When presenting Peace of Mind be sure and think about possible speakers whom you could invite or panels you could compose for a post-screening discussion. It might be interesting to invite professors from local universities who focus on this region, members of local activist groups who work in this region or with people from this region, or a film professor or writer who specializes in documentary films.

In addition to inviting speakers, it is important to think about groups you want to outreach to or simply invite to see the film. Be sure and post flyers in the appropriate academic departments of local universities (Hebrew Studies, Middle Eastern Studies, International Relations, Film/Media, and other related disciplines.) Posting flyers at local libraries, religious centers, youth centers, bookstores, and cinemas is also a good idea. If there are youth groups or Jewish community group(s) in your town, be sure and notify them of your screening. Try to advertise or have articles about the film in local newspapers, particularly ethnic newspapers published in Arabic, English or Hebrew. Talk to friends and have them spread the word to other friends and colleagues who might be interested in the film.

You may want to moderate a post-screening discussion yourself. If so, it is always a good idea to have some questions in mind to start the discussion with the audience. Don't feel as if you have to be able to answer all the questions. Often, it isn't necessary and other members of the audience will be able to respond to the questions posed. Some example questions might be:

- What did you like about the film and what didn't you like about the film?

- How did it make people feel to see how these youth related to each other once they went home to their respective countries?

- Can someone relate a similar story to those shown in the film? Have members of the audience experienced similar situations?

- What do people think of Bushra? Yossi? Reut? or other individuals in the film?

These are just examples and you will likely have questions of your own after screening the film.

Last but not least, be sure and mention to the audience that the film is available for purchase on video through Global Action Project at www.global-action.org.

For further reference, please read the letter below written by the producer and director of Peace of Mind in regards to allegations about the film's production in the Israeli press.

"Blind Eye on the Media"
A Response to David Bar-Illan's editorial, "The Wrong Seeds" (01-28-00, Jerusalem Post)

When we set about the formidable task of producing a film with Palestinian and Israeli youth, teenage graduates from the Seeds of Peace program, we were well aware that there would be extremists on both sides who would take issue. We were unprepared for the lengths to which two journalists would go to undermine a project that promotes understanding and trust among Israeli and Palestinian youth. In his recent column David Bar-Illan accuses the film and its makers of "exploiting the innocence of teenagers. " Yet that is exactly what Bar-Illan and his colleague have done themselves.

After seeing the film at the Tel Aviv Cinematheque, one of these so-called journalists contacted the film's Israeli youth producers. He called them more than twenty times over the course of five weeks, each time giving them criticisms and encouraging them to disassociate themselves from the project. When they refused, he resorted to another tactic-- informing them that American Jewish organizations were unhappy about the film and were waiting for the them to take a stand against it. This was and is patently untrue. The youth said they ultimately were pressured to write a letter of protest against the film and its producers and submit it to the media. In the end Bar-Illan succeeded in pitting these young Israelis against each other and against their Palestinian friends and coproducers with whom they had worked so hard to establish trust.

At the core of Peace of Mind are seven Israeli and Palestinian teenagers who worked together for two years forging strong bonds of trust. They took risks to open their hearts and their homes to each other. These youth were involved in literally every aspect of the process-from planning and filming to editing. We contacted them often and gathered them together numerous times in the region to view cuts of the film; always honoring their different perspectives.

We refute several points made in Bar-Illan's column, many of which were taken out of context, magnifying trivialities while detracting focus from the film's true relevance. Regarding the image of a tank in the film's History section, the film never states or insinuates that this tank was Israeli. The image is there solely to illustrate the War of 1948. It was obtained through the Israeli Film Archive. Bar-Illan accuses the filmmakers of glossing over Israeli history. The Israeli youth themselves researched and wrote the History section, which includes footage of Jewish immigration, the Holocaust, the War of Independence and David Ben Gurion declaring a Jewish state. It is unprecedented that Israeli and Palestinian youth would sit together to debate and ultimately agree on how to present their histories.

We are particularly disturbed that Bar-Illan went to such lengths in an effort to destroy the credibility of the Israeli girl who refused to sign the protest letter. In the film she denounces racism of any kind. Bar-Illan calls her "obviously confused," seriously misrepresenting her character. He omits any mention of the fact that this young woman proudly recounts the story of how her grandparents survived the Holocaust and settled in a Jewish state. In several scenes, this young woman takes courageous measures--inviting Palestinians to her home for Hannukah and accepting an invitation to visit her friend in a refugee camp.

Since its premiere at the Jerusalem Cinematheque in November 1999 the response to Peace of Mind in the Israeli media, from The Jerusalem Post to Ha'aretz has been very positive. Many prominent members of the American Jewish community have also supported this film. Recently an entire ABC News "Nightline" broadcast was dedicated to this project. Additionally, a New York chapter of an important Jewish organization brought one of the Israeli youth producers to New York, and invited him and a Palestinian youth producer to speak at a local synagogue. Before this Israeli young man was pressured into signing the protest letter, he had proudly represented the film before several enthusiastic audiences in Israel and the United States.

There are always facts that could have been included, stories that could have been focused on, but that is another film. Peace of Mind is about trust and friendship and the efforts that these individuals have made toward understanding each other. It is ironic that when young people demonstrate they can find ways to resolve the disputes they have inherited from their forefathers, it is the adults who feel most threatened and resort to such questionable tactics to discredit the youth and perpetuate the conflict. We are very proud of what these young people have achieved and fully stand behind them and this film.

Susan Siegel is the Founder and Co-Executive Director of Global Action Project, Inc.-an organization that trains youth around the world to produce videos on critical social issues. G.A.P. has produced over thirty videos with youth in Croatia, Guatemala, Northern Ireland, Ghana, the Middle East and the U.S. She is a conflict resolution specialist and diversity trainer, who has consulted with such organizations as The Elie Wiesel Foundation, The United States Institute for Peace and Educators for Social Responsibility.

Mark Landsman is an independent filmmaker and media educator who has worked extensively with young people. A former Associate Producer for PBS, he founded and facilitated media literacy programs for public middle and high school-aged youth in New York City. He is currently the creator and Executive Producer of "Move It!"--a children's educational television series on dance.