On January 31, 2009, Levantine Cultural Center and the University of California, Irvine, the Middle East Studies Student Initiative (MESSI) will present “Whither the Levant? The Crisis of the Nation-State: Lebanon, Israel and Palestine. This conference includes documentary and feature film screenings, panels and a symposium.

A conference including documentary and feature screenings, panels and symposium, organized by Levantine Cultural Center and the University of California, Irvine, the Middle East Studies Student Initiative (MESSI). Cosponsored by the Center for Global Peace and Conflict Studies/UCI, American Friends Service Committee, LA Jews for Peace and supported by Diane and Jeanette Shammas, Lawrence Joseph, Kanan Hamzeh, Casey Kasem, Bana Hilal, Asad Farah and the Salaam-Shalom Educational Foundation.

UC Irvine Student CenterThis conference takes place at the UC Irvine Student Center in the Crystal Cove Auditorium and Pacific Ballroom. [Map].

The book Who really speaks for Islam? What a Billion Muslims Really is based on the largest and most in-depth study of its kind conducted by the Gallup Organization. Levantine Cultural Center presented the remarkable findings of the six-year poll of the Muslim world—the first ever data-based analysis of the points of view of more than 90% of the global Muslim community, spanning nearly 40 countries and representing 1.3 Billion Muslims.

On Tuesday, April 29, 2008, co-author Dalia Mogahed discussed "Who Speaks for Islam?" with "24" executive producer Howard Gordon in a public forum moderated by KPFK's Nile El Wardani. Gordon is an American screenwriter and producer who graduated from Princeton; his writing/producing credits include "The X Files," and "24." The forum took place at the Los Angeles Central Public Library, Mark Taper Auditorium.

An extended version of “Who Speaks for Islam?” is available from Levantine Cultural Center and Global Voices for Justice.

By David Ignatius

AfghanistanIt's easy to get depressed reading the news out of Afghanistan. The insurgents are getting stronger, the United States is sending another 20,000 troops there—and yet even Defense Secretary Bob Gates admits that American soldiers aren't a long-term solution. So what to do?

In sorting out these policy dilemmas, it helps to talk to Afghans such as Saad and Jahid Mohseni, who are struggling with these problems every day. The two entrepreneurial brothers are running a media business in the war zone of Kabul and, far from giving up, they keep thinking of innovative ways to adapt and survive.

The American Cinematheque and the Hollywood Foreign Press Association present a special double bill,the Swedish nominee, "EVERLASTING MOMENTS."2008,( IFC Films, SWEDEN/DENMARK, 131 min. Dir. Jan Troell ) screening at 7:30 pm, folowed by "Waltz With Bashir" at 9:30 pm. (For info on a roundtable with Ari Folman et al on Jan. 10, see below)

"Waltz With Bashir" (2008, Sony Pictures Classics, 90 min.) is a mesmerizing and gripping animated documentary—a hand-drawn chronicle of director Ari Folman's repressed memories of war. Folman, who also wrote and produced the film, describes the narrative this way:

By Jordan Elgrably

In the last days of 2008 and into 2009, even as Israeli military forces attack Gaza in an attempt to stop Hamas from firing rockets into Israel, a former Israeli soldier is presenting his animated war documentary to audiences around the world. The Gaza attack has resulted in hundreds of Palestinian deaths, but still the battle rages, with Hamas forces persisting.

Roles for Arab/Muslim Actors in Film and TelevisionEven as the United States finds itself increasing enmeshed in the Arab/Muslim world politically, Hollywood exports a great deal of film and television programs watched in the Middle East. We are indeed the dominant cultural force in many Arab/Muslim countries. Meanwhile, Americans are finding more and more Arab/Muslim characters in their film and TV programming…

Read Andrew Gumbel's L.A. Weekly feature, Arab Adventures in Hollywood.

INTERNATIONAL CALL FOR SHORT FILMS
Short-shorts and shorts: docs and features: 1m-15ms

After decades of war in the post-colonial Middle East, statesmen and women of the region—particularly the battle-fatigued Israelis-have finally understood something about war and peace that most of us have known all along: there is no military solution to our problems. Lines will be drawn and peace will be achieved through negotiated agreements—or there will be no lasting peace for anyone...

9 Scripts from a Nation at War is a multi-channel video installation that responds to the conditions and questions that have arisen during the military conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. It examines the ways in which war determines and 'scripts" certain roles such as "citizen," "veteran," "detainee" and "correspondent" and the capacity of individuals to fulfill or resist these.

Amazigh Film FestivalThe second annual Amazigh Film Festival, under the stewardship of director Helene Hagan, will present art, music and films of the Amazigh or Berber cultures of North Africa. Last year's event was highly successful and the second edition promises to be even more intriguing. Here's the schedule:

4:00-4:30 pm: Slideshow presentation, "Kabylia, the land, the people, the Arts" (10 min) - Welcome Address by Helene Hagan and presentation by Rachid Bouksim, Director of the Issni N'Ourgh Film Festival of Agadir, Morocco, on the recent development of the Amazigh Cinematography in Morocco.

4:30-6:30 pm: Documentaries "Pottery from the Rif" (27 min, 2003, Morocco, Dounia Productions, Ltd.) and "On Native Lands" (86 min, Canada/Morocco, 2007, Orbi xii).

6:30-7:30 pm: Art Exhibit and Reception with art by Moroccan artists Hassan Moumene (Atlas) and Abdallah Aourik (Souss). Traditional mint tea and tidbits catered by CHAMEAU, Inc. of Beverly Hills.