As part of the inaugural season of CinemaNA, The Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi and Paris-Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi are presenting the Academy Award-nominated Arab film Ajami on Tuesday, February 6, in The Blue Hall at The Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi.

Written and directed by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Scandar Copti and Yaron Shani, Ajami invites audiences into a world in which two brothers fear assassination; a young refugee working illegally to cover his mother’s medical expenses, and a cop fixated on finding his missing brother. As these narratives converge, the film delves into political, social and cultural tensions that lead to tragic consequences.

The film has won more than 15 awards worldwide, including the Camera d’Or Special Mention at the Cannes Film Festival and a nomination for the 82nd Academy Awards.

Following the screening, Director, Assistant Arts Professor of Film at NYU Abu Dhabi Scandar Copti will hold a Q&A session with the audience in attendance.

“We’re excited that CinemaNA, which has presented a thoughtful and stimulating line-up of films curated by NYU Abu Dhabi’s own Scandar Copti, who now showcases his own highly acclaimed and powerful film, Ajami, revealing the depth of talent within our faculty,” commented Bill Bragin, The Arts Center’s executive artistic director. “This is such a powerful, complex, and entertaining film.”

CinemaNA is a contemporary Arab cinema series presented by the NYUAD Film and New Media Program in partnership with The Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi and Paris-Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi. The series features Arab films and directors and producers, in addition to offering discussions with the directors/producers after each screening.