Nine "My So-Called Enemy" screenings, a Building Bridges update

At the NACUC conference with Shoshana Strom (Hillel), Irema Halilovic (Muslim Student Association) and Dave Wright (Chaplain, Director for Spirituality and Justice), University of Puget Sound

Building Bridges Middle East home group retreat

in Jerusalem, February 2014

Muna Aghawani, "Circles of Change" honoree

and past Building Bridges staff member seen in

"My So-Called Enemy"

Friends,

I hope that March is off to a beautiful start for you. We have nine "My So-Called Enemy" screenings to share with you this month. They are taking place on college and university campuses and religious and cultural institutions throughout the country -- including some in celebration of Women's History Month and International Women's Day. Because the spirit of our film is coalition building, I am heartened by how many community, campus and religious groups are coming together to co-sponsor our screenings. This was our intent from the start!

I recently returned from the National Association of College and University Chaplains (NACUC ) conference in Tacoma, WA, where "My So-Called Enemy" received a warm embrace. It was moving to share our film with chaplains who are deeply committed to serving students of all faiths on their campuses, and helping to bridge divides around Israel and Palestine. The topic of this year's conference was "The Future of Religion: On Campus and Beyond.," including dialogue about reaching students who are increasingly identifying themselves as "spiritual but not religious" or as having "no religion." The more universal notion that religion is about finding meaning and purpose in life resonated deeply with me.

Building Bridges Update

As Building Bridges celebrates its 20th anniversary, 46 participants from their 2013 summer intensive are now engaged in follow-up programs in Jerusalem and Colorado and looking forward to their second summer intensive in August. Under Rawan Zaitoun's stewardship, the Jerusalem office has started a mentorship program, matching new participants with Building Bridges alumni. Building Bridges will be launching "Building Bridges Colorado" in June to address the challenges of segregation in the United States.

If you live in Denver, Building Bridges' 8th Annual "Circles of Change" luncheon, honoring individuals working to make the world a better place, is taking place on April 11th. I am thrilled that Muna Aghawani (left) is being honored for her passion for building peaceful post-conflict communities, like Afghanistan and Iraq. Tickets for the event are available at BuildingBridgesShift.org.

on Facebook

March and April screenings

For advance tickets and more information, please visit the Now Playing page on our website.

Women's Equity Council UNA-USA San Diego | UN Foundation (San Diego, CA)
In Honor of International Women’s Day
Saturday, March 8th at 4:00pm
Women's Museum of California - 2730 Historic Decatur Road, Suite 103
This event is open to the public.

Women's Film Festival (Brattleboro, VT)

Fundraiser for the Women's Freedom Center

Saturday, March 8th at 4:00pm

New England Youth Theater - 100 Flat Street

This event is open to the public. Tickets are $8.

Clark University (Worcester, MA)

Women's History Month Programming

Thursday, March 13th from 6:30pm - 9:00pm

Johnson Auditorium (120 Sackler) - 950 Main Street

I will do a Q&A after the screening.

This event is free and open to the public.

Co-sponsored by Women’s and Gender Studies Program, IDSC Undergraduate Program, IDSC Graduate Program and Student Association, Department of Political Science, Department of Sociology, Graduate School of Geography, Peace Studies Program, Clark Hillel and the Muslim Youth Support Community (MYSC).

Seattle First Baptist Church and Bet Alef Meditative Synagogue (Seattle, WA)

Israel/Palestine Educational Film Series

Sunday, March 16th at 6:00pm

1111 Harvard Avenue - Free parking in the lot behind the building until 9:00pm

Cathy Merchant, an Israel/Palestine reconciliation activist and former Compassionate Listening Project trip leader will lead the post-screening discussion.

This event is free and open to the public.

Sponsored by the Social Justice Committee of the church and synagogue

Vanderbilt University (Nashville, TN)

International Lens Film Series

Tuesday, March 18th at 7:30pm

Vanderbilt University Sarratt Cinema

2013 Vanderbilt Place - Sarrat Student Center

This event is free and open to the public.

Simmons College (Boston, MA)

Spring into Spirituality Week

Thursday, March 27 - time and location TBD

For more information: spirituallife@Simmons.edu

This event is free and open to the public.

