Arabia 3D Opens at the National Museum of Natural History’s Johnson Imax Theater Feb. 18

Smithsonian Theaters presents its newest giant-screen film, Arabia 3D, starting Feb. 18 at the National Museum of Natural History’s Johnson Imax Theater.

Produced by the Academy Award-nominated filmmakers who created Everest and Grand Canyon Adventure, Arabia 3D takes audiences on a giant-screen 3-D cinematic adventure to a land steeped in mystery and myth. In this epic combination of historical re-creations and contemporary scenes, Arabia 3D follows the story of charismatic 25-year-old Arabian filmmaking student Hamzah Jamjoom as he returns home from Chicago’s De Paul University to make a film about his native culture. As Jamjoom discovers the roots of his people’s ancient traditions, audiences will learn how modern Arabian society developed through history into what it is today.

Through stunning Imax 3-D cinematography, audiences will travel to the Red Sea to explore ancient shipwrecks, rediscover the ancient lost city of Madain Saleh, travel back in time to the age of the Nabataeans where camel caravans traveled the frankincense route and experience the extraordinary religious pilgrimage known as the hajj where ever year 3 million Muslims arrive in the holy city of Mecca to reaffirm their faith. They will also meet the young Arabs who are transforming tomorrow’s world.

The 45-minute film also highlights Arabia’s Islamic Golden Ages of Science, when the region’s contributions to the arts, economics, trade, science and technology flourished.

The first major film photographed entirely in Saudi Arabia at more than 20 locations, Arabia 3D lends itself to the grand scale of the Johnson Imax Theater’s six-story screen.

Narrated by Academy Award winner Helen Mirren and historian Robert Lacey, the film is produced by MacGillivray Freeman Films and the MacGillivray Freeman Films Education Foundation.

The Johnson Imax Theater is located on the first floor of the National Museum of Natural History at 10th Street and Constitution Avenue N.W. The theater’s 90-by-60-foot screen is the largest in Washington, D.C.

Arabia 3D opens Feb. 18 and will be shown several times daily through April. Individual tickets will be available for purchase Feb. 4 and may be reserved up to two weeks in advance. Groups of 10 or more may reserve tickets now. The public may visit any Smithsonian Theaters box office, call toll-free (866) 868-7774, TTY (202) 633-8850 or visit www.si.edu/imax for information or to purchase tickets.

# # #

SI-31-2011