Sunday July 22, 2007 at 6:30 PM

Age of Awakening

a film by: Aryana Farshad

in English

Produced, Directed by Aryana Farshad, “Age of Awakening” was premiered at British Museum along with "Forgotten Empire" exhibition on November 2005, followed by LA premier at “Los Angeles County Museum of Arts” on 2006.

Shot entirely across ancient Persia, Iran's today, from historic city of Pasargadea, resting place of Cyrus the Great to the majestic city of Persepolis and biblical city of Susa, "Age of Awakening" takes the audience into the heart of this ancient where the first declaration of human rights was born.

Written by Mystic Iran’s writing team, Janelle Balnicke and Aryana Farshad, the music is by The late Aminollah A. Hossein, a Courtesy of his son, Robert Hossein and is narrated by internationally acclaimed Iranian comedian Omid Djalili . Omid is best known far his part in the television series “Whoopi.”

Aryana began her higher education in Paris, majoring in French Literature at La Sorbonne, prior to receiving her degree from L’ Institut Des Hautes Etudes Cinematographiques in Film Production and Editing. She started work as a documentary editorin France, continuing in Iran, where she received the ABU Award for editing THE EMIGRANT BIRDS and worked with major Iranian and European filmmakers, including the two times Oscar winner French director, Albert Lamorisse.

In 1978, Aryana moved to the United States and continued film studies at U.S.C. She joined the Editors Guild of America (I.A.T.S.E ) and worked at major studios, including MGM and Columbia Pictures, while developing her own projects.

Aryana’s documentary film, “MYSTIC IRAN; THE UNSEEN WORLD” was internationally praised and is being broadcast at PBS cannels.

Toread more, click here:
www.mysticiran.com

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Please note that the showing of Letters from Iran a film by Nazem manouchehri has been postponed to a future date and in its place the following film will be shown.

BAM: WHISPER OF THE WIND
A film by Yassamin Maleknasr

In Persian, with English subtitles (17 minutes)

Bam, Whisper of the Wind: is the story of a woman archaeologist who survived the earthquake in Bam, Iran, and decides to help rebuild Arg-E-Bam (Bam’s ancient Citadel).

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Academy Award Winner

WEST BANK STORY

a film by: Ari Sandel

in English

Special Guest: Ari Sandel

and Anthony Shams

West Bank Story, this year's Oscar winner for best live action short film, features a star-crossed love affair between an Israeli soldier and a Palestinian woman. It's a take off on the musical West Side Story, with two dueling falafel shops as backdrop.

Ari Sandel, the movie's director and co-writer, says he wanted to find a way to make people laugh, despite the serious nature of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

This musical comedy is set in the fast-paced, fast-food world of competing falafel stands in the West Bank... David, an Israeli soldier, falls in love with the beautiful Palestinian cashier, Fatima, despite the animosity between their families' dueling restaurants. Can the couple's love withstand a 2000 year old conflict and their families' desire to control the future of the chic pea in the Middle East?

Directed by Ari Sandel, written by Kim Ray & Ari Sandel; an official selection of the 2005 Sundance Film Festival.

With Susan Taslimi, Mehdi Hashemi,
Amin Tarokh and Mahmood Behrouzian