Happy New Year!  That's right, it's the first *Divided We Fall: Americans in
the Aftermath *newsletter of 2007. Miss us? We missed you. Here it is, the
most recent news from the world of *Divided We Fall*!  (As always,
experience the full stories from the road on Valarie Kaur's blog *Into the
Whirlwind: * valariekaur.blogspot.com ).

*ON THE BBC
*Writer and Co-Producer Valarie Kaur can add yet another title to her name:
International Radio Star. Okay, so that might be a bit of a stretch. But
Valarie recently gave two interviews on BBC radio in England. To hear them,
check out the links on the *DWF* website:
http://www.dwf-film.com/inthenews.html

*OUR FAYERWEATHER FRIENDS – CAMBRIDGE, MA*

Full story: http://valariekaur.blogspot.com/2007/01/night-at-fayerweather-cambrid...

And: http://valariekaur.blogspot.com/2007/01/teacher-for-day-cambridge-ma....
**

We have shown the film at colleges, universities, and community centers. But
in January, we had two "firsts." Our first middle school screening as well
as our first-ever gymnasium screening! On January 18, Valarie presented the
film for the parents and teachers of *Fayerweather Street School* in
Cambridge, MA.  And then for seventh and eight graders in class the next
day.

The students were profound and thoughtful beyond their years. Only in grade
school when September 11 happened, their unique perspectives on the world
today were a gift to us. Check out Valarie's day as a substitute teacher at
Fayerweather, talking  with these insightful middle schoolers (the second
link at the top)!

Everything was possible because of the school's dedicated diversity
committee, especially *Valerie Courville *(yes, you read it right – we took
it as a sign) and her wonderful son *Dylan*, a student at the progressive
Fayerweather School. (Thanks also to *Shil Sengupta* for taking pictures and
being our pal.)

*MEANWHILE IN INDIA*

While Valarie was having a blast at school in Cambridge, Director and
Co-Producer Sharat Raju was having, uh… a less enjoyable time in *Mumbai**,
India *. Our first Indian screening of *DWF* was, unfortunately, not a
memorable one. Sharat was present for the SMTV India Film Festival while
visiting the Indian Subcontinent. And, although the festival was
disappointing (fellow filmmakers on this list take note), Sharat was happy
to have an audience. Even if it was only seven people.   Thank you to
Sharat's cousin *Aaditya Udupa*, longtime *DWF *friend and supporter *Curran
Singh*, and *Deepa Vaidyanathan *– who, along with the director, made up
more than half the audience!

*STANFORD & BERKELEY HOMECOMING – SF BAY, CA*

Full Story: http://valariekaur.blogspot.com/2007/01/stanford-berkeley-homecoming-...

Back in the States, our warm reception on the *DWF* tour continued,
especially at *Stanford University* where it all began.  As many of you
know, Stanford was the launching point for Valarie's journey across the
country in 2001. More than five years later, on January 28, we returned to
show the finished film, thanks to our host *Linda Hess* – Valarie's
professor and advisor who inspired her to "enter the whirlwind" of post 9/11
America. (Linda, who appears in the film, admitted that it's the dream of
all professors to have a famous student who will put them in a movie…we're
glad to have granted that wish…)

*DWF* was warmly received by an audience of nearly 200 students, locals, and
people who were part of the making of the film both behind and in front of
the camera: *Joseph Brown*, professor of sociology whose analysis is one of
the highlights of the film; *Carl Bielfeldt*, chair of the Religious Studies
Department when he supported Valarie's atypical projects including *DWF*; *Rob
Reich*, an advisor to Valarie and close friend of the *DWF* production team;
our friend *Mandeep Dhillon*, who appears in the film and has done
incredible work as a Sikh community spokesperson; Valarie's *Jagi
Auntie*and her daughter
*Neena Goswamy* who provided an empty house (that's right: house) to the *
DWF* production team in 2005 and have been a fixture in Valarie's life; also
*Sadaf Siddique *, one of our research assistants spread across the country
who pitched in during production.

And finally, *Rachael Neumann*. Rachael is one of the most memorable "stars"
of *DWF*. On Sept. 12, 2001, she was on a train that was headed to New York
from Boston . It stopped in Providence, Rhode Island when suddenly scores of
SWAT officers and policemen forcibly removed *Sher Singh* from the train as
a suspected terrorist – simply because of his appearance as a turbaned Sikh
man. Rachael was sitting directly behind Sher, and the story is featured in
our film.   Her description of the scene is riveting, and her understanding
of the event and how it changed her is one of the highlights of the film.
We're honored that Rachael was able to join us in Palo Alto and see her
story on the screen.

The tour continued across the Bay to *Berkeley* at the *University** of
California*'s flagship campus. On January 31, more than 200 people packed
the auditorium, taking up space in the aisles and every available corner,
all thanks to *Jaideep Singh*, professor, Sikh community spokesperson, and
long-time friend of the *DWF *team. The audience was incredible and the
discussion afterwards was deeply moving.

Thanks also to *Harpreet Sandhu*, a community leader in the El Sobrante area
during a spate of Sikh cab driver murders, we congratulate him on his recent
election to the Richmond City Council. Also joining us was story consultant
*Sharon Gibson*, friend and supporter *Kulwinder Dol*, as well as our*
*beautiful
friends *Karuna Tanahashi *and *Sanjeev Brar* (also Valarie's brother) who*
*captured on camera essential scenes for *DWF.*

The evening was inspiring, and we wish it could've gone on and on. But the *
DWF* train keeps moving…

*COURAGEOUS DIALOGUE AT DELTA COLLEGE – STOCKTON, CA*

Full Story: http://valariekaur.blogspot.com/2007/02/courageous-dialogue-at-delta-...

