIE find the opportunity to fully express themselves as they never could before. Through music, performance and visual arts, they share their stories, process their trauma and share the plight of Syria with the world. It is not easy, but the rappers, dancers, illustrators and graphic artists profiled in the film admirably navigate their daily realities in exile and find strength in each other, fueled with shared creative passions and hopes for a positive future of Syria. With their talents, they can speak truth to power, learn to heal, and find joy – something everyone deserves." –Eric Moore, AFI Docs Programmer

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PREVIOUS SCREENINGS:

April 29th - May 9th, 2021 - World Premiere, Hot Docs, Toronto

"Revolution in exile is an everyday practice for four artists after fleeing their homeland due to the Syrian uprising. Surviving the largest displacement of refugees in modern history creates a difficult path for those rebuilding their lives, but a rapper, dancer, visual artist and post-rock musician choose to express their experiences through their art. Residing in different parts of Europe, these artists reflect on life before and after the war. Rather than staying quiet or trying to forget, they remain uncensored as they use their creativity to resist the Syrian government from abroad. These are their lives and their story will never die." Samah Ali, Hot Docs Programmer