NeoClassics Films Releases the Award Winning Feature Film Captain Abu Raed in Detroit

posted on: Aug 13, 2009

NeoClassics Films releases the Award winning feature film Captain Abu Raed in select cities including Detroit, MI on Friday, August 21st at the Maple Art Theatre. (complete release schedule listed below)

Captain Abu Raed was Jordan’s official selection in this year’s competition for a Best Foreign Language Film Academy Award. Written and directed by Amin Matalqa, and starring Nadim Sawalha, Captain Abu Raed is a powerful, deeply moving story of unexpected events and ordinary people we meet along life’s journey who shape our destiny.

Abu Raed (Nadim Sawalha) is a lonely, elderly widowed airport janitor at Amman’s Queen Alia International Airport who has always dreamed of seeing the world, but only experiences it vicariously through books and brief encounters with travelers.

Finding a discarded airline Captain’s hat in a trash bin at work, Abu Raed is followed home one day by Tareq, (Udey Al-Qiddissi) – a precocious boy who believes Abu Raed is an airline pilot. The next day, Tareq shows up at Abu Raed’s door with a gaggle of his friends from the poor neighborhood in which they all live, and asks Abu Raed to share his adventures with them from his travels around the world.

As their relationships deepen, Abu Raed discovers the grim realities of their lives and tries to make a difference in creative ways. Happy for their company and attention, Abu Raed takes the children to colorful places around the world through his fictional stories and inspires them to believe in their own abilities. Ironically, it is Abu Raed’s own destiny that will be dramatically shaped by his friendship with the children.

Captain Abu Raed is one of those rare films that leaves an indelible mark on the human soul and challenges us to be better human beings.

Director/Writer: Jordanian-born Amin Matalqa
Cast: Nadim Sawalha – Abu Raed, Rana Sultan – Nour, Hussein Al-Sous, Udey Al-Qiddissi, Ghandi Saber, Dina Ra’ad-Yaghnam
Producers: David Pritchard, Aida Matalqa, Isam Salfiti, Nadine Toukan, Kenneth Kokin
Composer: Austin Wintory
Cinematographer: Reinhart Peschke
Editor: Laith Al-Majali
Production Designer: Gerald Sullivan

Released by: NeoClassics Films
Running Time: 102 minutes
35mm

www.neoclassicsfilms.com
www.captainaburaed.com

Trailer: http://www.apple.com/trailers/independent/
captainaburaed/

WINNER OF 27 International Awards:
-Sundance Film Festival – World Cinema Audience Award (2008)
-Truly Moving Picture Award (2009)
-Heartland Film Festival – Grand Prize
-Heartland Film Festival – Audience Award
-Helsinki International Film Festival – Audience Award
-Traverse City Film Festival – Audience Award
-Traverse City Film Festival – Best of the Fest Jury Award
-Seattle International Film Festival – Best Director
-Heartland Film Festival – Crystal Heart Award
-Rehoboth Beach Film Festival – Audience Award
-Maui Film Festival – Best Narrative Film, World Cinema
-Durban International Film Festival – Best First Feature
-Kuala Lumpur International Film Festival – Best Asian Film
-Newport Beach Film Festival – Best Actor
-Newport Beach Film Festival – Best Actress
-Dubai International Film Festival (2007) – Best Actor
-Buenos Aires St. Luis Film Festival – Best Actor
-Kuala Lumpur International Film Festival – Best Actor
-New Orleans Middle East Film Festival – Best Feature
-Beirut International Film Festival – Best Screenplay
-Variety Middle East Filmmaker of the Year – Amin Matalqa
-Hollywood Music Awards – Best New Composer – Austin Wintory
-Northern Lights Film Festival – Best Newcomer Filmmaker – Amin Matalqa
-Palm Springs International Film Festival (2009) – John Schlesinger Award – Amin Matalqa
-Portland International Film Festival (2009) – Best Director
-Midwest Theater Film Festival (2009) – Best Foreign Film
-Young Artists Award (2009) – Contribution to Family Entertainment