LuA - Lampedusa Music Video - Short Film

LuA is a jazz world vocal ensemble co-led by Shameema Soni and Maryem Tollar. Their unique sound is characterized by the prominent use of the piano and qanun. LuA's music is inspired by various cultures and traditions from around the world, resulting in a diverse and captivating repertoire.

LuA released their first album, "The Elephant", in June 2024. They had applied for a Canada Council grant to make a short film/music video directed by award winning film maker, Valerie Buhagiar, to a song that Shameema wrote called "Lampedusa". Valerie made a Canadian-Maltese co-produced feature length film called "Carmen" in Malta and has lots of connections there and her background is Maltese.

The subject matter of Lampedusa deals with displaced people desperate to find a way to escape their suffering and hardship and to find a better life for themselves and their families by crossing the Mediterranean, often in very flimsy boats, and many of them don't make it. Shameema wrote this song to capture the feeling of that harrowing journey using a 6/8 rhythm to to mimic the movement of the sea and the waves. Lampedusa is one of the destinations that these refugees have gone to. It is one the closest islands in Europe from North Africa.

Malta, is the next island north of Lampedusa and Valerie has witnessed a lot of these refugees landing in Malta. They are often heading to Italy, but their boats just don't make it. She has witnessed the tensions this causes in the small island country.

We feel that because of all of these practical considerations in making this short film, it makes the most sense to film it in Malta.

At first they received a letter saying they were highly recommended - but the Council ran out of money. A year later, they received another letter saying money was found and they were awarded the funds to make this music video.

Prices have gone up since their original application, and they are short about $10,000. It is important to Maryem and Shameema to make this film to highlight the on-going conflict that these asylum seekers are faced with resulting in either death, loss of family and in a few cases survival.

This film will be shot in both Toronto and Malta. The costs will include fees for personnel in Toronto and Malta, travel expenses, equipment rental, insurance, etc.

This GoFundMe will be used to cover the deficit. Thank you for reading!