ALMOSTREAL invited curator and composer Tarek Atoui to develop the final event for stage 2 in Beirut. This invitation was based on the hunch that Tarek's plan to do a series of workshops and public event for young artists using interactive media environments could spark a interesting collaboration between Tarek Atoui and Ashkal Alwan. The reasons for thinking about this prospective collaboration were threefold: 1) Individual artists can not receive funds from ALMOSTREAL only organisations. Although Tarek is an independent artist his proposed project involes a series of orgnaisations and individuals. Yet because he is not a representative of an organisational structure he would need the help of an established organisation simply to recieve the funds to realise his project. 2)However, more important than the administrative re-granting of money, is Ashkal Alwan's reputation, resource of professional advise as well as practical resources such as space and equipment that would be invaluable components for the development of the final stage 2 project. 3) Ashkal Alwan had already made the project 'Vidéo Works' which had successfully drawn alot of public exposure to the innovative climate of video-making in Lebanon. The project proposed by Tarek Atoui could provide a well-needed and interesting chance for Beirut-based artists to explore, produce and present their video work beyond the TV or theatre screen with developing installation work with multi-media technology and live performative elements.

However, when told about the 'idea', Ashkal Alwan director director Christine Tohmé stated that she would prefer not to form a partnership. She expressed a need to focus instead on advancing the production and presentation of the video medium and for Ashkal Alwan to determine it's ownseries of events such as the Vidéoavril, and not to spread it's focus too thinly by supporting events that deal with video in the form of multimedia interactive environments.

After some tenuous exchange and misunderstandings between the Almost Real team, Tarek Atoui and Ashkal Alwan, it was agreed that Ashkal Alwan would assist Tarek's project by enabling him to receive the funds to develop the last phase of stage 2. Although Christine Tohmé has recently expressed her desire to mentor and assist Tarek with the conceptual development of his project, the 'collaboration' between Tarek Atoui and Ashkal Alwan — so far — remains on a level of administrative support.