The Silk Road of pop / directed by Sameer Farooq ; co-directed by Ursula Engel ; producer, Stijn Deklerck ; developed with the support of the Media Programme of the European Community, Canada Council for the Arts and Ontario Arts Council ; Smoke Signal Projects
In English, Chinese and Uyghur with English subtitles
Title also appears on title screen in Uyghur and Chinese characters
Public performance rights granted
Mehmet (Maimaiti Aili), Karhan, Six City, X1, Aytulan
Director of photography, Ursula Engel ; editor, Oliver Husain
Originally filmed in 2010-2011 on location in Urumi, Turpan and Kashgar (Xinjiang, China)
"On the distant northwest edge of China lies Xinjiang, a vast region of snow-capped mountains, barren deserts and gritty market cities. Here, along the ancient Silk Road, music is one of the hottest commodities: it is vibrant, infectious, and far-reaching, permeating every corner of the province. Yet, around the music lies a troubling reality. Engaged in an identity tug-of-war, the region's main population -- the Uyghur Muslims -- are gradually watching their populations dwindle as they are engulfed by a predominant Han Chinese settlement. One of the very few documentaries to come out of Xinjiang, "The Silk Road of Pop" captures the challenges of a minority group in China and the explosive music scene which results."--Container
