Amin Matalqa - Writer/director/producer

 

scenes, links, and photos


Watch Scenes from Captain Abu Raed:

- Trailer

- Dramatic

- Suspense


links:

- Captain Abu Raed film site

- Amin Matalqa’s Personal Blog


Contact:

amatalqa@mac.com


Photo albums:

                    
     
 

bio

Winner of the 2008 Sundance World Cinema Audience Award, Amin Matalqa was also awarded Variety Middle East Filmmaker of the Year for his first feature film, Captain Abu Raed.  Born and raised in Jordan until he was 13, he moved to Columbus, Ohio where he studied Business at Ohio State University.  After a five-year telecommunications career, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue his dream, and started writing and directing short films and collaborating with new friends he made in coffee shops.  After 25 shorts, he completed his MFA in Directing at the American Film Institute and went on to make Captain Abu Raed, Jordan’s first ever entry into the Academy Awards.  The film has played in over 50 countries and won 27 international awards including the Truly Moving Picture, Grand Prize, and Audience Award at Heartland Film Festival, and Best Director in the Seattle, Portland, and Palm Springs International Film Festivals.  Amin will continue making both Jordanian and American character-driven films blending drama and comedy.  His heroes growing up were Steven Spielberg, Charlie Chaplin, Martin  Scorsese, David Lean, Akira Kurosawa, and Alfred Hitchcock.  Amin lives in Los Angeles with his beasts, Cello & Oboe.


Captain Abu Raed went on to win the following in 2008/2009:

  1. -Sundance Film Festival - World Cinema Audience Award

  2. -Truly Moving Picture Award

  3. -Heartland Film Festival - Grand Prize

  4. -Heartland Film Festival - Audience Award

  5. -Heartland Film Festival - Crystal Heart Award

  6. -Helsinki International Film Festival - Audience Award 

  7. -Traverse City Film Festival - Audience Award

  8. -Traverse City Film Festival - Best of the Fest Jury Award

  9. -Seattle International Film Festival - Best Director

  10. -Northern Lights Film Festival - Best Newcomer Filmmaker

  11. -Palm Springs International Film Festival  - John Schlesinger Award

  12. -Maui Film Festival - Best Narrative Film, World Cinema

  13. -Durban International Film Festival - Best First Feature

  14. -Kuala Lumpur International Film Festival - Best Asian Film

  15. -Newport Beach Film Festival - Best Actor

  16. -Newport Beach Film Festival - Best Actress

  17. -Dubai International Film Festival - Best Actor

  18. -Buenes Aires St. Luis Film Festival - Best Actor

  19. -Kuala Lumpur International Film Festival - Best Actor

  20. -Rehoboth Beach Film Festival - Audience Award

  21. -New Orleans Middle East Film Festival - Best Feature

  22. -Beirut International Film Festival - Best Screenplay

  23. -Hollywood Music Awards - Best New Composer - Austin Wintory

  24. -Variety Middle East Filmmaker of the Year - Amin Matalqa