Dubai � The Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) has included a special sub-section in its Arabian Nights programming segment which is dedicated to films that depict Arab life and stories in the Middle East and around the world. This year, the segment will feature a thematic grouping of films called The 9/11 Effect that delve into the impact of the 2001 World Trade Center and Pentagon attacks on the lives of Arabs living in North America. Masoud Amralla al Ali, DIFF’s artistic director and coordinator general of the Muhr Awards Competition, spoke on the decision to include The 9/11 Effect: “Arab cinema, like that of the rest of the world, often deals with the issues that are most dire and relevant to society. This year we noticed that many films dealt with the social atmosphere for Arab immigrants in North America after September 11, 2001. We could not ignore this strong trend, and we decided to create the subsection as a timely and thought-provoking element in the festival.” “AmericanEast” focuses on three main characters, each of whom epitomizes different aspects of Arab American life in post-9/11 Los Angeles. Mustafa, played by co-writer Sayed Badreya (“Three Kings,” 1999), is a widowed Egyptian immigrant and the owner of a popular caf� for Middle Eastern Los Angelenos. Between his responsibilities as a single father and his struggle to find a suitor for his unwed sister Salweh, herself ambivalent about the prospect of a traditional marriage, his life is already full. But with ambitions for a better future, Mustafa plans to open a restaurant with his close friend Sam (Tony Shalhoub of “Monk” fame), a Jew. Their plan is one of several points of tension that lead to the explosive climax of the story. With rising star Sarah Shehi (“The L Word”) as Salweh and “Paradise Now” star Kais Nashif as a struggling actor type-cast as a terrorist, the film asks if the characters’ dreams will be shattered by suspicion or embraced by their fellow citizens. “USA vs Al-Arian” asks the same question, in documentary form. The family of political activist and university professor Sami Al-Arian was thrown into a nightmare when he was arrested in 2003 for allegedly supporting terrorism. Despite never being convicted of the charges, Dr. Al Arian has not been released to this day. The film follows Sami, his wife Nahla, and their five children through the trial and after the verdict, addressing themes of freedom of speech, civil liberties and how the media influences public opinion. Director Line Halvorsen was the only journalist with access to the family during this period and she presents a sensitive portrayal of the impact of justice gone wrong. The theme of wrongful confinement runs through the three short films in the 9/11 sub-segment: “Al Ab Al-Mokhless” (A Father Taken), “Yasin” and “The Good Son.”  “A Father Taken” is the story of Nuri, an 8 year old Arab American boy who refuses to accept that his father was arrested by the FBI. Convinced his father was abducted by aliens, Nuri ventures out alone to rescue him, risking his own life in the process. “Yasin” depicts a 10-year old whose ordinary Southern California life is turned upside down when the FBI arrests his father in a terrifying raid. Half-believing the accusations, Yassin must decide whether or not to believe in his father and accept his love. “The Good Son” is based on a true story from Canada. Young Ahmed is forced to translate for his father as intelligence officers question him in their home. As the interrogation becomes increasingly hostile, Ahmed must protect his family’s integrity while facing immense pressure from the agents. The 9/11 Effect films will screen throughout DIFF 2007, which runs from December 9 to 16. Principal sponsors are Dubai Duty Free, Dubai Pearl, Emirates and Jumeirah. The Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) was launched in December 2004 under the theme: Bridging Cultures. Meeting Minds.