Scandar is a Palestinian filmmaker whose debut full-length feature film "Ajami" (co-directed by Yaron Shani) won the Camera d'Or Special Mention and was nominated for the 82nd Academy Awards. Formerly a mechanical engineer, he has written, directed, and edited several fictions, documentary, and experimental short films. His video art projects were exhibited worldwide. Copti was part of the team that launched the Doha Film Institute where he headed the Education Department and taught screenwriting, directing, and working with non-actors.