Syrian ambassador to Washington to speak about culture and film in Syria
TOWSON, Md. (Feb. 12, 2007)—Towson University’s College of Liberal Arts presents its fourth annual Foreign Film Festival, Films from Syria, beginning on February 20 and continuing through March 6. The films, all in Arabic with English subtitles, will be introduced either by His Excellency ,Imad Moustapha, Syrian ambassador to Washington, or by professors specializing in the Middle East. Discussion and a question-and-answer session will follow each screening. Refreshments will be provided.
Tuesday, February 20
6:30 p.m.
Linthicum Hall, Room 200
Verbal Letters (Rasa’el Shafahiyyah), introduced by His Excellency, Imad Moustapha, Syrian ambassador to Washington
Synopsis: Abdullatif Abdul-Hamid’s film about love, friendship, loyalty and the magic of the first kiss is loosely adapted from Cyrano de Bergerac.
Tuesday, February 27
6:30 p.m.
Linthicum Hall, Room 200
A Plate of Sardines (or The First Time I heard of Israel), moderated by Rochelle Davis, assistant professor of Arab culture and society, Center for Contemporary Arab Studies, Georgetown University
Synopsis: Omar Amiralay revisits the ruins of the destroyed village of Quneytra in the company of filmmaker Mohammad Malas.
The Dream (Al-Manam)
Synopsis: Mohammad Malas filmed this documentary in Sabra and Shatila, Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon, shortly before the 1982 massacre. Its principle reference is dreams, not lived reality.
Tuesday, March 6
6:30 p.m.
Linthicum Hall, Room 200
Stars in Broad Daylight (Nujum an-Nahar), moderated by Kevin Martin, assistant professor of history, University of Memphis
Synopsis: Oussama Mohammad’s first long feature is about a double wedding that turns to high drama when one bride runs away and the other refuses to go on with the marriage.
All screenings are free and open to the public. Free parking will be available in Visitor’s Lot 6, located on the TU campus off Towsontown Boulevard.
For additional information, call 410-704-2906.
Towson University co-sponsors include the College of Liberal Arts, the Departments of History, Geography, and Electronic Media and Film, the Institute for Teaching and Research on Women, Cultural Studies, and the Office of Student Activities.
Kimberly Katz, Department of History, organized the series.
8000 York Road | Towson, MD 21252 | 410-704-2000
