


OUR STORY
AMAL I HOPE chronicles the remarkable collaboration of Duo Amal's virtuosos, Palestinian pianist Bishara Haroni and Israeli pianist Yaron Kohlberg. "Amal" means "hope" in Arabic. Despite their divergent backgrounds amid a divided world, their shared passion for music celebrates unity.

OUR STORY
AMAL I HOPE chronicles the remarkable collaboration of Duo Amal's virtuosos, Palestinian pianist Bishara Haroni and Israeli pianist Yaron Kohlberg. "Amal" means "hope" in Arabic. Despite their divergent backgrounds amid a divided world, their shared passion for music celebrates unity.
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JURY STATEMENT
“A lovely short film and a heartfelt story about how “the same” we are, despite our sometimes very stark differences. In a world so divided, this film shows that humans can transcend that which divides us. Well shot. The texture is nice and reflects the subject matter really well. And the music scenes, they say as much as the words, about how these two musicians have managed to meld together into one voice. AMAL / Hope is a perfect name and a great film.”

UPCOMING EVENTS
No events at the moment
GALLERY
Rhythm of Two Worlds Intertwined
Every rehearsal reveals balance and understanding. Through subtle gestures and quiet pauses, their music reflects the beauty of listening and responding as one.

A Bridge in Sound
Each note carries trust, curiosity, and grace. The piano becomes their shared language, where differences fade and harmony takes form through pure expression.

The Shape of Hope
Hope lives in the space between their notes, gentle, steady, and unwavering. It is not declared but felt, growing quietly with every shared performance.

Harmony in Silence
Between pauses and glances lies the heart of the story. These stills reveal that silence, too, can sing when shared by two who truly listen.

Director
EROS ZHAO

Dr. Eros Zhao is a documentary director, His projects have featured renowned organizations such as the Smithsonian Institution, LACMA, The MET, Asian Art Museum San Francisco, Denver Art Museum, Steinway & Sons, among others. Dr. Zhao directed the documentary In Our Hands for the Smithsonian Channel in 2023. His film work has received critical acclaim, including the Oscar-qualified film Amal | Hope, which won the Best Documentary Short award at the 2025 Bali International Film Festival; The Action Man, earned a nomination for Best Documentary Short at the 2024 Austin Film Festival, and garnered multiple awards from prestigious international festivals.
Producer
MARIA GIACCHINO

Maria Giacchino works as a creative producer and event manager for a wide variety of clients across the entertainment industry. She has collaborated with film composers Michael Giacchino, Laura Karpman, David Arnold, and others on live performances, albums, scoring sessions and publicity appearances. She has a long history of producing concerts across North America and Europe, including The 90th Anniversary Oscar Concert with the LA Philharmonic, the live-to-picture IMAX world premiere of STARK TREK BEYOND at San Diego Comic Con, and numerous shows at the Royal Albert Hall. She is currently on the Advisory Board of the London Action Festival and has recently begun collaborations with clients on Broadway. She has produced one previous documentary, Germans and Jews.
Director of Photography
ODED PLOTNIZKI

Oded Plotnizki is an Israeli cinematographer known for his diverse work across film, television, commercials, and video installations. His portfolio includes work for major brands and publications such as Gucci, Dior Homme, The New York Times Style Magazine, and projects for networks like Keshet.
Editor
MO STOEBE

Mo Stoebe, originally from Austria and the Netherlands, is a documentary editor currently based in Los Angeles. With a master's degree from the Royal College of Art in London, Mo has honed his craft and expertise in various forms of filmmaking. He started his journey creating short-form content and video installations before transitioning to the world of feature-length documentary films. His work includes A Swim Lesson; Better Angels; The Imagineering Story; Superpowered DC Comics Documentary Series.
Music Arranged by
JEFF KRYKA

Dr. Jeff Kryka is a Los Angeles–based composer, orchestrator, and conductor whose work spans film, television, video games, and concert music. Dr. Kryka is a Steinway Artist and Chair of UCLA School of Music Board of Alumni. He has contributed to projects such as Fantastic 4; Captain America; The Marvels; Zootopia; Thor; The Batman; Jurassic World; Jojo Rabbit; The Imagineering Story and Superpowered DC Comics Documentary Series.
Music Mixed by
BRIAN VIBBERTS

Brian Vibberts is a 7-time Grammy Award winner and has participated in the making of numerous albums that have resulted in Grammy Award nominations and winners. He has creatively recorded or mixed many multi-platinum artists in many genres, including Michael Jackson, Aerosmith, The Pussycat Dolls, Bon Jovi, Natasha Bedingfield, Green Day, Trace Adkins, Faith Hill, Toby Keith, Ice Cube, Boyz II Men, Elton John, Eric Clapton, Chick Corea, Brad Paisley, Ringo Starr, Mariah Carey and Tony Bennett.
CREATIVE TEAM
Behind every note lies a story. One of hope, perseverance, and human connection. From the first melody to the last frame, this journey reminds us that even in silence, hope can be heard.
BEHIND THE SCENES




