Shot in Jerusalem, Ramallah and Los Angeles, DRIVING TO ZIGZIGLAND is a chronicle of a day in the life of a Bashar, a Palestinian cab driver in Los Angeles. Bashar holds tight onto the American Dream of becoming an actor in Hollywood but also longs to go back home to his legitimate theatrical acting job in Palestine, despite the Israeli occupation.In Los Angeles, a film audition typecasts Bashar to play an Al Qaeda terrorist role. When Bashar gets home, he realizes the utilities payments are due and he has twenty-four hours to make the money. For the remaining hours left until tomorrow, an unceasing flow of passengers ride in Bashar's taxi and give the Arab cabbie the run-around on issues that deal with suicide bombers, George Bush, Cat Stevens, the war in Iraq, Rai music, and world geography. In a post-9/11 American day, Bashar falls into the interest of the F.B.I. and suffers a massive blow from the bureaucracy of the former INS, now Homeland Security.
All the while, Bashar's nostalgia of the Al Kasaba Theater in Ramallah, his place of work before being confined to his green American cab, poses the question of whether or not the American Dream is an idea really worth fighting for.
Bashar's quest to make the money is won until he realizes he must choose between the Department of Homeland Security and his own family.
Based on true stories.
A 2006 BintFilm US-Palestine Production
Comedy, 92 Minutes
Produced by: Anas Khalaf
Directed by: Nicole Ballivian
Starring: Bashar Da'as
Music by:
Marcel Khalife - http://www.marcelkhalife.com/
Euphrates - http://myspace.com/euphrates
Raed Saeed
Sidi Yassir -http://remarkablecurrent.com
Driving to Zigzigland's Upcoming Film Festival Screenings:
Boston Palestine Film Festival
http://www.bostonpalestinefilmfest.org/
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=11484795132
Saturday, October 6th, 5:00PM
Kendall Square Cinema
Sunday, October 7th, 7:30PM
Museum of Fine Arts
Amal Film Festival, Santiago de Compostela,Spain
http://www.festivalamal.es/
Monday, Oct 29, 10:00 PM
FilmFest DC, Washington DC
http://www.filmfestdc.org/arabiansights/filmView.cfm?passID=6
AMC Loews Dupont Circle 5
Friday, Nov 2, 8:45 PM
Saturday, Nov 3, 4:30 PM
Arab American Film Festival, Dearborn, Michigan
http://www.arabamericanmuseum.org/3rd-annual-Arab-Film-Festival.id.260.htm
Arab American National Museum
Friday, November 2nd, 7:30PM
Cancun International Film Festival, Cancun, Mexico
http://www.cancunfilmfest.com.mx/
Festival Run: Nov 5 - 11
Screening Dates TBD shortly
Kolkata International Film Festival, Calcutta, India
http://www.calfilmfestival.org/
Festival Run: Nov 10-17
Screening Dates TBD shortly
Fest History:
September 2007 - Festival do Rio, Brazil
September 2007 - International Festival of Muslim Cinema - Kazan, Tatarstan, Russia - Award recipient from Russia's Cinematographers and Cinema Critics Guild
July 2007 - Osians Cinefan - New Delhi, India
June 2007 - Franco-Arab Film Festival of Amman - Amman, Jordan
Dec 2006 - Dubai International Film Festival - Dubai, UAE
Nov 2006 - Cairo International Film Festival - Cairo, Egypt
Contact: info@drivingtozigzigland.com
Website: www.drivingtozigzigland.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2354660827
hope it works this time
