Sunday 7th December 2003 The Classic Comedy Bar (321 Queen Street, CBD) 7.00pm start time for films $3/5

This year's final screening features docos on a range of issues: dubious voting practices in the US, responses to the war in Iraq and Afghanistan and political art. It also includes the work of two local filmmakers.

Unprecedented: The 2000 Presidential Election (50 mins) You'll be incensed after watching this riveting story about the battle for the Presidency in Florida and the blatant undermining of democracy in America. Filmmakers Richard Ray Pérez and Joan Sekler examine modern America's most controversial political contest: the election of George W. Bush and how he stole the presidency of the United States and got away with it. What emerges is a disturbing picture of an election marred by suspicious irregularities, electoral injustices, and sinister voter purges in a state incestuously governed by the winning candidate's brother Jeb Bush. The film highlights those on the front lines and quickly examines such topics as the purging of "alleged" felons from voter rolls (coincidentally mostly African Americans who usually vote Democrat); the problems with ballot design and counting; and the conflicts of interest.

Dark Eden - the Art of Alan Taylor (31 mins) In the dim stir-fry haze above the Happy Together restaurant in Mt. Eden, Alan Taylor is working on his one-man statement about the war in Afghanistan, producing art that evokes and records the effects of the war on the civilians there. With the Afghan war of 2001-2002 as background, directed by Julian McCarthy (AUT) this film looks at Taylor's early sketches in the 1950's through to anti Vietnam War cartoons, to indigenous paintings, through to his unique landscapes, and returns to developments in his Afghan series. On the journey we get to view a private collection on Waiheke, an encounter with the local Chinese community, a return to the inspirational Otuataua stonefields, and an amusing unveiling of the world's largest tie collection. Alan's 40 year involvement in peace issues provides some interesting perspectives on the recent rise of the anti-war movement.

Dear Baghdad (11mins)

The short documentary Dear Baghdad, is a letter, a message, a collection of thoughts and feelings on the recent war on Iraq from Iraqis living in New Zealand with regard to their homeland. Dear Baghdad was produced and directed by local student filmmaker Enas Al Janabi. Enas was born in Iraq but is now living in NZ and is completing a master's degree in film studies at the University of Auckland after several years working for Al Jazeera Satellite Channel in Doha, Qatar.

Eye of the Storm (14 mins) Eye of the Storm - the Crisis in Argentina and the Role of Independent Media at the Center of a Revolution is an engaging video project which attempts to identify the utility and power of the Independent Media Center (IMC) movement through the specific history of a single local IMC. In particular, it examines the functioning of the Independent Media Centre Network and its special place in today's political climate in Argentina by exploring the relationship between media, money, and power in contemporary Argentina where there is a virtual blackout of information by corporate television and newspapers. http://www.eviltwinbooking.com/eyeofthestorm.html

Anti-Xmas Party Followed by food, drinks and music - all welcome ;-)

Auckland Indymedia is part of the nationwide Indymedia network that runs the independent news website, http://www.indymedia.org.nz

The Anitidote aims to be a regular forum for the exposure of alternative political filmmaking and media art. This is the fifth and final screening presented by Auckland Indymedia for 2003. For more information contact auckland@indymedia.org

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