“AmericanEast” is a timely, poignant drama about Arab-Americans living in post-9/11 Los Angeles. The story examines long-held misunderstandings about Arabic and Islamic culture, and puts a human face on a segment of the U.S. population whom most Americans know nothing about, but who today are of particular interest to them, either from curiosity or suspicion. The story highlights the pressures under which many Arab-Americans now live by focusing on the points-of-view of three main characters.

In Person: Director Hesham Issawi, Stars Anthony Azizi and Nassar Faris

When he's not trying to prevent his son from converting to Christianity or police his teenaged daughter's druggie friends, Egyptian restaurateur Moustafa juggles the demands of his run-down café with tangled family obligations. And although everyone's against the idea of him opening a classy joint with Jewish pal Sam, Muslim Moustafa has faith—until a gung-ho FBI agent detains him at the airport. Proving once again that comedy is the best medicine, AmericanEast is a tonic for racial intolerance and suspicion, an affirmation of Arab-American pride and resolve in the land of the free. With a strong cast headlined by Tony Shalhoub, who won an Emmy for his television role as Monk, Anthony Azizi from "Lost" and "Commander In Chief," and co-scripter Sayed Badreya, AmericanEast maintains a palpable tension between social point-making and workaday soap opera. The result is a solid, homegrown Muslims-in-our-midst tale. -Ronnie Scheib, Variety

For more information visit: http://www.americaneastmovie.com

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