THE CITIZEN to Screen at Toronto Film Festival

3K Pictures announces today that veteran sales agent Cassian Elwes is handling all North American rights to director Sam Kadi's debut political drama THE CITIZEN. The film was produced by Kadi, Chris Wyatt (NAPOLEON DYNAMITE) and Alan Noel Vega, with Ameer Kabour executive producing. The film is currently scheduled to screen for distributors during the Toronto Film Festival. 
 
THE CITIZEN tells the story of an Arab immigrant named Ibrahim (played by celebrated Egyptian actor Khaled Nabawy from FAIR GAME) who wins the American green card lottery, arriving in New York City on September 10th, 2001.  In addition to Nabawy, the film's cast includes Agnes Bruckner (BLOOD AND CHOCOLATE), William Atherton (GHOSTBUSTERS) and Cary Elwes (THE PRINCESS BRIDE).
 
The script took over three years to write and was co-written by the noted Arab American playwright Samir Younis (BROWNTOWN). Younis was living and working in New York on 9/11, and brought his experiences about the aftermath of that event to bear on the script.
 
Kadi was recognized by the prestigious foundation Cinema for Peace for raising awareness for human rights issues through film, and was invited to speak before the International Criminal Court at The Hague, The Netherlands on June 16, 2012. Kadi discussed the ongoing Syrian Revolution, and the toll it is taking on the citizens and artists in his home country. 
 
Born and raised in Syria, Kadi attended the College of Engineering at the University of Aleppo, where he founded the Marya Halab Theater Company.  After seven years of theater, he moved in 2000 to the U.S. to pursue a career in the arts and eventually attended the Motion Picture Institute of Michigan, which he graduated from in 2007.
 
For additional information about the film, please visit see THE CITIZEN website:
www.thecitizenmovie.com