This is a documentary from Voice of America. The film was produced and directed by Beth Mendelson, and won a silver award in the Documentary/Heroes category at the New York Festivals TV and Film awards in 2023.From VOA’s website: “Symphony of Courage tells the story of Farida and Zohra Ahmadi. They were the last students of the Afghanistan National Institute of Music to be evacuated from the country after the Taliban takeover last year. The Afghan National Institute of Music (ANIM) was the country’s only music school, and home to the world-renowned Zohra Orchestra - Afghanistan’s first all-female ensemble. ANIM’s director Dr. Ahmad Sarmast worked with an international team of philanthropists, politicians, and musicians to facilitate their evacuation. After a brief period in Doha, the group traveled together to Lisbon - their new home, where they can perform their music in a free and open society. ”
A documentary from Voice of America on how the government of Turkey has suppressed the freedom of speech in the press and arrested many journalists. The film, produced and directd by Beth Mendelson, was a finalist in the International Affairs category at the 2021 New York Festivals TV and Film Awards.
Boko Haram: Journey from Evil was produced for Voice of America by Beth Mendelson, and features renowned actor David Oyelowo (Selma) as the narrator. The film won the gold medal at the 2018 New York Festivals International TV and Film Awards gala at the National Association of Broadcasters show in Las Vegas.
In this World War I short film, a new soldier wrestles with fear and isolation as he prepares for his first attack in the Argonne Forest of 1918. This thesis film from Becky (Barker) Bulebush won the Genre Award for History+ Film, Best Narrative at the Longleaf Film Festival in 2018, and the Bronze Remi Award for College Level Student Productions at the WorldFest Houston in 2018.
Academy Award winner Sally Field hosts and narrates this exploration of the barriers women face in the developed and developing worlds in human rights, health, climate change and civil society. Produced by Beth Mendelson for VOA News, the film was a finalist in the Biography/Profiles category at the 2016 New York Festivals International Television & Film Awards.
AIDS: LIVING IN THE SHADOWS, a new documentary series from the Voice of America, examines the impact of stigma in several communities around the world. It's hosted by Sir Elton John, whose AIDS foundation supports programs on four continents. The film, produced and directed by Beth Mendelson, won the Silver World Medal at the 2015 New York Festivals International Television & Film Awards. I scored everything but the first 17 seconds.
A fireside reading of John Piper's Christmas poem, a holiday gift from Crossway Books and Desiring God. A Citygate Films Production. Filmed on location in the Agatha Christie suite at the Rivertown Inn in Stillwater, MN @ 2012 Desiring God.
This score features the talents of Meghan Perdue on violin, Caitlin Perdue on viola, Chris Perdue on cello, and Leigh Taylor on vocal. Grammy-winning engineer Luke Rohwer recorded the strings at his Acacia Recording Studio. Normally I mix my scores "in the box", but I had Luke mix this one at Acacia; he did a stellar job!
The Story of Ian & Larissa
This is a short film for Desiring God Ministries. The score features Rachael Boer on viola, Susan Schroeder Fuller on violin, and Dave Campbell on guitar. The video has had 1.2M views on Vimeo.
A Citygate Films Production featuring Colin Davies as C.S. Lewis and John Piper of Desiring God as the narrator. Shot on location at the Tudor Place in Georgetown, Washington, DC.
Client: Prison Fellowship Ministries & Clarity Communications Group; produced by Vinegar Hill Creative.