Naji Abu Nowar Wins Outstanding Debut by A British Director at the BAFTA Awards

Back to Press Releases

While His Film Theeb Awaits the 2016 Oscar Announcements in Two Weeks

Naji Abu Nowar Wins Outstanding Debut by A British Director at the BAFTA Awards


Once again, the Jordanian director Naji Abu Nowar finds himself in the limelight as his film Theeb continues to achieve success after success internationally. Abu Nowar's latest achievement came in the form of a BAFTA Award for Outstanding Debut by A British Director. The ceremony, which was held at the prestigious Opera House in London, is considered to be the most distinguished award ceremony in the world right after the famous Academy Awards, for which Theeb is nominated as Best Foreign Language Film and is awaiting the announcement of the winners on February 28th.

Since its release in international festivals in August 2014, Theeb was screened in 25 countries and won 18 film awards, including Best Director at the Venice Film Festival. Its most recent win was 3 awards at the 12th Trans-Saharan International Film Festival in Zegura (Morocco). Abu Nowar also won the Variety magazine award for 2014 Arab Filmmaker of the Year.

Theeb has been recently released in US cinemas for twelve consecutive weeks making over $220 thousand at the box office. The New York Times Described it as a "spellbinding Jordanian adventure". Before that it was screened commercially in 12 Arab and European countries and is set to be re-launched in several Arab countries just in time for the anouncement of its nomination for the Oscars. The film has already made a comeback in cinemas in egypt and Lebanon with sold out screenings.

Theeb is Jordanian director/writer Naji Abu Nowar's first feature film which he co-scripted with Bassel Ghandour. Set in the Arabian Desert of 1916, the film follows Theeb, a young Bedouin boy, and his brother Hussein as they leave the safety of their tribe to venture on a treacherous journey at the dawn of the Great Revolt. If Theeb is to survive he must quickly learn about adulthood, trust and betrayal.