A new documentary focusing on System of a Down frontman Serj Tankian will arrive early next year.
Truth to Power will focus on Tankian’s long history of activism, and according to Rolling Stone will specifically examine the singer’s role in the 2018 Armenian revolution, raising awareness through his music and profile.
Tankian tweeted earlier this week that the film shows his journey “through the turbulent intersection of music & activism over 3 decades”.
Join me in raising your voice. TRUTH TO POWER shows my journey through the turbulent intersection of music & activism over 3 decades. Produced by @LiveNation & @joeberlinger! Stay tuned to @oscopelabs & https://t.co/MdLepxDg8f for updates. Opening 2/19. https://t.co/HdZIQXWHmZ
— Serj Tankian-#SanctionAzerbaijan (@serjtankian) December 16, 2020
It will feature footage shot by Tankian and interviews with the bandleader, his System of a Down bandmates, Rick Rubin, Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine and more, with a score composed by Tankian himself.
The film is set to arrive Friday, 19th February 19th via Oscilloscope Laboratories and Live Nation. It was directed by Garin Hovannisian, who Tankian has previously collaborated with on multiple occasions.
The songwriter provided the score for Hovannisian’s 2015 film 1915, along with his 2019 documentary I Am Not Alone, which was similarly about the Armenian revolution.
Truth to Power was executive produced by Joe Berlinger, who, among other films, directed Metallica documentary Some Kind of Monster.
“With Oscilloscope and Live Nation at our back, the music and message of our film can now touch the hearts and minds of audiences across the world, inspiring all of us to speak — and bring — truth to power,” commented Hovannisian in a statement.
Last month, Tankian reunited with his System of a Down bandmates for their first new music since 2005 album Hypnotize, releasing the singles ‘Protect the Lands’ and ‘Genocidal Humanoidz’.
The band – whose members are all of Armenian descent – recorded the songs to raise awareness and funds amid conflict in their cultural homeland of Artsakh amid conflict in the region. They were able to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for the Armenia Fund, an organisation that provides humanitarian relief.
Watch a teaser trailer for Truth to Power below.
