COM Alum Writes, Directs and Acts in Terrorism Thriller

Since the terror attacks on September 11, 2001, Giovanni Zelko (COM’96) has always questioned the perception of Muslims in America. As a direct response, Zelko created The Algerian, an award-winning film that depicts a “young Muslim man whose childhood tragedy has made him a fertile target for terrorist recruiters.”

Throughout the six-year filmmaking process, Zelko’s roles included writer, director, executive producer and actor—making this a true indie film. The Algerian has received a number of awards, including Best Picture at the 2014 Downtown Film Festival in Los Angeles, Best Feature at the 2015 International Filmmaker Festival of World Cinema in London and many more.

Since graduating from COM in 1996, Zelko has worked in Hollywood on such movies as Wicked, Godzilla, and Charlie’s Angels, as well as episodes of television’s It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Mad Men, and House.

When asked about the importance of attending film school, Zelko noted that it is “absolutely essential if you’re going to go the distance and write and direct and produce. The academic aspect of it has always helped me, because it gave me the structure to break components down into their individual parts.”

For more information about showtimes, reviews,and awards, visit The Algerian.