Mar312023

Film Screenings Symphony of Courage – Documentary screening and Q&A

12:30-1:30 pm

WCC 1015, HLS campus

A screening of Symphony of Courage, a documentary about the Afghanistan National Institute of Music (“ANIM”) and its brave founder, Dr. Ahmad Sarmast, followed by Q&A panel.

Event Overview

Challenging the Taliban’s ban on secular music, Dr. Sarmast joined forces with famed cellist Yo-Yo Ma to evacuate this music school, including the all-female orchestra Zohra, out of Afghanistan and to relocate them safely to Portugal. The documentary follows Farida and Zohra, the last two girls to be evacuated.

The screening will be followed by a Q&A Panel moderated by HLS Lecturer on Law Jamie Wacks, featuring: HLS Alum Lesley Rosenthal (Class of ’89), Corporate Secretary and Chief Operating Officer of the Juilliard School, and former general counsel of the Lincoln Center, who helped to lead this worldwide humanitarian effort, succesfully resettling 273 students, faculty, staff and families safely in Portugal; Beth Mendelson, Executive Producer and Director of Symphony of Courage, Voice of America, who helped to document this amazing story; and Jessica Lustig, Managing Director, 21C Media Group and Treasurer, Friends of ANIM. Felipes burritos will be served.

Co-Sponsored by the HLS Center on the Legal Profession, the Harvard Women’s Law Association, the Harvard Law FiLM Society, and the Harvard Program on Law & Society in the Muslim World.