The Idol

When

7:30 p.m., June 10, 2016

The idol tells the incredible true story of palestine’s first pop celebrity, Mohammed Assaf, and his stellar rise to fame following his stirring victory in the 2013 season of “Arab Idol.”“thoroughly captivating … a charming, rambunctious and crowd-pleasing tale.” –  justin chang, varietyTwo-time academy award nominated director Hany Abu-Assad (Omar, Paradise Now) follows the dramatic and inspiring journey of talented teenager assaf (tawfeek barhom) from a refugee camp in gaza, through his “arab idol” audition in Egypt (using a fake passport), to his crowning victory in beruit, which stirred the dreams and aspirations of palestinians at home and abroad – an unexpected triumph that transformed the young singer into a worldwide phenomenon.  The first feature to be (partially) filmed on location in Gaza in decades, The Idol is a crowd-pleasing tale, filled with music and heart, about finding your voice and sharing it with the world. (dir. By Hany Abu-Assad, 2015, Palestine, in Arabic with subtitles, 100 mins., not rated)