Naji Abu Nowar (b. 1981, Oxford, UK) was educated in the UK and Jordan, where he now lives and works. In 2005 his screenplay Hammer (Shakoush) was accepted for the RAWI Screenwriters Lab established by the Royal Film Commission Jordan and the Sundance Institute to assist independent Arab screenwriters in finishing their projects. His first movie, the short Death of a Boxer (2009), gained international buzz via screenings at several noted festivals (Dubai, Palm Springs, Miami). After premiering at Venice, his feature debut Theeb (2014) was selected by the program departments of the Toronto, London, Hong Kong, and Cairo festivals, the latter of which awarded him Best Director. In 2014 Variety magazine named him Arab Director of the Year.
50. MFF Karlovy Vary