Sponsored by The Office of Spiritual Life

Smith College (Northampton, MA)

Monday, March 31st 5:00 - 7:30pm

Seelye Hall - 201

I will do a Q&A after the screening.

This event is free and open to the public.

Co-sponsored by Film Studies, American Studies, Jewish Studies, Study of Women and Gender, Middle East Studies, the Departments of Religion, Anthropology, The Smith School of Social Work, The Amherst College Film and Media Studies Program, The Mount Holyoke College Program in Film Studies and The Hampshire College Humanities Program.

April 2014

Hewlett-East Rockaway Jewish Centre (East Rockaway, NY)

Israel Film Series

Thursday, April 3rd at 7:45pm

295 Main Street - in the Sanctuary

I will do a Q&A after the screening.

This event is open to the public with a suggested donation.

Monmouth University's Annual Global Understanding Convention (West Long Branch, NJ)

Thursday April 10th from 8:00am - 9:45am

H. R. Young Auditorium, Bey Hall - 400 Cedar Avenue

I will do a Q&A after the screening in Professor Saliba Sarsar's Comparative Politics of the Middle East class.

This event is free and open to the public.

Sponsored by the the Monmouth Center for World Religions and Ethical Thought (MCWRET), the Monmouth Dialogue Group and the U.S. President’s Interfaith Initiative at Monmouth University.

How you can support our outreach efforts:

Tell educators, clergy, public librarians, friends and colleagues to purchase "My So-Called Enemy" and recommend it for screenings and conferences. Suggest they "like" our film on Facebook and join our mailing list.

Share the love:

Rate and /or write a review of "My So-Called Enemy" on IMDB.com.
Make a tax-deductible contribution to support our continuing outreach efforts.

Screening venues

Colleges and universities • High schools • Religious institutions • Interfaith settings • Cultural institutions • Public libraries • Afterschool programs • Cultural exchange programs • Peace and dialogue groups • Conferences

Relevant topics include

Cinema/Film Studies • Communications/Media Studies • Diversity • Ethics • Global Studies • Human Rights • Jewish Studies • Journalism • International Relations • Islamic Studies • Law/Mediation • Leadership • Middle East Studies • Peace and Conflict Resolution Studies • Philosophy • Political Science • Psychology • Religious Studies • Social Work • Sociology • Women’s and Gender Studies

Campus Groups

Amnesty International • Associated Student Productions • Dean's Office • Film Societies/Clubs • Foreign Language Houses • Hillel • Interfaith Youth Core • International Houses • J Street U • Middle East Studies Association • Muslim Students Association • The Olive Tree Initiative • OneVoice • Student Government Association

Bring "My So-Called Enemy" to your community

Do you have ideas about how our film can have the greatest impact in your community? Not only for dialogue around Middle East peace, but as a conflict resolution tool celebrating diversity and empowering girls/women/our youth to be agents for social change?

My greatest joy is teaching and being "in community" with "My So-Called Enemy." Please drop me a line if you are interested in hosting a screening and/or inviting me to present "My So-Called Enemy" at your academic or religious institution, peace/multi-faith organization or youth/after-school program. Because our model is coalition building, we encourage screenings to be co-hosted by diverse groups when possible.

I hope this note finds you happy and well and look forward to staying in touch in the months ahead.

With gratitude and love,

Lisa

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"MY SO-CALLED ENEMY" a good egg production

director/producer Lisa Gossels producer Eden Wurmfeld

director of photography Justin Schein edited by Lisa Gossels

David Mehlman Toby Shimin music by Nathan Larson

2010 Hamptons International Film Festival

Winner, Jury Prize for Best Conflict & Resolution Film

2010 Starz Denver Film Festival

Winner, Special Jury Prize in Filmmaking

2010 Boston Jewish Film Festival

Winner, Audience Award, Best Feature Documentary Film

2011 Newport Beach Film Festival

Winner, Jury Award, Best Feature Documentary Film

Winner, MacGillivray Freeman Films Award for Excellence in Documentary Filmmaking (feature)

2011 CINE Golden Eagle

Winner, CINE Golden Eagle, Documentary Feature