North American Premiere
The act of artistic creation can feel inadequate when trying to convey the tragedy of war, but for clarinettist and composer Kinan Azmeh, music is a way to bear that grief and break down the boundaries of emotional and cultural expression. A witness to lives lost and displaced in his home country of Syria, Azmeh questions what role he can play as an artist and musician in a face of global conflicts and violence.
Frank Scheffer’s introspective documentary follows Azmeh on his travels to New York, Amsterdam, and Palestine, where the artist’s soulful music and collaborative performances enrapture audiences through outpourings of emotional urgency. Half Moon: Kinan Azmeh is a profound and celebratory meditation on art’s ability to inspire different cultures and reshape solidarity, community, and hope in the world, even in dark times.
Presented by
Media Partner
Community Partner
Kinan Azmeh, Dima Orsho, Basilius Arawad, Yo-Yo Ma, Eric Vloeimans
Netherlands
2025
In English and Arabic with English subtitles
Book Tickets
Saturday October 11
Indigenous & Community Access
Indigenous Access Tickets Community Access Tickets Ticket Donation Requests
Credits & Director
Producer
Niek Koppen, Jan de Ruiter, Jia Zhao
Screenwriter
Frank Scheffer, Lies Janssen
Cinematography
Benito Strangio, Talal Khoury, Melle van Essen, Roel van ‘t Hoff, Frank Scheffer
Editor
Ruben van der Hammen, Frank Scheffer
Frank Scheffer
Frank Scheffer has directed over 40 music documentaries and experimental films, for which he has received numerous awards and recognitions. Image and sound combine in Scheffer’s films to offer the audience a unique sensory experience, and his films have featured prominent postwar composers like Luciano Berio, Pierre Boulez, John Cage, Elliott Carter, Karlheinz Stockhausen, and Frank Zappa. A retrospective of Scheffer’s work was featured at the MoMA.
Filmography: Zoetrope People (1982); A Labyrinth of Time (2004); Gozaran – Time Passing (2011); Inner Landscape (2019); Gustav Mahler – Singer for the Earth (2022); Intensely Soulful (2023)
Portraits
See more films in this series
The Essence of Eva
Tragically dying years before she’d rise to global fame, Eva Cassidy was an uncompromising artist whose transcendent voice still resonates. With never-before-heard recordings and footage, this intimate portrait captures the person behind the legend.
The Painted Life of E.J. Hughes
A beautiful portrait of E.J. Hughes, who quietly helped reshape the artistic landscape of British Columbia in the 20th century. This extraordinary documentary explores Hughes’s legacy not only as an artist, but as a devoted, humble human being.
The Art of Adventure
The unbelievable adventure story of how painter Robert Bateman and ecologist Bristol Foster drove a Land Rover from Africa to Australia in 1957, developing a love of nature to last a lifetime. An inspirational love letter to the adventure of life itself.
John Candy: I Like Me
A Canadian icon who defined a generation of comedy, John Candy's presence still looms large in the hearts of fans decades after his tragic death. This documentary is a hilarious, heartwarming celebration of Candy’s generous spirit and singular talent.
particle dance
A poetic tribute to the artistic innovations of Japanese architect Kengo Kuma. particle dance captures the humility and beauty of Kuma’s balancing act between tradition and experimentation, as he seeks to reconnect humans with their natural environment.
Are We Good?
Affable curmudgeon Marc Maron jokes his way through grief, trying to make sense of the world and his comedy following the death of his partner. A cantankerously poignant, wryly funny cri de coeur from one of the most genuine comedians in the business.
Sun Ra: Do the Impossible
Whether he was a man, a musician, or an emissary from Saturn (as he claimed), Sun Ra was one of the unique visionaries of the 20th century. Christine Turner’s documentary explores the legacy of this iconoclastic who turned his life into a work of art.
Assembly
This vibrant documentary explores interdisciplinary artist Rashaad Newsome’s visionary 2022 exhibition Assembly, a multimedia extravaganza of artists collaborating to create an immersive, empowering space exploring the joy of Black and Queer culture.
I Want It All. Hildegard Knef
A glamorous icon full of poise and style, Hildegard Knef was one of the 20th century’s true film stars. This documentary reveals the multi-faceted layers beneath her larger-than-life persona, exploring her rise to fame while piercing the masks she hid behind.
Half Moon: Kinan Azmeh
Syrian musician Kinan Azmeh questions how art and music can adequately confront the tragedy of war in this introspective documentary. A profound and celebratory meditation on art’s ability to build solidarity, community, and hope in the world.