For Immediate Release
May 14, 2007

Results of Second Annual Al-Awda - Alternate Focus Worldwide Film Contest

The San Diego-based reviewing committee of The Annual Al-Awda - Alternate Focus Worldwide Film Contest is pleased to announce the results of its second call for films presenting the unheard voice of the Palestinian people to the American public. The contest was inaugurated at the Media for the Return workshop at Al-Awda's Third Annual International Convention in April 2005. The winners of each contest would be announced and honored at each subsequent convention.

Last year's first and second place winners were "The Children of Ibdaa - To Create Something Out of Nothing" by S. Smith Patrick and "My Land" by Tone Andersen, respectively.

The results for this year are as follows:

• First place: "Nowhere to Flee" by Adam Shapiro and Perla Issa
• Second place: "One Year of Peaceful Resistance Against the Wall in Billin" by Emad Bornat

In addition to broadcasting these films on cable television to a relatively large audience after securing permission to do so from the filmmakers, the first and second prize winners will receive $500 and $300, respectively. In addition, the winning films will be screened at the Fifth Annual International Al-Awda Convention which will take place on the upcoming May 25-27 memorial day week-end at The Embassy Suites Hotel - Anaheim South, 11767 Harbor Boulevard, Garden Grove, CA 92840.

The Al-Awda - Alternate Focus reviewing committee wishes to congratulate the winners, and all those who submitted their films for consideration.

We also thank those who sponsored the contest with their monetary contributions. To contribute to next year's contest, please go to http://al-awda.org/donate.html and follow the instructions. Please remember to indicate that your contribution is to support The Annual Al-Awda - Alternate Focus Worldwide Film Contest.

We will announce the start of our next film contest later this year. We look forward to your continued support and participation.

ABOUT THE WINNING FILMS

"Nowhere to Flee" is a 2006 film by Adam Shapiro and Perla Issa. In this unique, timely and moving film, Palestinians currently stranded in al-Tanaf and Al-Ruweished camps tell of their own personal experiences and what led them to flee Baghdad. Al-Tanaf camp is located in no man's land on the Syria Iraq border. Al-Ruweished detention camp is located in Jordan close to the Iraq border. Unlike other refugees who have gone through this camp, most of the Palestinians have been there for four years already.

"One Year of Peaceful Resistance Against the Wall in Billin" is a 2006 film by Emad Bornat. This powerful and captivating film documents the daily non-violent resistance in Billin against the annexation of village land, destruction of olive groves, and the building of the Annexation Wall.

The Reviewing Committee

Al-Awda, The Palestine Right to Return Coalition
PO Box 131352
Carlsbad, CA 92013, USA
Tel: 760-685-3243
Fax: 360-933-3568
E-mail: info@al-awda.org
WWW: http://al-awda.org

Al-Awda, The Palestine Right to Return Coalition (PRRC) is the largest network of grassroots activists and students dedicated to Palestinian human rights. We are a not for profit tax-exempt educational and charitable 501(c)(3) organization as defined by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) of the United States of America. Under IRS guidelines, your donations to PRRC
are tax-deductible.

Alternate Focus
3830 Valley Centre Dr. Suite 705-PMB741
San Diego, CA 92130, USA
Phone 858-551-0191
Fax 858-487-2333
WWW: http://www.alternatefocus.org/

Based in San Diego, California, Alternate Focus is a 501c3 non profit educational media group promoting an alternative view of Middle East issues. Alternate Focus uses the web, cable and satellite television, and dvds to showcase media not usually seen by American audiences.