Ziad Hamzeh

Ziad Hamzeh
Ziad Hamzeh, 2007
Born	(1959-01-22) 22 January 1959 Damascus, Syria
Occupation	Film director, producer, screenwriter
Website	http://www.hmfilms.net

Ziad H Hamzeh (born 22 January 1959) is a Syrian-American college professor, a theatre director and an accomplished film-maker. Ziad has made Boston, Massachusetts his home after relocating from Los Angeles. He is of Druze origin. In southern Syria, Ziad was born in a home of archaeological significance. His house was built as a Roman palace, and its use changed with the times into a synagogue and then a church. Ziad has demonstrated his artistic vision throughout his long career as a director, writer, and producer. Ziad has earned numerous awards in the states and internationally. Ziad is one of the producers of "The Flower of Aleppo" by acclaimed Tunisian director Ridha Behi and has been selected as the official film representing Tunis at the 89 academy awards in 2017. earlier, he produced "Always Brando". The film premiered at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival and won the best producers award from Abu Dhabi film festival. His latest film Irrefutable Proof has been acquired by Shoreline Entertainment for worldwide distribution. Irrefutable Proof has won the Golden Palm award 2016.

Biography

Hamzeh was born at Jabal ad-Duruz in Syria. He immigrated to the United States in 1979. Ziad completed his bachelor's degree from the University of Massachusetts Boston in theatre arts . In 1984 he relocated to Los Angeles and enrolled in a master's program in writing and criticism at California State University in LA then went on to attain his MFA in directing at CSUF. After completing his studies, Hamzeh created two theatre companies in Los Angeles. As the artistic director of the Open Fist Theatre Company, he established a haven for artists.

His films and stage works have garnered many international awards. He received more than forty festival accolades including the Golden Palm twice for his films "irrefutable Proof" in 2016 and Woman in 2008 at the Beverly Hills Film Festival. In Los Angeles, Mr Hamzeh created two theatres: The Open Fist Theatre Company and The Egyptian Arena. He has directed and or produced over sixty stage productions.

Ziad has also been teaching directing in the graduate and undergraduates programs at the Maine Media Workshops since 1995. He also teaches the directing program at Emerson College and the MFA program at Lesley College.

Film career

As a director, Hamzeh has made films such as The Letter: An American Town and the 'Somali Invasion'. Other works include:Irrefutable Proof Shadow Glories Henry O! Bleacher BoysEternal Embrace and "Sisters".

filmography

External links

• Ziad H. Hamzeh at the Internet Movie Database
• Hamzeh's production company
• Open Fist Theatre Company