The Devil Came On Horseback

Wednesday, June 13--------On the first official day of screenings, SILVERDOCS: AFI/Discover Channel Documentary Festival presents a powerful documentary on the conflict in the Darfur region of the Sudan....one of the most pressing humanitarian crises in the world. THE DEVIL CAME ON HORSEBACK, by award-winning filmmakers Annie Sundberg and Ricki Stern, is a searing exposition of the violence and tragedy of the genocide in Darfur. The film is seen through the eyes of a solitary American witness, Brian Steidle, in his role as military observer with the African Union.

The film, which is presented this evening at 6:00pm at the AFI Silver Theater, will be followed by a Panel Discussion of experts, including Annie Sundberg, Filmmaker; Brian Steidle, Film Subject and Founder/Director of Global Grassroots; Princeton N. Lyman, Adjunct Senior Fellow, Council on Foreign Relations. Former US Ambassador to South Africa and Nigeria; Adam Sterling, Director, Sudan Divestment Task Force of Genocide Intervention Network; Gretchen Steidle Wallace, Producer; John Prendergast, Senior Advisor to the International Crisis Group; and Lauren Landis, Senior Representative, Sudan, Sudan Programs Group, US State Department.

Also premiering this evening, in a lighter tone yet still laced with political points, is the World Premiere of STAND UP: MUSLIM AMERICAN COMICS COME OF AGE, by local directors Glenn Baker and Omar Naim. The film explores discrimination against Muslim-Americans and how improved understanding and social change might just begin with a joke. The screening will be followed by a discussion with the filmmakers and stand-up routines by Muslim comics Ahmed Ahmed and Dean Obeidallah.

Sandy Mandelberger, Festival Online Dailies Editor