Final Nominees for the 8th Critics Awards for Arab Films
Final Nominees for the 8th Critics Awards for Arab Films. The Arab Cinema Center (ACC) has revealed the final lineup of nominees for the 8th Critics Awards for Arab Films, set to be announced at a special ceremony during this year's Cannes Film Festival on May 18th.
The nominees were meticulously chosen from a pool of Arab films that debuted outside the Arab World in 2023. The selection process involved an unprecedented jury committee composed of 209 critics representing 72 countries worldwide.
This year's edition of the awards introduces a new category: Best Short Film, alongside established categories like Best Feature Film, Best Documentary, Best Director, Best Screenwriter, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Editing, Best Cinematography, and Best Music.
Deborah Young, Manager of the Critics Awards for Arab Films, expressed her enthusiasm, stating, "With each passing year, the Critics Awards for Arab Films continue to elevate the profile of Arab cinema. For our eighth edition, we are thrilled to showcase outstanding films from across the region, spanning Sudan, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Palestine, Yemen, Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, and even a captivating Arab narrative from France!"
"These films represent the epitome of cinematic excellence and have garnered acclaim worldwide throughout the festival circuit. Introducing the Best Short Film category underscores our commitment to recognizing the diverse talents within the pan-Arab cinema industry. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to our esteemed jury members for their dedication, and we eagerly anticipate another successful event," she added.
Alaa Karkouti and Maher Diab, Co-Founders of ACC, echoed the sentiment, expressing their appreciation for the growing recognition of Arab cinema on the global stage. They also welcomed the addition of the Best Short Film category, emphasizing their dedication to supporting all facets of the industry.
The final list of nominees includes:
Best Feature Film:
- GOODBYE JULIA | Mohamed Kordofani | Sudan
- INSHALLAH A BOY | Amjad Al-Rasheed | Jordan
- HAJJAN | Abu Bakr Shawky | Saudi Arabia
- THE TEACHER | Farah Nabulsi | Palestine
- THE BURDENED | Amr Gamal | Yemen
Best Director:
- Mohamed Kordofani | GOODBYE JULIA | Sudan
- Kaouther Ben Hania | FOUR DAUGHTERS | Tunisia
- Karim Bensalah | SIX FEET OVER | France
- Asmae ElMoudir | THE MOTHER OF ALL LIES | Morocco
- Amjad Al-Rasheed | INSHALLAH A BOY | Jordan
Best Screenplay:
- Mohamed Kordofani | GOODBYE JULIA | Sudan
- Amr Gamal, Mazen Refaat | THE BURDENED | Yemen
- Kamal Al-Azrak | HOUNDS | Morocco
- Delphine Agut, Rula Nasser, Amjad Al-Rasheed | INSHALLAH A BOY | Jordan
- Omar Shama, Mufarrij Almajfel, Abu Bakr Shawky | HAJJAN | Saudi Arabia
Best Actress:
- Mouna Hawa | INSHALLAH A BOY | Jordan
- Eiman Yousif | GOODBYE JULIA | Sudan
- Hend Sabry | KIRA & EL GIN | Egypt
- Hend Sabry | FOUR DAUGHTERS | Tunisia
- Adwa Bader | NAGA | Saudi Arabia
Best Actor:
- Ibrahim Al-Hasawi | HAJJAN | Saudi Arabia
- Majd Mastoura | FOUR DAUGHTERS | Tunisia
- Ayoub Elaid | HOUNDS | Morocco
- Saleh Bakri | THE TEACHER | Palestine
- Nazar Goma | GOODBYE JULIA | Sudan
Best Documentary:
- FOUR DAUGHTERS | Kaouther Ben Hania | Tunisia
- THE MOTHER OF ALL LIES | Asmae ElMoudir | Morocco
- Q | Jude Chehab | Lebanon
- UNDER THE SKY OF DAMASCUS | Talal Derki, Heba Khaled, Ali Wajeeh | Syria
- LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL | Mohamed Jabaly | Palestine
Best Short Film:
- I PROMISE YOU PARADISE | Morad Mostafa | Egypt
- LES CHENILLES | Noel Keserwany, Michelle Keserwany | Lebanon
- THE RED SEA MAKES ME WANNA CRY | Faris Alrjoob | Jordan
- SEA SALT | Leila Basma | Lebanon
- THE KEY | Rakan Mayasi | Palestine
Best Music:
- Amine Bouhafa | HAJJAN | Saudi Arabia
- Amine Bouhafa | FOUR DAUGHTERS | Tunisia
- Mazen Hamid | GOODBYE JULIA | Sudan
- Omar Fadel | NAGA | Saudi Arabia
- Alex Baranowski | THE TEACHER | Palestine
Best Cinematography:
- Farouk Laâridh | FOUR DAUGHTERS | Tunisia
- Kanamé Onoyama | INSHALLAH A BOY | Jordan
- Gilles Porte | THE TEACHER | Palestine
- Gerry Vasbenter | HAJJAN | Saudi Arabia
- Ahmad Al Morsy | KIRA & EL GIN | Egypt
Best Editing:
- Ahmed Hafez | INSHALLAH A BOY | Jordan
- Heba Othman | GOODBYE JULIA | Sudan
- Fahd Ahmed | Q | Lebanon
- Sarah Peczek | HAJJAN | Saudi Arabia
- Qutaiba Barhamji | FOUR DAUGHTERS | Tunisia
The inaugural Critics Awards for Arab Films took place during the 70th Cannes Film Festival. The final list of nominees for the Critics Awards for Arab Films was curated based on the following criteria: films must have premiered at international film festivals outside of the Arab World during 2023, with at least one of the production companies being Arab.
Established by MAD Solutions in 2015, the ACC is a nonprofit organization registered in Amsterdam, serving as an international platform for promoting Arab cinema. It provides networking opportunities for the Arab filmmaking industry, facilitating connections with global counterparts through various events such as film markets, networking sessions, and one-on-one meetings.
Additionally, the ACC offers a newsletter subscription on its website, providing users with digital copies of the Arab Cinema Magazine and updates on ACC activities, festival announcements, educational opportunities, and more.
The ACC has also launched an English-language Arab Cinema Guide on its website, aimed at providing comprehensive information on Arab cinema to filmmakers worldwide, facilitating access to international markets, and promoting Arab film productions.