Hamsaz Ensemble - Iranian Folk Music and Film

Please note the programme for this event has changed since the publication of the festival brochure. The second half of the concert will now include a special showing of a recent documentary film (55 minutes with subtitles), with a post show Q&A with the filmmaker - see full details below.

Championing the resilience of the Iranian people, this remarkable ensemble present an immersive folk music experience combine songs rooted in folklore with newer tales of adaptation, freedom & hope. This is uplifting and emotional music informed by the varied life experiences of the group and the wider Iranian diaspora.

Since they performed in DAF 2023, Hamsaz have played to rapturous responses, from Manchester International Festival to Band on the Wall, the RNCM and Migration Matters Festival in Sheffield.

The evening will also feature a rare Manchester screening of *Second Breath* (2024), an extraordinary and courageous documentary by acclaimed Iranian filmmaker Mojghan Ilanlou, who is currently visiting Manchester.

The film offers a deeply human and powerful insight into the realities faced by women in Iran, exploring themes of resilience, identity and freedom in the face of systemic oppression and gender-based discrimination. The screening will have English subtitles and will be followed by a live Q&A discussion with the filmmaker.

Through music, film and conversation, we hope to create a meaningful cultural gathering that celebrates Iranian culture while also creating space for reflection, dialogue and solidarity through the arts.

At a time when many ordinary families in Iran continue to face immense hardship and uncertainty, any proceeds remaining after festival expenses will go directly towards supporting families in need.