Scandar Copti is Palestinian filmmaker. In 2009, his first full-length feature film "Ajami" won the Camera d'Or Special Mention at the Cannes Film Festival. His film was also nominated for the 82nd Academy Awards in the Best Foreign Film category and won more than 15 awards worldwide. Formerly a mechanical engineer, he has written, directed and edited several fiction, documentary and experimental short films. His video art projects were exhibited worldwide. Copti was part of the team that launched the Doha Tribeca Film Festival and the Doha Film Institute (DFI). He headed DFI's education department until 2011. Currently Copti is developing his next feature film project "DAMANAT" and heading the Film and New Media Program at the New York University in Abu Dhabi.