2009, 96 mins., Director: Cherien Dabis

The Institute for Communication on Media in the Middle East, ICOMME, is collaborating with the Austin Film Society and it’s Middle East Film Series to bring you a story centered around a story about the trials and tribulations of an immigrant mother and son in America.  Mary, a Palestinian woman finds herself in situations where she is misunderstood, stereotyped and treated unfairly.  She also finds that she has to lie to her family about the only job she could find.  New York Times says, “Cherien Dabis’s “Amreeka” (the Arabic word for America) stands alongside “The Visitor” and “Maria Full or Grace” as one of the most accomplished recent films about a non-European immigrant coming to the United States.”

Cherien Dabis is a Palestinian American director, producer, and screenwriter.  She was named one of Variety magazine’s 10 Directors to Watch in 2009.  Dabis received her B.A. with honors in creative writing and communications from the University of Cincinnati and her M.F.A. from Columbia University School of Arts in 2004. Her first short film, Make a Wish, premiered at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival and received awards at other festivals.  She also was a writer with the television series, The L Word from 2006 to 2008.

SCREENING INFO
The screening will be held at the Marchesa Hall and Theatre.  The film will begin promptly at 7:30 pm, followed by a short Q&A with Director, Cherien Dabis and a reception with light hors d’oeuvres.

Sponsored by Austin Film Society