Red Chewing Gum (Al-llka Al Hamra)(Akram Zaatari, Lebanon, 2000). Within the changing urban environment of Beirut, two souls find themselves in a cycle of loss, departure, rupture, and celebration. An impressive video letter inspired by a story of separation between men. With Ziad Antar, Nabil Kojok. (10 mins, In Arabic with English and French subtitles, From V-Tape)

Nightfall (Mohamed Soueid, Lebanon, 2000). Drawing from his diaries, Soueid recounts his time spent in "The Student Squad" of the Palestinian resistance movement Fateh during the Lebanese Civil War. Stories of old friends fallen during the war and of others still alive unravel amongst copious amounts of drinking and carousing. A lyrical artist, Soueid defies oral conventions by blending narrative with prose, essay with poem, and conversation with speculation. (70 mins, In Arabic with English subtitles, From Arab Film Distribution)