Mohammad Assaf biopic going to TIFF

From refugee camps to the world of Arab Idol, Mohammad Assaf’s story continues to travel. Its latest destination? The silver screen.

Oscar-nominated filmmaker Hany Abu Assad, a Palestinian like Assaf, has loosely based his film The Idol – Ya Tayr Al Tayer on the pop star’s life. Based in Cairo and Beirut but filmed primarily in Jordan, the drama follows its protagonist’s journey from simplicity to superstardom, mixing humour with sorrow and struggle with hope.

The biopic will premiere at Toronto International Film Festival in September. Assaf may attend.