The Arab Americans will have its U.S. premier at the Washington DC International Film Festival/Arabian Sights Festival on October 17th, 2005 at 6:30PM. We're extremely proud of the film's creator and executive producer Abe Kasbo for having the courage and tenacity and realizing his dream of sharing the story of Arab Americans with a wide audience not only to show that their story closely parallels that of many other ethnics who immigrated to the United States but also the remarkable contributions they have made to both American society and world culture. Arab Americans featured in this feature-length documentary include consumer advocate and presidential nominee Ralph Nader; actor/comedian Jamie Farr; the late Pulitzer-Prize winning journalist Anthony Shadid; Helen Samhan, Executive Director of the Arab American Institute; Senator George Mitchell; and the late Helen Thomas, among many other Arab Americans of note. Dr. Philip M. Kayal, retired chair of the Sociology/Anthropology Department at Seton Hall University, served as historical consultant and also appears in the film. we like to think of this show as Arab American History 101 because it's a great introduction to the evolution of Arab enclaves from coast to coast. While it touches on issues that are very specific to Arab Americans, it is a celebration of their heritage. Our fabulous production team, of different religions and backgrounds, is a really a testament to cultural exchange and collaboration. Stay tuned for more news on the documentary's TV premier on public TV stations nationwide.