Egyptian Actor Ayman Samman's Short Film Thief, Wins the Student Oscars Gold Medal
On Saturday, June 11th, 2011 an American Film Institute (AFI) Graduate Student Short Film named “Thief” won one of the most prestigious prizes in the world that a student film can win! Thief won the Gold Medal Award in the Narrative category from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences aka the Oscars. Egyptian actor, Ayman Samman had a starring role in the film.
Los Angeles, CA, June 15, 2011 --(PR.com)-- On Saturday, June 11th, 2011 an American Film Institute (AFI) Graduate Student Short Film named “Thief” won one of the most prestigious prizes in the world that a student film can win. Thief won the Gold Medal Award in the Narrative category from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences aka the Oscars. Egyptian actor, Ayman Samman had a starring role in the film.
"When I took on the project I had no idea how far it will go. I didn’t even know there was a Student Academy award!" said Samman. "What I did know is that it had a good story and a very talented director and an amazing cast and crew."
After a successful career as an indie rock singer and a theatre actor in Egypt and Chicago, Ayman Samman is currently an actor working in TV and film in Hollywood.
"I remember showing up to the set in the Acton valley north of Los Angeles and being greeted by Julian Higgins (the director). He had a big smile of pride on his face and he said, 'let me show you the set!' So we walked through the valley and got to a little house they built in the middle of the desert. The house reminded me of my grandmother’s farmhouse in Egypt," said, Samman. "That’s when I knew this was not a typical student film."
Thief is set in Iraq during the hunt for Saddam Hussein after the dictator fled Baghdad, this story concerns a man living in a remote mountain house who encounters an unexpected visitor with a compelling link to his past.
“The filming experience was amazing! Having to learn the Iraqi dialect and just to be acting in Arabic in an American film shooting in Los Angeles made it very surreal,” said Samman. “To win this award is nothing short of a miracle! I am very blessed and humbled that when I finally did choose the path of a career that I love regardless of the socio-economic viability of it’s future; the pay off was almost instant and in incredible ways!”
For more information on Ayman’s work, please visit his IMDB page www.imdb.me/aymansamman, official site at www.aymanation.com, or follow him on Twitter @aymanation.
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"When I took on the project I had no idea how far it will go. I didn’t even know there was a Student Academy award!" said Samman. "What I did know is that it had a good story and a very talented director and an amazing cast and crew."
After a successful career as an indie rock singer and a theatre actor in Egypt and Chicago, Ayman Samman is currently an actor working in TV and film in Hollywood.
"I remember showing up to the set in the Acton valley north of Los Angeles and being greeted by Julian Higgins (the director). He had a big smile of pride on his face and he said, 'let me show you the set!' So we walked through the valley and got to a little house they built in the middle of the desert. The house reminded me of my grandmother’s farmhouse in Egypt," said, Samman. "That’s when I knew this was not a typical student film."
Thief is set in Iraq during the hunt for Saddam Hussein after the dictator fled Baghdad, this story concerns a man living in a remote mountain house who encounters an unexpected visitor with a compelling link to his past.
“The filming experience was amazing! Having to learn the Iraqi dialect and just to be acting in Arabic in an American film shooting in Los Angeles made it very surreal,” said Samman. “To win this award is nothing short of a miracle! I am very blessed and humbled that when I finally did choose the path of a career that I love regardless of the socio-economic viability of it’s future; the pay off was almost instant and in incredible ways!”
For more information on Ayman’s work, please visit his IMDB page www.imdb.me/aymansamman, official site at www.aymanation.com, or follow him on Twitter @aymanation.
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Ayman Samman
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(323) 389-5067
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