Brasslands

Brasslands is a kinetic, character-driven feature documentary about the power of music to inform our identities, unite communities, and reach across political borders. Traveling from New York City concert halls to a tiny town in the heart of Serbia, the film explores the musical and cross-cultural complexities of Balkan brass music. Brasslands features a diverse ensemble cast of virtuosic Roma (“Gypsy”) street musicians, Serbian trumpet masters, and devoted American enthusiasts whose lives and dreams collide during Europe’s wildest party — the Guča trumpet festival. Featuring the sounds and stories of Dejan Petrović Orchestra, Demiran Ćerimović Orchestra, and New York City’s own Zlatne Uste. Collaboratively made by the Meerkat Media Collective.

Awards & Screenings

The film world premiered at the 2013 Los Angeles Film Festival  followed by a huge New York premiere in partnership with River to River and Rooftop Films, featuring four live incredible Brass bands.  It’s also an official selection of Rotterdam Film Festival, CPH:DOX, Thessaloniki Documentary Film festival, the Minsk International Film Festival, Lincoln Center’s Sound + Vision Film Festival, the New Orleans Film Festival,  Minneapolis St Paul Film Festival, Kansas City Film Festival, San Antonio Film Festival, Twin Cities Film Festival, Salem Film Festival, Vilnius International Film Festival, American Documentary Film Festival, Crossroads Film Festival, South East European Film Festival, Chicago International Movies and Music Festival, The Great American Brass Band Festival,  and has been featured as the closing night film at Bel Docs, the Belgrade Documentary Festival.

Links & Resources

Official website: www.brasslands.com

Buy the dvd + soundtrack: www.brasslands.com/store

Watch the full film on Netflix

Credits

written and directed by ADAM POGOFF ALISON BROCKHOUSE BRYAN CHANG DARA MESSINGER
ERIC PHILLIPS-HORST JAY ARTHUR STERRENBERG JEFFREY STERRENBERG KARIM TABBAA SARA HUNEKE ZARA SERABIAN-ARTHUR
featuring DEJAN PETROVIC ORCHESTRA DEMIRAN CERIMOVIC ORCHESTRA ZLATNE USTE BALKAN BRASS BAND
edited by BRYAN CHANG & JAY ARTHUR STERRENBERG
original music by MITCHELL YOSHIDA & DON GODWIN
cinematography by BRYAN CHANG ERIC PHILLIPS-HORST JAY ARTHUR STERRENBERG JEFFREY STERRENBERG
MICHAEL PALMIERI
music supervision by MODIBA
co-produced by MILICA NEDIC IVANA TODOROVIC JOVAN BUGARGIC
producer JAY ARTHUR STERRENBERG
executive producers ADAM POGOFF & BRYAN CHANG