The documentary film Defiant Requiem: Voices of Resistance is nominated for two news and documentary Emmy awards for outstanding historical documentary long form and outstanding writing.
Defiant Requiem is about Czech conductor Rafael Schachter, and his time spent in a 1941 Nazi concentration camp at Terezin, ending with a prisoner performance of “Requiem” by Verdi. Verdi’s music became the symbol of hope for the prisoners against the Nazis. Requiem being their way of fighting back, of gaining their freedom and liberties, their families and lives once again.
Directed written and produced by Doug Schultz and narrated by Bebe Neuwirth, the film was primarily the project of conductor Murry Sidlin, president and founder of The Defiant Requiem Foundation. Sidlin regularly conducts live performances of “Defiant Requiem: Verdi at Terezin" around the US and Europe in the hopes of spreading the message of humanity and empowerment.
The Defiant Requiem Foundation, founded in 2008 in Washington, DC, serves to preserve the memory of World War II Terezin prisoners who found solace in the arts and humanities. In addition to being on Netflix, Defiant Requiem has found a home at PBS and BBC4.
You can catch the inspiring theatrical trailer below, full of fascinating footage of Terezin.
