Date:      22nd Feb 2007 - 18th Mar 2007
Venue:   Riverside Theartre
Cost:      Various

22 February to 18 March 2007
Riverside Theatres,
Cnr Church & Market st, Parramatta.

BEDOUIN HACKERS. - BLOODSUCKERS. - SHOCK. AWE. - MYTHS. REALITIES. - DREAMS.

 A month of Sundays….plus Wednesday matinee sessions

Be entertained and engaged by well-crafted local and international fictional screen stories, gutsy documentaries, razor-sharp shorts and the latest features from the Arab world. A spectrum of cinematic treats genuinely reflecting the complexity and diversity of Arab culture and experiences.

Visiting international guests include Palestinian filmmaker Nizar Hassan, and Eliane Raheb, filmmaker and Festival Director of Ayam Bairut a-Cinemaiya (Cinema Days of Beirut), and Bilal Khbeiz, poet, essayist and cultural journalist.

Tickets: $15 Full / $10 Conc / $5 Under 12s / Group Discounts
Bookings + 61 2 8839 3399
More info contact ICE on 02 9897 5744 or visit www.sydneyarabfilmfestival.com

FREE SPECIAL EVENTS

TONE, 3 – 24 March, Liverpool Regional Museum,Monday – Saturday 10am-4pm
Audio-visual experimental works by Arab artists, curated by Khaled Sabsabi, focusing on the diversity and richness of Arab culture and stories. This exhibition will provide opportunities for local audiences to gain insights into stories emerging from zones of conflict challenging representations. “It is about negotiation and openness of opinions. It suggests there is no singular way of communication or conflict resolution but a diversity of opinion about the Arab world and diaspora.” Khaled Sabsabi*

PRESSURE POINTS, 11 March, Riverside Theatres, Parramatta, Sunday 2pm-4pm
Bilal Khbeiz, visiting Lebanese poet, essayist and cultural journalist, will give a presentation on the images created and circulated in Lebanon in response to war and fleeting world events, focussing on their geographical specificity and on the intersection
between the new media and such high-impact events. Curated by Mireille Astore, with screenings of films by Bilal Khbeiz, Lina Saneh, Khaled Ramadan and other Arab artists. Produced in partnership with the Writing and Society Research Group at the University of Western Sydney, Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre and Information and Cultural Exchange (ICE).

UNDER SIEGE, 17 March, Liverpool TAFE Education and Training Centre, Saturday 1pm-5pm
Forums and films showcasing works made by Arab artists under siege - from the shores of our Cronulla to the tortured coasts of the Gaza strip, Baghdad and Beirut. Featuring a forum with international guests Nizar Hassan and Eliane Raheb. Includes films directed by Thair Abed Ali (Pigeon Sumerian), plus Australian filmmakers Fatima Mawas (Withdrawn), and Fadle El-Harris (Two Hearts).