Rembetika music or the Greek blues is a music born of exile and the streets, developing its roots from the mass migration of people in the early twentieth century. Filmmaker M. Zournazi traces the journey of her forebears from Smyrna in Turkey to Sydney Australia but discovers more than family history – she finds out how music connects people during times of struggle and crises. By weaving together different stories of music and migration, My Rembetika Blues documents a wealth of experiences that are often left out of the chronicles of history.
"A film that reveals the core of Rembetika that only a Greek from Australia could see. A strong and beautiful film." – Renos Haralambidis, Greek Director
"[A] rare documentary that covers its subject – Rembetika music – so thoroughly documenting its "sound", history, locations, and evolution interviewing performers, scholars and more, but (filmmaker Mary Zournazi) totally engages us by making this her personal journey to discover more of her mother's heritage which co-exists with Rembetika history from Turkey to Greece to Egypt and Lebanon and on to Australia."
– Andrew Horton, Professor Emeritus of Film & Video Studies, University of Oklahoma
Selected Screenings & Awards
Taiwan International Ethnographic Film Festival, 2023
Universe Multicultural Film Festival, US, 2022
Social Justice Film Festival & Institute Special Event, 2022
Gold Remi Documentary Award, World Fest Houston Int'l Film Festival, Melbourne, 2021
Excellence in Filmmaking Award, Spotlight Film Awards, 2021
Platinum Award, Women’s International Film Awards, 2021
Best Documentary, Feature Film Competition – World of Film Int'l Film Festival, Glasgow, 2021
German International Ethnographic Film Festival, 2021
Parma International Music Film Festival, Italy, 2021
International Film and Television Festival SIMFEST, Romania, 2021
Docs Without Borders Film Festival, 2021
Williamsburg Film and Music Festival, 2021
Los Angeles Greek Film Festival, 2021
San Francisco Greek Film Festival, 2021
Nevada Women's Film Festival, 2021
World Fest Houston International Film Festival, 2021
Melbourne Documentary Film Festival, 2021
Toronto Greek Film Festival, 2021
EATSA Art & Tourism Film Festival, Portugal, 2021
World of Film International Film Festival Glasgow, 2021
Houston Greek Film Festival, 2021
Malta Film Festival, 2021
Cinque Port International Film Festival, 2021
Nova Film and Music Film Festival, North Virginia, 2021