CONTACT: Zeina Schlenoff, (850) 644-3012; <zschlenoff@fsu.edu>

Sept. 26, 2008

DIVERSE LINEUP SET FOR FSU’S FIFTH ANNUAL MIDDLE EAST FILM FESTIVAL

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- A guided tour of Jerusalem, an award-winning love story from Yemen and a spiritual journey from Tunisia are on the bill as Florida State University presents its fifth annual Middle East Film Festival. The festival, which runs from Tuesday, Sept. 30, to Thursday, Oct. 9, will take place at FSU’s Askew Student Life Cinema, located at 942 Learning Way on the FSU campus. All films are free and open to the public.

The festival lineup is as follows:

Tuesday, Sept. 30, and Wednesday, Oct. 1, 7:30 and 10 p.m. both nights -- “Persepolis” (Iran, 1979): A young girl comes of age through the 1979 Iranian Revolution and attempts to find her place in the world. In French with English subtitles.

Saturday, Oct. 4, 4 p.m. -- “On the Count of Zero” (Turkey, 2007): “Sifir Dedigimde,” as it’s known in Turkey, is a psychological thriller, dreamy in parts with folklore-inspired special effects. In Turkish with English subtitles. A question-and-answer session with the director, Gokan Yorgancigil, will follow the film.

Sunday, Oct. 5, 7 p.m. -- “Beaufort” (Israel, 2007): Oscar-nominated for best foreign film, this is the story of an Israeli soldier who has the job of destroying his post, the Castle Beaufort, which leaves him with questions about his existence. In Hebrew, with English subtitles.

Tuesday, Oct. 7, 7:30 p.m. -- “Caramel” (France/Lebanon, 2007): This romantic comedy centers on four women of different ages, all working in a Beirut beauty shop. It gives a candid glimpse of life in Beirut outside of politics and war. In Arabic with English subtitles. Sponsored by the Arab Cultural Association.

Tuesday, Oct. 7, 10 p.m. -- “The Edge of Heaven” (Germany, Turkey, Italy, 2007): Winner of Best Screenplay for 2007 at the Cannes Film Festival. In Germany, Ali sees a solution to his loneliness when he meets Yeter, a prostitute, and proposes that she rents a room from him. In German, Turkish and English with English subtitles.

Wednesday, Oct. 8, 7:30 and 10 a.m. -- “Where in the World is Osama Bin Laden?” (France, United States, 2008): Filmmaker Morgan Spurlock explores the Middle East, following the trail of Osama bin Laden, in an attempt to understand the charges of terrorism. In English.

Thursday, Oct. 9, 7 p.m. -- “Voisins, Voisines” (France, 2005): This film explores the importance of hip-hop to the impoverished Arab suburbs surrounding Paris. In French and Arabic with English subtitles. A question-and-answer with the director, Malik Chibane, will follow the film. Sponsored by the Winthrop-King Institute for French and Francophone Studies and Arte East.

Thursday, Oct. 9, 10 p.m. -- “Where in the World is Osama Bin Laden?”: This viewing is co-sponsored by the Middle East Center, Winthrop-King Institute for French and Francophone Studies, Student Life Cinema, the SLC Film Committee and the Arab Cultural Association.

For more information on the Middle East Film Festival, send an e-mail to <mecassistant@yahoo.com>.

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