CONCEPT

Rebel Music is an MTV documentary series that tells the stories of young artists and activists in turbulent countries fighting oppression and injustice. It was created with the insight that Western audiences have a one-dimensional and often limited understanding of the social, cultural, and political dynamics of countries in conflict like Iran, Afghanistan, Egypt, Turkey, and Mexico. Simplistic mainstream media depictions have reduced many of these nations into stereotypes, and the voices of their youth are unheard. The series, produced with local crews often in dangerous circumstances, presents an inspiring and humane view of courageous young people in countries we usually associate only with terror, misogyny, and misfortune.

The critically acclaimed series provided exposure to under-represented voices from around the world and created an innovative multiplatform format and stylistic approach for short-form documentary filmmaking. It dealt with urgent and wide-ranging issues such as genocide, environmental abuse, gender inequality, oppression, and homophobia in a frank, unbiased manner.