DETROIT — At its red carpet premiere on Wednesday evening at the Detroit Film Theatre of the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA), “Detroit Unleaded,” featuring an Arab American cast, received rave reviews from audiences and critics. 

The film, shot primarily at a gas station on Detroit’s east side, tells the story of a gas station owner who is a recent Lebanese immigrant and is coping with the death of his father. He learns how to find love when a young woman named Najlah shows up routently to his shift at work. 

Local actors E.J. Assi and Nada Shouhayib fill the lead roles.  Assi, who grew up in Port Huron and attended Wayne State University, plays Sami, while Najlan is played by Shouhayib.

The film’s director, Rola Nashef, discussed her vision of the film with audiences after the screening. She says that because of the positive reaction that the film has received, there may now be a possibility for a sequel or a TV series. 

With a small $500,000 budget, Nashef explained that “Detroit Unleaded” was shot in 23 days in Dearborn and Detroit and is based on a short film she directed in 2005 that ended up being released two years later at the East Lansing Film Festival.

The film officially opens November 15 at the Detroit Film Theatre and will be screened there until the 19th. It will then make its way to New York City, where it will be screened at the Cinema Village, beginning Nonmember 22nd. The film has already been screened in other areas, including Dubai and Los Angeles. 

“Detroit Unleaded” took honors in 2012 at the Toronto Film Festival and has recieved positive reaction from screenings held around the world.  

The five-day schedule at the Detroit Film Theater, located at the Detroit Institute of Arts, includes the following showtimes; Friday Nov. 15 at 7 p.m., Saturday Nov. 16 at 10 p.m., Sunday Nov. 17 at 7 p.m., Monday Nov. 18 at 7 p.m. and Tuesday, Nov. 19 at 7 p.m. Call  313.833.4005 to reserve tickets in advance.