Join Kavita Bali as part of the "Women of the World: Different Paths to Freedom" Film Screenings and Conversations with Women in Film at the World Affairs Council Saturday, March 9th, 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

CONTACT: Kavita Bali , kavita@urbanpeacock.com

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Filmmaker Kavita Bali		Panel discussion with Bay Area Filmmakers / Artists

SAN FRANCISCO , California - In honor of International Women's day, the World Affairs Council of Northern California and the Women's Intercultural Network announce a joint event with films by women around the world. Please join Kavita Bali in her latest screening of 'Birth of a Butterfly', one of several films to be screened as part of "Women of the World: Different Paths to Freedom" Film Screenings and Conversations with Women in Film at the World Affairs Council. Saturday, March 9, 2002 (2:00 pm - 6:00 pm).

Screenings are to be held at the World Affairs Council, 312 Sutter Street, 2nd floor, San Francisco. Registration: Members $7, Non-members $12, student non-members $5 (no one will be turned away for lack of funds). You can register online at www.itsyourworld.org or by calling 415.293.4600. reservations are strongly suggested by 5pm 03/07/02. Walk-ins will be admitted on a space available basis.

Kavita just screened this film at the 'Empowering Women of Color Conference 2002' at Berkeley University this past Saturday to another packed audience (March 2, 2002). This year's focus was on 'Women of Color in the Media'. She lead an hour long workshop titled: 'An Urban Peacock's Quiet Defiance : Creating Images of Modern Women who Positively Define their own Cultural Heritage. The film touched a sensitive chord within the audience and prompted an emotional discussion about how we define culture as individuals growing up within the realm of the immigrant experience. The audience represented a cross-section of our ethnic melting pot here in the US, as well as a spectrum in age, the majority being in their twenties.

Kavita's dream is to create a virtual united nations unifying people of all cultures and generations through creativity and art. Kavita on the topic of Women in the Media: " If we don't create our own stories and record our histories, somebody else will ... and it may not reflect the rich complexities of our heritage and our power as peaceful, strong individuals. Strength comes in many shades, each of us has a unique voice, let's share our world's with others to bring forth greater understanding between each other. Our humanity is universal. "

Don't miss the chance to see a powerful visual poem during this unique assemblage of films exploring issues facing women in different countries as they seek to express themselves and develop their identities within multiple contexts. A conversation with notable women in film and artists of different ethnic and national origin will follow the screenings.

Films to be screened include: 'Girls Around the World' M. Barea/P. Schmidt (Peru, Germany)- A collection of documentaries on seventeen-year old girls across the globe on the brink of womanhood; 'Birth of a Butterfly' by Kavita Bali (USA) - A modern Indian-American business woman's discovery of her cultural heritage; 'My Journey, My Islam' by Kay Rasool (Australia, India, Pakistan, England) - An insightful documentary that attempts to uncover the truths of what lies behind the veil by presenting the questions some Muslim women in the West ask themselves about their relationship with Islam; and Mi Cinco de Mayo and other Shorts from Silence Speaks (USA) - Multi-ethnic women present short digital stories about definitions of beauty and use of cultural stereotypes and imagery in the social and commercial arena.

In December 1992, Kavita quit her design job, bought a broadcast quality Hi-8 camera, got a ticket for India and told her parents she was going to go to India to re-visit her birth land as an adult woman, since she had not been back to India for nearly 14 years. During this time, Kavita had hoped to see more of India than just where her relatives lived. Instead, she found herself in Allahabad for nearly 5 out of 7 weeks due to the eruption of the Ayodhya riots in mid-December 1992. Instead of exploring India as she had hoped, she spent the majority of her trip in one town, due to nearby curfews and the violence throughout the country. Kavita was able to capture nearly 18 hours of footage as she experienced these and other events during a memorable trip abroad.

Today, nearly 10 years later, Kavita is finally working with this footage, using it as a base to create her first poetic feature film. Currently she is in writing mode and would appreciate any donations towards the realization of this film. She goes into final production later this year. Her goal is to depict Indians with integrity and humanity against a backdrop of a violence whose aftershocks seem not to have subdued... To make donations or to provide potential production support, please contact Kavita at: kavita@urbanpeacock.com or visit http://www.urbanpeacock.com

Kavita Bali is a filmmaker and design consultant serving the high tech and non-profit industries. She has made 6 short films since 1993. Her company Urban Peacock specializes in complex user interface design navigational systems and conceptual media convergences. She has a BFA from the Rhode Island School of Design, has studied filmmaking at NYU's Graduate Film program, and writes on issues of design, art and culture. Kavita's dream is to create a virtual united nations unifying people of all cultures and generations through creativity and art.

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