Theeb (previously titled The Guest)

Jordan

Producers: Nadine Toukan, Bassel Ghandour, Rupert Lloyd

Production Company: Fertile Crescent Film, Shahkoush Productions

Project Logline:

Wadi Rum, the Ottoman Empire, 1917. The Arab revolt spreads across the desert of southern Jordan, but word has not yet reached several peaceful nomadic tribes. One day Nimir, the mischievous 10-year-old son of a tribal sheikh, encounters an Englishman in the desert and treats him to the tribe’s extravagant hospitality. While escorting the foreigner to the tribal border, Nimir and his brother have a dangerous encounter. Must Nimir uphold the Bedouin tradition of protecting a guest above all?

Naji Abu Nowar is a Jordanian filmmaker living in Amman. Death of a Boxer (2009), his first short film, played at international festivals including Dubai and Palm Springs. Naji won a place at the 2005 RAWI Screenwriters Lab in association with the Sundance Institute for his debut feature screenplay, Shakoush (Hammer), which was awarded development funds by the UK Film Council, via Screen East.