CinemaNA: My Driver And I - Ahd Kamel

Name: CinemaNA: My Driver And I - Ahd Kamel
Start: 2025-11-04T19:00:00+0400
End: 2025-11-04T22:00:00+0400
Location: The Blue Hall, The Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi
Rating: 4.8

The Blue Hall, The Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi

4.8

mar. 04 nov.

Portes:19:00

Démarrer:19:30

The Blue Hall, The Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi

Événement terminé

5.0

Excellent

I love the venue - the Blue Hall at NYU AD Arts Centre. Comfortable and spacious seating, and good design and acoustics.
On this occasion, I saw a screening of My Driver and I, followed by a Q&A session with writer/director Ahd Kamel. A wonderful film and a great opportunity to hear from Ahd on her inspiration for the story, the filming process and the timeline from writing to the finished product on screen. A terrific experience and a really enjoyable evening.

A screening of the film, My Driver and I, accompanied by a live conversation with Saudi Arabian filmmaker Ahd Kamel

In the 80s and 90s, Jeddah, a Saudi girl, and her Sudanese driver form an unlikely friendship which is tested when she starts to take the wheel. Salma, a young, privileged, and rebellious girl from Saudi Arabia, is born to a strict, grief-stricken mother and a loving but absent workaholic father. Gamar, a young Sudanese man, left his family and moved to Jeddah to earn a living driving Salma. My Driver and I is the story of Salma and Gamar’s relationship and how quickly it evolves from a simple master/servant dynamic to an intimate personal friendship that bonds them through her teenage years and beyond. Salma eventually realises, possibly too late, that Gamar wasn't just her driver, he was her best friend, and she was his. The story is about independence and finding family in the most unusual places. He drives her in a car, but ultimately enables her to take the wheel of her own life's journey.

Video Tab:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6krO5uxw2JA

Ahd Kamel

Ahd Hassan Kamel is an award-winning actress and filmmaker from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. She is best known for her starring role in the 2014 BAFTA-nominated film WADJDA, her role as Fatima in the 2018 BBC2/Netflix series COLLATERAL, and co-starring in Amazon’s 2022 thriller ALL THE OLD KNIVES alongside Chris Pine, Thandie Newton, and Lawrence Fishburne.

Ahd grew up in Saudi Arabia and moved to New York City in 1998. She received a BFA in Animation & Communication from Parsons School of Design in 2014 and a Directing degree from the New York Film Academy in 2015. Ahd then went on to study Acting under the personal tutelage of William Esper at the William Esper Studio.

Ahd has written, directed, and acted in her two award-winning short films, THE SHOEMAKER 'Al-Qondorji' (2009) and SANCTITY 'Hurma' (2012) - the first Saudi film to compete at the Berlinale.

Ahd was selected as a Young Global Leader in 2019 by the World Economic Forum.

Caspian Films

Caspian Films was founded in 2018 by producers Thembisa Cochrane and Georgie Paget. They share a passion for cinema and storytelling and have partnered to bring engaging, entertaining films with unique voices and fresh perspectives to international audiences. The company most recently completed THE COLOUR ROOM for Sky Cinema, directed by Claire McCarthy (Ophelia), starring Phoebe Dynevor (Bridgerton) and Matthew Goode (The Imitation Game), and has a variety of other films in development with acclaimed international writers and directors.

The Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for all patrons.

Entry to the NYUAD Campus is through either the East or West Parking or the Welcome Center.

Patrons will be required to present a valid ticket to an event at The Arts Center upon entry to the campus.

As per current Department of Culture and Tourism guidelines a Green Al Hosn is NO LONGER needed to attend public events in Abu Dhabi.

The wearing of face masks is NO LONGER required in most indoor public places, including campus buildings.

For access and wheelchair bookings please email: nyuad.boxoffice@nyu.edu

By car: The Arts Center is easily accessible by car. You can park in the designated area for parking once you arrive.

The Blue Hall, The Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi

NYU Abu Dhabi A6 Arts & Humanities Bldg - Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Hwy - Al Saadiyat Island - Saadiyat Marina District - Abu Dhabi - United Arab Emirates