Ziad Hamzeh, Award-Winning Writer/Director Of The Critically Acclaimed Documentary "The Letter" Featured On NPR's "Here and Now"

Ziad Hamzeh, award-winning writer/director of the critically acclaimed feature-length documentary "The Letter" is featured on NPR's "Here and Now". Co-host Robin Young discusses the film with the filmmaker.

(PRWEB) March 7, 2004 --Ziad Hamzeh, award-winning writer/director of the critically acclaimed feature-length documentary "The Letter" is featured on NPR's "Here and Now", March 2004. Co-host Robin Young discusses the film with the filmmaker.

"LA Weekly" calls "The Letter" …a thoughtful, historically grounded and utterly absorbing look at a quintessential American experience". "Variety" hails it as …an especially dramatic work of polemical reportage on racism in America… A study of the American dream in collapse."

"The Letter": Overwhelmingly white Lewiston, Maine, is thrown into turmoil when 1,100 former Somali refugees - primarily Arab-speaking and Muslim - relocate there enmasse in the wake of the 9/11 tragedy; an event referred to by the international news media as the "Somali invasion".

A firestorm of controversy erupts when the Lewiston mayor writes an open letter to the new arrivals asking them to tell friends and family not to move into the city. The conflict escalates among townspeople and outside racist groups, culminating in competing "hate" and "peace" rallies held simultaneously and separated by only a few miles; events necessitating the largest police action in Maine's history to ensure the safety of the city's residents.

"The Letter" premiered at the 2003 AFI Film Festival in Los Angeles, is nominated as Best Film at The 2004 Pan-African Film Festival, has been chosen as the Opening Night film at The 2004 Amnesty International Film Festival, and is an Official Selection of The 2004 Minneapolis-St. Paul International Film Festival and The 2004 Newport Beach Film Festival.

To hear the "Here and Now" interview log-on to: www.here-now.org/shows/2004/03/20040303_17.asp

"The Letter" Official Website: www.hamzehmystiquefilms.com/theletter

For more information contact:
Bert Brown: bert@hamzehmystiquefilms.com
www.HamzehMystiqueFilms.com