* *

We headed east to *Stockton**, California*. Stockton has a unique
distinction in American history as the site of the *first Sikh
gurdwara (temple)
in the United States* built in 1912. One of the founders of the temple was
Valarie's grandfather *Kehar Singh* whose story is featured in *DWF*.

But our Stockton premiere was not hosted by a Sikh or Indian group.  In a
true act of solidarity, students of the *Gay-Straight Alliance* at *San
Joaquin* *Delta College *organized our most elegant screening yet.   On
February 1, the film played in an incredible auditorium complete with plush
red seats and ushers with flashlights.   Nearly 400 students and locals
joined us for a rousing show. Thanks to the group's advisor *Vicki Marie *for
hosting an unforgettable afternoon, including a reception with cookies and
punch afterwards. Valarie had a chance to talk directly with many in the
audience inspired to share their own deeply personal stories.   Glimpse some
of these stories on Valarie's blog (link at the top).

And while the audience was filled with people who had never seen the film
before, there were two who are the current record-holders for the most
viewings of *DWF* – *Dolly *and* Judge Brar*, Valarie's parents and
Associate Producers of the film. They too felt the warmth at Delta College
and were honored by the organizers for their unyielding support in the
creation of *DWF*.

*THE SLATE FOR 2007*
Tour Schedule: http://www.dwf-film.com/tour.html

Our calendar continues to fill up quickly.  Keep checking our tour
schedule online
for the latest up-to-date information. Here are upcoming screenings in 2007!

* *

*Ann Arbor**, MI - Michigan Premiere!*
*Friday, March 9 at 6:30 p.m.
*
University of Michigan
Modern Languages Building (MLB) Auditorium 3.
812 East Washington
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
Filmmakers present for Q&A
Open to the public
Admission: $2 students, $5 non-students

*Urbana**, IL*
*Sunday, March 11 at 2 p.m.
*
Midwest Asian Americans Students Union (MAASU) Spring Conference
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Greg Hall 112
810 S. Wright Street
Urbana, IL 61801
Filmmaker Valarie Kaur present for Q&A
Admission: Free for conference participants and UIUC students with an
I-Card, $5 for the general public (non-UIUC students)

*Cambridge, MA
Thursday, March 22 at 7 p.m.
*
Harvard Law School
1563 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02138
Filmmakers present for Q&A
Admission: TBA

*St. Paul - Minnesota Premiere!
Tuesday, April 3 at 7:30 p.m.
*
Macalester College
JBD Lecture Hall
1600 Grand Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55105
Filmmaker Valarie Kaur present for Q&A
Admission: TBA
Open to the public

*Charlotte - North Carolina Premiere!
Monday, April 9 - TBA
*
University of North Carolina - Charlotte
Charlotte, NC
Filmmakers present for Q&A
Admission: TBA

*Columbia - South Carolina Premiere!
Tuesday, April 10 at 7:30 p.m.
*
Gambrell Hall Auditorium (Room 153)
University of South Carolina
Columbia, SC
Filmmakers present for Q&A
Free admission and Open to the public

*Auburn - Alabama Premiere!
Thursday, April 12 - TBA
*
Auburn University
Auburn, AL
Sponsored by the Auburn Asian Association
Filmmaker present for Q&A
Admission: TBA

*Toronto - Canada Premiere!
Wednesday, April 11 - Sunday, April 15 - TBA
*
7th Annual ReelWorld Film Festival
Toronto, Ontario
Canada
Site: http://www.reelworld.ca
Filmmaker present for Q&A
Admission: TBA

*Los Angeles, CA
Tuesday, April 17 - Sunday, April 22 - TBA
*
5th Annual Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA)
ArcLight Cinemas (at Sunset and Vine in Hollywood)
Los Angeles, CA
Site: http://www.indianfilmfestival.org/
Filmmaker present for Q&A
Admission: TBA**

*WELCOME TO THE TEAM*

* *

The *DWF *team continues to expand. With each screening, we welcome more
people into our family, including three additions to our communications
team. A warm welcome to communications assistants *Carissa Sharp, Jessica
Miller *and *Satvir Kaur*. If you would like to join our team in any
capacity, never hesitate to email us: i...@dwf-film.com. **

*DEEPER "INTO THE WHIRLWIND"*

After Northern California, we thought it was time to head back across the
country and show the film a few times on the east coast for good measure. *DWF
*continued onto a four-stop tour in New England: *Dartmouth** College*, *
University** of Connecticut*, *Yale** University* and *Wellesley** College*.
Not enough? How about back to *Seattle*? Still not enough? Try a week-long
tour through *Nebraska*. Yep, all that coming up in our next newsletter,
including the unveiling of an exciting new dialogue program developed by
mentor and friend *Tommy Lee Woon *and our new dialogue team. We'll tell you
about it soon...

Thanks for being a part of our growing family!

*Divided We Fall: Americans in the Aftermath *

Produced and Directed by Sharat Raju (sha...@dwf-film.com )

Produced, Written and Created by Valarie Kaur ( vala...@dwf-film.com)
Visit www.dwf-film.com and read the blog
valariekaur.blogspot.com<http://www.valariekaur.blogspot.com/>
.

Place your vote on IMDb: http://imdb.com/title/tt0867599/

PS: Congrats to Valarie on finishing her Masters degree at Harvard Divinity
School, all *while* she was making *DWF*!

*(Had enough this year? Respond with REMOVE in the subject and we will.)*