Captains of Za'atari
TFI Suppport
TFI Network 2020
Logline
In the Za’atari refugee camp in Jordan, Syrian teenagers Mahmoud and Fawzi are friends who aspire to become professional soccer players. When a world renowned sports academy visits the camp, they have a chance to make their dream a reality.
Ali El-Arabi
Director, Producer
After studying Integrated Marketing and Communications at Mansoura University, Ali El-Arabi started working at Dream TV (Egypt). He produced and directed several films with Dream TV, including THE LADY OF THE GIRLS, WITNESS AND MARTYR, WHAT’S HIDDEN IS GREATER, DREAMING OF A CONSTITUTION, and THE 6TH OF APRIL MOVEMENT. He also trained reporters on how to shoot news pieces.
Aya Dowara
Producer
Aya Dowara is a film producer and cultural advisor. She was previously the Cultural Specialist at the US Embassy in Cairo's Public Affairs Office, managing the Embassy’s portfolios of film, entrepreneurship, sports, gender, urban development and youth-focused programs. She also previously worked as the American Center Outreach Coordinator at the Embassy. She formerly served on the US Embassy Social Media Team, where she was trained by Darren Krape, Senior Social Media Specialist of the US Department of State.
Amjad Abu Alala
Producer
Amjad Abu Alala is a Sudanese director and producer, born and currently residing in the UAE. He studied media at Emirates University and worked as a documentary director with various media institutions for Arab and Western channels. He’s made many short films that have screened at different film festivals, including TINA, COFFEE AND ORANGES, BIRDS FEATHERS, and STUDIO, which was supervised by Abbas Kiarostami. In 2013, he received the Best Arabic Theater Script award from the Arab Authority for Theater for APPLE PIES. He participated in the Film Narrative Lab with Doha Film Institute and made five short films. He is currently head of the programming committee for the Sudan Independent Film Festival. He most recently directed and produced the film YOU WILL DIE AT TWENTY, which won Lion of the Future at Venice International Film Festival.
Mahmoud Bashir
Director of Photography
Mahmoud Bashir (b. 1991) is an Egyptian cinematographer. He’s worked on more than 23 documentaries, commercial advertisements, and fiction films. His 2011 debut feature BETWEEN THE DESERT AND THE FIRE took place between Sudan and Eritrea. In 2019, he released his first fiction feature, entitled MAKO.