DAN RATHER Moderated World Class Panel At The United Nations General Assembly Hall For New York Film Premiere Of “MIRAL”

The United Nations General Assembly Hall housed a first of its kind premiere screening and panel discussion for Academy Award® nominee Julian Schnabel’s MIRAL, on Monday, March 14, 2011.

The discussion panel following the film was moderated by Dan Rather, Anchor & Managing Editor, HDNet, Dan Rather Reports.  In addition to director Julian Schnabel, and Rula Jebreal, screenwriter and author of the book on which the film is based, the panel will include the following experts:

MONA ELTAHAWY – Egyptian born, Eltahawy is a Harvard educated Palestinian journalist with over a decade of experience reporting across the Middle East and North Africa.  Now based in New York, she has become a highly respected media authority on the region, within both mainstream news outlets and through social media channels.  Most recently she has emerged as the face and voice of the current Egyptian uprising and is widely regarded as one of the most popular and powerful speakers on the Arab youth movement today.

RABBI IRWIN KULA – Rabbi Kula is president of Clal – The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership in New York City. Named by Fast Company Magazine as one of the leaders shaping the American spiritual landscape, Rabbi Kula received the 2008 Walter Cronkite Faith and Freedom Award and has been ranked by Newsweek as one of the Top 10 rabbis in America for the past three years. He has worked with leaders from the Dalai Lama to Queen Noor and with institutions and groups from Bhutan to Rwanda to Europe and across the United States to promote compassionate leadership.

YONATAN SHAPIRA – Co-founder of Combatants for Peace, Shapira is a former Israeli Air Force Captain from the Elite Black Hawk Squadron.  He famously issued the “Pilot’s Letter” refusing to participate in military operations in the occupied territories.  Having devoted his life to the fight for social justice and human rights, Shapira is committed to ending conflict and finding equality for all Israelis and Palestinians.  He speaks out for non-violence and against the dehumanizing elements of the occupation both sides of the wall.

Attendees at the premiere of MIRAL included: Julian Schnabel, Rula Jebreal, Willem Dafoe, Vanessa Redgrave, Stella Schnabel, Harvey Weinstein, Robert DeNiro, Sean Penn, Josh Brolin, Dick Cavett, Lee Daniels, Famke Janssen, Chaz Palminteri, Zac Posen, Lou Reed, James Toback , Fisher Stevens, Dan Rather, Steve Buscemi, Paula Zahn, Gayle King, Candice Bergen

MIRAL will be released in select theaters by The Weinstein Company on March 25, 2011.

MIRAL OFFICIAL WEBSITE: www.miralmovie.com

This evening was made possible by the generous support of Gucci.