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By Channah Barkhordari

On February 8^th, the New England Premier of Iranium was held at the AMC Loews by the Boston Common, co-sponsored by Hasbara Fellowships. Film staff spoke to a packed theater on the significance of the movie before the screening, while Siavash Sartipi and Parya Ahangari of the Confederation of Iranian Students shared their stories and took questions after the screening.

As a result of the excited buzz surrounding the new documentary, in the coming weeks campuses from Brandeis to BU are planning their own Iranium screenings, each in conjunction with organizations and academic departments.

Hasbara fellow and President of Brandeis College Democrats Amber Kornreich is organizing a showing of the film in the coming weeks co-sponsored by numerous other student groups, including Brandeis’ College Republicans, The Brandeis Tea Party Nation, the Brandeis Zionist Alliance, and the Brandeis branch of AIPAC.  Other Brandeis Hasbara fellows on the BZA board include Avi Fuld, Dana Kandel, Zahava Horowitz, and Emily Mandel.

Hasbara fellow and Executive Vice President of BU Hillel  Meggie Wyschogrod is similarly excited to screen Iranium this semester in conjunction with the university’s College Republican and College Democrats, as well as reaching out to IR academic departments of Boston University. Other Hasbara fellows who are board members for Boston University Students for Israel supporting the initiative include BUSI President Rachelle Rubin, Coordinating Director Aimee Woogmaster, Coalitions Liaison Rachel Bicky, Logistical Coordinator Karen Reichgott, Campaigns Coordinator Gabriella Salpeter, Education Liaison Sarah Schrag, Media e-board Liaison Jennifer Whitman, Media Coalitions Liaison Rachel Dushey, and Media Arts Liaison Rachel Tessler.

Other campuses, such as Harvard University and Emerson College, are expected to follow and are gearing up to plan their Iranium screenings as well. Harvard Students for Israel co-presidents Zachary Goldstein and Zander Sebenius are looking forward to bringing the film to their student body and are working closely with Hasbara fellows Daniel Brandt (former HIS president) and HIS Director of Programming Beth Drucker.