Stories about artistic freedom
.SAFE is a series of mini documentaries that portrays the encounters between established Norwegian artists and threatened and persecuted artists. Safemuse has produced two editions of the series. Edition #1 was launched in 2019 and edition #2 in 2023. The SAFE campaign focuses on artistic freedom – those who have it, those who have lost it and those who fight for it.
The first edition of .SAFE-series was produced in 2018 and 2019 with the support of Fritt Ord, SH|FT – Safe Havens Freedom Talks, The City of Oslo, The City of Harstad , Scene Nord and CREO.
The second edition of .SAFE-series was produced in 2022 and 2023 with the support of Fritt Ord, Bergesenstiftelsen, Freemuse, NOPA, NKF and CREO.
Edition #1
Mai Khoi used to be a famous and beloved pop star in Vietnam. After nominating herself for the National Assembly in 2016, she has been threatened, detained, and prosecuted by the government. She refuses to let her voice be silenced, and keeps touring the world to perform, sing, and speak her mind.
The Iranian black metal artist Sina chose a life in exile to be able to express himself as a musician.
A fall day in Oslo he sat down with Norwegian/South-African artist Nosizwe to talk about freedom, and what they are willing to sacrifice for their music.
Afghan musician Hamid Sakhizada was forced to leave his country to play his own traditional music. A December day in Oslo he met Sami artist Ella Marie Hætta Isaksen, to talk about music, tradition, and the cost of fighting for their cultural heritage.
Abazar Hamid is the Sudanese peace singer that was driven away from his country because of the music he made. On a January morning he met with world renowned pianist Bugge Wesseltoft to share what they both have dedicated their life to - music.
Farzane Zamen was an underground pop star in her home country Iran. But being a woman in Iran, she was not allowed to perform. On a sunny day in February she sat down with the Norwegian singer Åse Kleveland to talk about music, freedom, and life as an artist.
The Afghan/Iranian or “Afran” artist and singer-songwriter Ghawgha Taban, guest artist in Safe Music Haven Harstad (ICORN/ Norwegian PEN), meets Norwegian artist and singer-songwriter Oddrun Lilja Jonsdottir in the grand hall of the Norwegian National Opera and Ballet.
Chinese actor, theatre director, filmmaker and Safemuse artist in residence, Wang Chong, meets the former Norwegian minister of culture, former director of the Norwegian National Theatre and “Riksteatret”, but first and foremost actor, Ellen Horn for a talk at the magnificent Oslo City Hall.
Iranian Nikan Koshravi and Arash Ilkhani, former guest artists in Safe Music Haven Harstad and the driving forces behind the heavy metal band Confess, meet Norwegian heavy metal veteran Anders Odden at the Munch Museum in Oslo.
