Big Voice

Directed By Varda Bar-Kar

BIG VOICE captures a tumultuous year in the life of a visionary high school choir teacher and his students as they overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles to become one big voice in this inspiring musical documentary.

  • ABOUT
  • BIO
BIG VOICE chronicles a challenging year in the life of a determined public high school choir director as he pushes his students to achieve a high level of artistry and become “one big voice”, despite the many obstacles they face. Santa Monica High School Choir Director Jeffe Huls’ passion for the choral arts and music fuels his desire to exceed all standards and expectations. The results are hard won, yet exquisite. Following a series of competitive auditions, Mr. Huls compiles his dream ensemble - the most ideal combination of voices he’s ever had. He soon discovers that these thirty-two talented teenagers are also the most unwieldy group he has ever taught. Mr. Huls must convince his students to set aside their egos, conflicting styles, and teenage angst to achieve the artistry he knows they are capable of.BIG VOICE is a story brimming with musical performances as it interweaves slices of life, interviews, and masterwork performances that will sweep you away.

Award-winning director Varda Bar-Kar develops and directs meaningful and engaging documentaries, feature films, and episodic television. Varda was born in England and lived on three continents by age 10, providing her with a global perspective. She is an "artivist" filmmaker, focusing her lens on subjects that explore the breadth and diversity of the human condition. Varda's films have won multiple awards, including two Emmy Awards, two LA Press Club Journalism Awards, and an Anthem Award. Her documentary, "Big Voice," premiered on Netflix and was broadcast nationally on PBS, winning a Bronze Telly Award. "Big Voice" screened at the United States Capitol as part of a campaign advocating for arts education. Varda's bi-national music documentary "Fandango at the Wall" was executive-produced by Quincy Jones and Carlos Santana. "Fandango at the Wall" premiered on HBO, streamed on MAX, spawned a Grammy-winning album, and screened at the United States Library of Congress, highlighting the power of cross-cultural diplomacy. PBS SoCal commissioned Varda to make "Artbound: The Cheech," the Emmy-winning documentary exploring Cheech Marin's passion and influence on the rise of Chicano art.


Varda's newest music documentary, "Janis Ian: Breaking Silence," premiered at DOC NYC, where it was among the top 10 most-viewed films. It won multiple festival audience awards for "best documentary" and was recognized by the Palm Springs International Film Festival as one of the "Best of the Fest" top ten films. Greenwich Entertainment picked up "Breaking Silence" for a limited theatrical run, a digital release, and a national broadcast on the PBS series American Masters. Varda participated in Ryan Murphy’s Half Foundation director program and directed an episode of Fox's hit show 9-1-1. She's a Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Resident, a Ford Foundation & Kenneth Rainin Foundation grant recipient, and a member of the DGA.