Sarah's War is a fictional look at the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, suggested by the real-life experiences of the late American activist Rachel Corrie. Sarah's War may be less polarizing than some previous dramatic treatments and includes Palestinian, Israeli and American perspectives, revealing humanity on all sides to avoid the pitfall of objectification of the Other.

Levantine Cultural Center presents in association with Chapman University's Documentary Film Club, Dodge College of Film and Media Arts, and the Peace Studies Program, Wilkinson College of Humanities and Social Sciences, a director's screening and panel discussion of the powerful, award-winning* documentary Israel vs. Israel, on Thurs., Feb. 09, 7:00 pm.

Join us for an afternoon of celebrating the vision of the Egyptian Revolution. The program will include an exclusive keynote via phone from Cairo by prominent blogger and activist, Alaa Abd El-Fattah. VJ Um Amel joins DJ Ma'at for an afternoon of world music synchronized to a remix of Egyptian cinema and media emerging from the revolutions across the Middle East and North Africa. Drawn from the databases of the R-Shief initiative, this performance pays tribute to the vision of the people. Lunch will be served.

A local pro-peace coalition in partnership with Santa Monica's Beth Shir Shalom will present a director's screening of the powerful, award-winning documentary Israel vs. Israel in the series Progressive Conversations on Israel, Palestine and U.S. Foreign Policy in the Middle East, followed by a public forum, on Thurs., Jan. 26, 7:30 pm (doors 7 pm).

Levantine Cultural Center's best-loved creative writing teacher, Elana Golden, leads a special one-of-a-kind  creative writing workshop for Armenians and Turks, and their friends. In an atmosphere of respect for our common humanity, this workshop will offer a safe space and guidance for Armenians and Turks to write their stories and those of their families and ancestors, and listen to each other's work from the heart. Says Elana, "It is my greatest honor and life purpose to help people heal and grow from war and trauma, and to turn atrocities into works of art so we remember them and not repeat them."

Sarah's War/Freedom Theatre West Fundraiser, Friday, Jan. 20, 2012, 8 pm, Hudson Theatre, Theatre Row Hollywood, 6539 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood CA 90038. Performances, discussion with cast & crew, refreshments and delicious food. Donate in any amount or suggested ticket prices $100 best seats, $75 supporters. 

Actor Shiva Rose, Playwright Valerie Dillman, Director Matt McKenzie, Activist Amani Jabsheh and many Friends of the Levantine Cultural Center invite you to join us in supporting the founding production for the first Middle Eastern theatre company of Los Angeles, Freedom Theatre West (FTW), named in honor of Juliano Mer-Khamis' Jenin company, the Freedom Theatre. The objective is to raise completion funds to underwrite the first FTW production, Sarah's War, by Valerie Dillman. We have raised a significant contribution toward the $25,000 goal and iook forward to raising the balance by Jan. 20, 2012, with your help.

DUE TO CIRCUMSTANCES BEYOND OUR CONTROL, THIS SCREENING HAS BEEN CANCELED. A special interfaith opportunity to view a film and dialogue on the relationship of Islam, Judaism and Christianity. The Levantine Center's New Voices in Middle Eastern Cinema series and the Muslim Public Affairs Council's Hollywood Bureau are pleased to announce a special screening of Joel Fendelman's feature debut David, followed by a cast/crew Q & A with star Maz Jobrani, Pastor Craig Peterson, and LCC executive director Jordan Elgrably, on Wed., Jan. 18, 6:30 pm, at the Woodland Hills Community Church, 21338 Dumetz Rd., Woodland Hills CA 91364. Children 12 and under may enter free with parent or guardian. General admission is $10, members, students and seniors, $8. RSVP early to 310.657.5511 to save your seats.

UCLA's OppenheimeLecture Series will present "The Role of the Media as a Partner in Protecting the Environment and Reaching Sustainable Development in Egypt" with special guest speaker Randa Fouad, on Wed., Jan. 18, at 6 pm on campus UCLA's Fowler Museum, Lenart Auditoriium. The forum is free to the public but reservations are required. Click here.

"Empathy is a wave that need never be stopped. If our children can catch this wave, from the ocean of tears shed by Palestinian children, they might have a future in a more stable and saner world." —Alice Walker [read Walker's original essay on the challenges of this exhibit]

Please come and see and support this new exhibition, A Child's View of Gaza, in Los Angeles.

The Levantine Center's New Voices in Middle Eastern Cinema series and the Muslim Public Affairs Council's Hollywood Bureau are pleased to announce a special screening of Joel Fendelman's feature debut David, followed by a cast/crew Q & A with director Joel Fendelman and producer Stephanie Levy, and others to be announced, on Sunday, Jan. 15, 4 pm, at the Covina Women's Club, Covina. Children 12 and under may enter free with parent or guardian. General admission is $10, members, students and seniors, $8. RSVP early to 310.657.5511 to save your seats.