Oscar-winning producer Arthur Cohn will return to Boston University tonight at the George Sherman Union for a special premiere of his Golden Globe-nominated film, “Behind the Sun.”

In 1988, Cohn, a native of Switzerland, received an honorary doctorate of fine arts from BU, and since then, he has maintained a close relationship with the University.

“The preview is a special premier for Boston in honor of BU,” said Cohn. “When I got an honorary doctorate for film alternately I promised that every year I would come to BU to show films before they come out.

“I have always been glad to come here because of enormous interest shown for my productions. The question-and-answer period has always been vivid with intellectual questions, which shows that students got involved with the film.”

Cohn, the only independent producer to have won six Academy Awards, said he admires the appreciation he has received from American audiences.

“This is very interesting because I am not an American and I am not in Hollywood,” Cohn said.

Cohn has presented eight of his films to the BU community in the past. Last fall, Cohn premiered his award-winning film “One Day in September,” a documentary about the massacre at the 1972 Olympic games in Munich.

Cohn described his past premiers at BU as among the most impressive events he has attended.

“The screening is of particular significance to me because the public is so intelligent and attentive,” Cohn said.

The premier of “Central Station” was one of the most emotional screenings for Cohn, who recalls more than a thousand students coming to speak with him after the film. “It impressed me enormously,” Cohn said.

Cohn said “Behind the SUun” was inspired by the novel, “Broken April,” written by Albanian author Ismail Kadare´. Cohn said he decided to place the story in early-20th century Brazil instead of the author’s choice of present day Albania because he did not want to bring political actuality to the film, he said.

“The film is not about Albania, Kosovo or Serbia today,” Cohn said.

The story is centered around two feuding families but contains many underlying stories, Cohn said.

“The film has a political level that can be compared to today’s tensions and war,” he said. “Others will like the idea of the woman’s fight for freedom … and others will like the story of the two brothers.

“This is a film where you don’t say it was interesting or entertaining,” Cohn said. “The film will occupy the mind after three to five months … A sign of a good film is how long it has kept its impact.”

“Behind the Sun” is scheduled to be released to the public in April. The debut of the film will also feature an introduction by BU Chancellor John Silber, a presentation by Cohn and a question-and-answer period. The premier will be held at the George Sherman Union at 6:30 p.m. and is open to the public.