A film by Amin Matalqa

How can fiction inspire the lives of everyday people? Levantine Cultural Center is proud to present Captain Abu Raed (2007), the first Jordanian feature film distributed internationally in over 50 years, as the Feb. selection for the 2010 New Voices Film Series.
Abu Raed, an aging airport janitor, is mistaken for a pilot by a group of children in his poor neighborhood. They beg him to tell them stories of the world outside Amman, Jordan. Never having traveled himself, he obliges by inventing fantastic imaginary tales designed to take them away from the grim realities of their daily lives and inspire them to greatness.
Captain Abu Raed is Jordan’s first-ever submission to the Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language film. Winner of 27 international awards at numerous festivals, including Sundance Film Festival, Heartland Film Festival, Dubai International Film Festival, and the Newport Beach Film Festival; Captain Abu Raed is a heartwarming tale of dreams, friendship, and sacrifice.
Amin Matalqa was born and raised in Jordan until he was 13, when he immigrated to the US. He studied Business Marketing at Ohio State University and led a five-year telecommunications career before moving to Los Angeles to pursue his dream of filmmaking. In 2007 he went on to write, direct, and produce his first feature film, Captain Abu Raed.
The New Voices in Middle Eastern Cinema Series will continue throughout 2010 on the third Thursday of each month.

“Captain Abu Raed” (2007)
Feb. 18th, 2010 @ 7 p.m.
The Goethe-Institute Cinema
5750 Wilshire Blvd. #100,
Los Angeles CA 90036

For more information or to purchase tickets ($12 public, $10 LCC members), visit the Web sitewww.levantinecenter.org, call (310) 657-5511 or purchase at the door (subject to availability).