Middle East documentary and its director coming to UF

October 16, 2007

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The University of Florida will host internationally renowned filmmaker and peace activist Ronit Avni who will show her award-winning documentary “Encounter Point” on Wednesday in the Reitz Student Union Auditorium.

With the Israeli-Palestinian conflict back in the headlines this week with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice’s visit to the region, UF will be providing the community with a timely opportunity to learn more about those on the front lines of this enduring conflict who are actively working, despite many hardships, to prepare their societies for peace. The Dean of Students Office has partnered with the Reitz Union Board, the International Center and the Center for Jewish Studies to bring this film, which has won multiple international awards including the audience award for best documentary at the San Francisco International Film Festival 2006, to campus. The film will be shown at 7 p.m. followed by a question-and-answer period with Avni.

“We are very excited about the timeliness of this visit,” said Tamara Cohen, director of Multicultural and Diversity Affairs in the Dean of Students Office. “With the Israeli-Palestinian conflict back in the headlines, this is a great opportunity for students and community members to educate themselves about this vitally important region, not through the sound bites of heads of state, but through the stories of ordinary heroes working to turn their personal tragedies into the building blocks for peace.”

The film is part of the Division of Student Affairs’ focus on educating students to be leaders in a global society. Among many press accolades of the film, Mark Olsen of the Los Angeles Times called it “vital and refreshing.” In his 2006 review, he writes, “By breaking down the conflict to its most personal impacts, ‘Encounter Point’ remains accessible, and valuable, even to those with no immediate stake in the situation… Oddly funny and deeply troubling.”

Refreshments will be served following the event. For more information, see www.encounterpoint.com.