Ajami

  • a film by Yaron Shani, Scandar Copti
  • feature film
  • 120 min
  • 2009
TrailerOnline stream
Info

  • Genre

    • Ensemble-Drama / Thriller

  • Countries of Production

    • Germany / Israel

  • Language

    • Arabic / Hebrew

  • World premiere

    • 22nd May 2009 – Cannes Film Festival / Quinzaine des Réalisateurs

  • German cinema release

    • 11th March 2010

  • a production by

    • Twenty Twenty Vision, Inosan Productions

  • in co-production with

    • ZDF – Das Kleine Fernsehspiel, Arte

  • with the support of

    • Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, World Cinema Fund

  • World Sales

    • The Match Factory

  • Distribution

    • Neue Visionen Filmverleih
Synopsis

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.

Cast

  • Omar Khalifeh

    • Shahir Kabaha

  • Nasri Khalife

    • Fouad Habash

  • Malek

    • Ibrahim Frege

  • Binji

    • Scandar Copti

  • Dando

    • Eran Naim

  • El Antar

    • Elias Saba

  • Abu Lias

    • Yousef Sahwani

  • Anan

    • Kabob
Crew

  • Written by

    • Yaron Shani, Scandar Copti

  • Directed by

    • Yaron Shani, Scandar Copti

  • Producers

    • Thanassis Karathanos, Talia Kleinhändler, Mosh Danon

  • Director of photography

    • Boaz Yakov

  • Editor

    • Yaron Shani, Scandar Copti

  • Set design

    • Yoan Sinai

  • Music

    • Rabiah Buchari

  • Sound Design

    • Kai Tebbel

  • Mix

    • Matthias Schwab
Festivals
  • Cannes Film Festival / Quinzaine des Réalisateurs / world premiere
  • Festival International du Antigone d'or de la Ville
  • Toronto IFF
  • Helsinke IFF
  • Nouveau Cinéma, Montréal
  • Mumbai FF
  • Sofia IFF
  • Hong Kong IFF
Awards
  • Nominated - Foreign Language Film Oscar
  • Camera d’Or - Special Distinction / Cannes IFF
  • Award for Best Full-Length Israeli Feature / Jerusalem IFF
  • Best Picture-Best Picture, Best Screenplay, Best Editing, Best Composer for Rabiah Buchari / Ophir Awards of the Israeli Film and Television Academy
  • Xplore award by the Young Jury / Ghent IFF
  • Sutherland Award / The Times BFI London IFF
  • Best Film Award / Cinéma Méditerranéen et de l’Agglomération de Montpellier
  • Best Director Award / Mostra de Valencia Palmera de Plata
  • Special Jury Mention / AFI Fest / New Lights competition
  • Golden Alexander Best Screenplay Award / Thessaloniki IFF
  • Fischer Public Choice Award / ex aequo
  • Grand Prix of the international competition for Eurasian films / Tallinn Black Nights IFF
  • FACE Award / Istanbul IFF
  • Grand Prize / Boulder FF

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