Experience the Heartfelt Collaboration of Israeli and Palestinian Pianists in ‘Amal | Hope’ Documentaries
New YouTube Channel Launches Documentary Short on Israeli-Palestinian Collaboration
Today marks the debut of Amal | Hope, a poignant documentary short exploring the collaboration between renowned Israeli and Palestinian pianists Bishara Haroni and Yaron Kohlberg. This film, released by the newly established YouTube channel Watch Documentaries, showcases a remarkable partnership rooted in a shared passion for music, which transcends their cultural differences.
The documentary screened this past weekend at Steinway Hall in New York, tracing the journey of Duo Amal, the name derived from the Arabic word for hope. Haroni and Kohlberg have collaborated since 2008, establishing a unique musical bond amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. Through their story, the film delves into the challenges they face and highlights the unifying power of their music.
Eros Zhao, the film’s director, revealed that the project originated from a chance meeting with Haroni and Kohlberg during a piano restoration project. He noted, “From the beginning, I sensed something extraordinary there, something that could become a compelling film. As someone based in the U.S., most of what I hear about the Middle East is filtered through news headlines and political narratives. What drew me in was the opportunity to explore that world through the intimate, human lens of their story. Their friendship offers a perspective we rarely get to see – one that goes beyond conflict and reveals the quiet power of connection across division.”
In a joint statement, Haroni and Kohlberg stated, “We are not here to offer answers. We are here to offer music – complicated, layered, sometimes dissonant, sometimes breathtakingly in sync. Just like the story we share.”
Zhao produced the film alongside Maria Giacchino, with Mira Ledger serving as executive producer. Adam J. Segal, the founder of Watch Documentaries, also holds an executive producer role. The film’s technical team includes Director of Photography Oded Plotznizki, editor Mo Stoebe, with musical arrangements by Jeff Kryka and mixing by Brian Vibberts. The project is produced under Zhao’s Templux Films banner.
Watch Documentaries plans to release the film globally, following its launch last month with two other short films, Seeds From Kivu and Voices From the Abyss.
