This article originally appeared on The Oakland Press.
“Troy native Ken Joseph recently composed the score for the film “Soufra,” which will be shown at his alma mater, Wayne State University, at 5 p.m. April 13.
Joseph, who earned his degree in Jazz Studies and Contemporary Media, said he played his first concert in high school and “that’s the moment I knew that I wanted to make music my career.”
The film, which Joseph worked on with fellow composer Alex Seaver (Juilliard trained front man for Pop/Electronic project Mako) is part of the Freep Film Festival.
“Soufra” follows a generational refugee, Mariam Shaar, who spent her entire life in the Burl El Barajneh refugee camp south of Beirut, Lebanon, as she set out to change her fate by launching a catering company and then expanding its reach outside the camp with a food truck business.
Directed by Michigan native and Central Michigan University graduate Thomas A. Morgan, the film was produced by another Michigan native – Kathleen Glynn of Flint (Founder of Dog Eat Dog Films; her projects have been the recipient of the Cannes Palme d’Or, Academy Award, and Primetime Emmy) – as well as producer Trevor Hall (President Rebelhouse Group) and Executive Producer Susan Sarandon.
The Michigan premiere of “Soufra” will be held at the Wayne State University Welcome Center, 42 W. Warren Ave., Detroit during the Freep Film Festival. Tickets are $10 in advance online at https://tickets.freep.com/e/soufra/tickets or $12 at the door.”