Ajami

The tragic fragility of human existence is experienced in the enclosed community of Ajami, where enemies must live as neighbors. No location better expresses the dramatic collision of different worlds.

Germany / Israel 2009, 120 min.

Jaffa’s Ajami neighborhood is a melting pot of cultures and conflicting views among Jews, Muslims and Christians. Back and forth in time, and through the eyes of various characters, we witness how impossible the situation actually is…
Sensitive 13-year-old Nasri and his older brother Omar live in fear when their entire family is in danger after their uncle foolishly wounds a prominent clan member. Naive young Palestinian refugee Malek works illegally in Israel to help finance the surgery that will save his mother’s life. Affluent Palestinian Binj dreams of a bright future with his Jewish girlfriend. Jewish policeman Dando becomes obsessed with revenge when his brother is found dead in the West Bank… The tragic fragility of human existence is experienced in the enclosed community of Ajami, where enemies must live as neighbours.

Actor / Actress	Character

Shahir Kabaha	Omar Khalifeh
Fouad Habash	Nasri Khalife
Ibrahim Frege	Malek
Scandar Copti	Binji
Eran Naim	Dando
Elias Saba	El Antar
Yousef Sahwani	Abu Lias
Kabob	Anan

Director	Yaron Shani, Scandar Copti
Script	Yaron Shani, Scandar Copti

Producer	Thanassis Karathanos
	Talia Kleinhändler
	Mosh Danon

Production	TWENTY TWENTY VISION
	INOSAN PRODUCTIONS

in co-production with	ZDF-Das Kleine Fernsehspiel
	ARTE

supported by	Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg
	World Cinema Fund
Distribution	Neue Visionen
World Sales	The Match Factory

Director of Photography	Boaz Yakov
Editor	Yaron Shani, Scandar Copti
Sound Design	Kai Tebbel
Re- recording mixing	Matthias Schwab
Set Design	Yoan Sinai
Music	Rabiah Buchari

International Premiere:

22.05.2009, 60th Cannes Film Festival / Quinzaine des Réalisateurs

Festivals / Awards (selection):

nominated for the Foreign Language Film Oscar, 2010

Cannes IFF / Quinzaine des Réalisateurs, 2009
–Camera d’Or – Special Distinction

Jerusalem IFF Wolgin, 2009
-Award for Best Full-Length Israeli Feature

Ophir Awards of the Israeli Film and Television Academy,2009
–Best Picture
-Best Director
–Best Screenplay
–Best Editing
–Best Composer for Rabiah Buchari

Ghent IFF, 2009
– Xplore award by the Young Jury

The Times BFI London IFF, 2009
– Sutherland Award

Cinéma Méditerranéen et de l’Agglomération de Montpellier, 2009
– Best Film Award

Mostra de Valencia Palmera de Plata, 2009
– Best Director Award

AFI Fest / New Lights competition, 2009
– Special Jury Mention

Thessaloniki IFF- Best Feature Film Award, 2009
–Golden Alexander Best Screenplay Award

ex aequo, 2009
– Fischer Public Choice Award

Talinn Black Nights IFF, 2009
– Grand Prix of the international competition for Eurasian films

Boulder FF, 2010
– Grand Prize

Istanbul IFF, 2010
– FACE Award

Festival International du Antigone d’or de la Ville, 2009

Toronto IFF, 2009

Helsinke IFF, 2009

Nouveau Cinéma, Montréal, 2009

Mumbai FF, 2009

Sofia IFF, 2010

Hong Kong IFF, 2010