SEATTLE PREMIERE OF FILM ABOUT LOVE SET AGAINST
THE TURBULENT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE U.S. AND IRAN

THIS Saturday, February 28 at 3:00PM. FREE! SIFF Cinema at Seattle Center.

Set against the turbulent relationship between the U.S. and Iran, Iranian-American filmmaker Marjan Tehrani captures the struggle and excitement of Alex and Heather as they plan a Persian Islamic wedding in Iran. But when Alex's Iranian-born parents and Heather's conservative American father meet for the first time, cultures clash and test the couple to their limits.

Our Seattle event will include local Iranian and Iranian-American community leaders who will answer questions about living in Seattle while keeping their traditions and history alive. We will also feature couples from widely divergent backgrounds who find common ground and struggle against international politics to keep their love strong.

ARUSI PERSIAN WEDDING is an intensely personal story of two people in love and the thousands of miles of red tape that threaten the foundation of their relationship.  The film presents a detailed history of Iran and Iranian culture from the 1953 secret U.S. CIA overthrow of Iran's democratically elected President Mossadegh to the recent effects of the 2003 American invasion of Iraq on Iran all the while following Alex and Heather on a journey through Iran to the alter of their traditional Arusi Persian wedding on the Caspian Sea. Alex, a professional photographer, fills the film with striking and breath-taking images of Iran.  Seeing Iran through Heather's eyes is a uniquely intimate and personal journey.

ARUSI PERSIAN WEDDING is co-presented by Iranian American Community Alliance Seattle and kodoom.com

SIFF Cinema is located in the Nelsholm Family Lecture Hall on the lower level of Marion Oliver McCaw Hall at Seattle Center. The main entrance is directly below the skybridge from the Mercer garage at the Corner of 3rd Avenue North and Mercer Street.

The ITVS/PBS Discussion Guide (PDF) is available online at:
http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/arusipersianwedding/getinvolved.html

Community Cinema Seattle is presented by KCTS9 Television Seattle, KBCS 91.3 FM Community Radio, The City of Seattle Office for Civil Rights, and the Seattle International Film Festival.

Community Cinema Seattle was named "Best Film Series In Seattle" by Seattle Metropolitan magazine in July 2008, and we're still 100% free.

WHAT:   Special screening of ARUSI PERSIAN WEDDING
WHEN:   Saturday, February 28, 2009 at 3:00 PM
WHERE:  SIFF Cinema, 321 Mercer Street, Seattle, 98109
WHO:    ITVS, KCTS, KBCS FM, SOCR, IACA, & SIFF
HOW:    Free. For more information visit http://communitycinema.org/


About the national Community Cinema program in 50 cities:
http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/getinvolved/

Join our community partners for these upcoming events at the Iranian American Community Alliance Seattle: http://iaca-seattle.org/calendar