Hany Abu-Assad

After having studied and worked as an airplane engineer in the Netherlands for several years, Hany Abu-Assad entered the world of cinema and television as a producer. He formed Ayloul Film Productions in 1990 and worked on television programmes about foreign immigrants and films like DAR O DAR for Channel 4 and LONG DAYS IN GAZA for the BBC.
In 1992 Hany Abu-Assad wrote and directed his first short film, PAPER HOUSE. The film won several international awards at film festivals, a.o. in Paris and Jerusalem. One year later Hany produced the feature film CURFEW, directed by Rashid Masharawi.
After his second short THE 13TH, which he wrote, produced and directed, Hany engaged on his first full-length feature project as a director. He teamed up with writer Arnon Grunberg to develop a script for THE FOURTEENTH CHICK, which was the opening film for the Netherlands Film Festival in Utrecht 1998. 
Other recent works include the bittersweet documentary NAZARETH 2000, which Hany made for Dutch VPRO television.

Since the establishment of Augustus Film with Bero Beyer in 2000, Hany has been developing the script for IN BETWEEN TWO DAYS (released as PARADISE NOW) and RANA'S WEDDING, both full-length feature dramas.
His latest documentary, FORD TRANSIT was the surprise of Sundance Film festival.
With his PARADISE NOW he premiered at Berlinale 2005. The film was one of the most discussed works at the festival. It won two audience awards, the Blue Angel for best European Film and the amnesty international Award.

Filmography

• Paradise Now, 2005
• Rana's Wedding (Jerusalem, Another Day), 2002
• Ford Transit, 2002
• Nazareth 2000, 2001
• Het Spijkerkwartier, 2000 
• De Arabieren van 2001, 1999
• The Fourteenth Chick, 1998
• The 13th, 1997
• Onverwachte Natuur, 1996 
• Paper House, 1992
• To whom it may concern, 1991