Nitin Sawhney: Conversation with the Composer

All Doha Tribecca Film Festival 2010 Events

Nitin Sawhney: Conversation with the Composer

Event Description

Music is an integral part of film, adding an amazing aural component that is just as awe-inspiring and essential to the overall experience as the visuals. In this Masterclass, British-Indian musician-composer Nitin Sawhney - who has delivered his work across multiple platforms including film, dance, theatre, videogames and more - will guide the audience through his creative process, followed by a lively Q&A session. In addition, Nitin will perform live demonstrations of how he develops his compositions, accompanied by tabla artist and frequent collaborator Aref Durvesh. This event is open to the public and Arabic interpretation headsets will be available. Tickets can be purchased at any box office location.

Justin Kramer
Moderator
Educator, Doha Film Institute

Kramer was born in New Jersey, found his passion for filmmaking in Philadelphia and eventually ended up in Brooklyn, NY before moving to Doha. With a love of music and connections to bands and venues in Philadelphia, he quickly became the unofficial videographer of the punk and hardcore rock ‘n roll scene there. In New York, he worked on programs including “The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame,” “VH1 Hip-Hop Honors,” and “Fashion Rocks,” as well as on music festivals such as Bonnaroo. While as a freelance videographer, he shot videos that appeared on MTV, VH1, and BET. Kramer continues to direct music videos, as well as produce live music films for bands, most recently working with Portugal the Man and The Avett Brothers.
Jackie Salloum
Moderator
Director/ Producer

Salloum is a New York-based artist and filmmaker. Drawing on her Palestinian and Syrian roots, her pop-infused work challenges stereotypes of Arabs in the media. She has directed several shorts exploring this issue, including “Planet of the Arabs,” which screened at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival. After receiving her Masters of Fine Arts degree from New York University, she began directing her first feature length documentary, “Slingshot Hip Hop,” which took five years to make and premiered at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival. Her work is also the basis of a youth education program on Palestine, and she speaks at international universities and conferences.
Aref Durvesh

Artist, A THROW OF DICE

British Asian tabla player Durvesh trained as an Indian classical musician from an early age under the supervision of his father, a renowned Shehnai player in the UK. He has performed worldwide and collaborated with artists such as Sting, Jeff Beck, and Akram Khan to name a few. On his own projects, Durvesh has fused melodic funky tabla beats with Indian classical, jungle, breakbeats, garage, hip-hop and jazz.
Nitin Sawhney

Composer/Producer/Artist, A THROW OF DICE

Sawhney scores music extensively for film, television, theatre, videogames, albums, and dance. He has scored over 40 films for cinema and television, earning an Ivor Novello nomination for best score. His film work includes Mira Nair’s “The Namesake,” as well as “A Throw of Dice” and “Yogoto No Yume,” both accompanied by live performances with the London Symphony Orchestra. Sawhney recently scored the BBC’s forthcoming series “The Human Planet,” and next year he also plans to score a film based on Salman Rushdie’s “Midnight’s Children,” along with Hitchcock’s silent movie, “The Lodger.” As the recipient of four honorary doctorates from separate universities and fellowships from LIPA and Southbank University, he also acts as a patron to many educational establishments. In addition, he is now a judge for The Ivor Novello Awards, BAFTA, BIFA and sits on the board of trustees for London’s Whitechapel Gallery and Somerset House. Sawhney has made eight studio albums, one of which was nominated for a Mercury Music prize. He’s won a MOBO, two BBC Radio 3 awards and a Southbank show award. He is currently working on a new album for Spring, 2011.