Unveiling the Nominees: 8th Critics Awards for Arab Films
Unveiling the Nominees: 8th Critics Awards for Arab Films. The Arab Cinema Center (ACC) has unveiled the final roster of nominees for the 8th Critics Awards for Arab Films. The winners of these prestigious awards will be announced at a special ceremony during this year’s Cannes Film Festival on May 18th.
These nominations represent a diverse array of Arab films that premiered outside the Arab World in 2023. The selection process involved an unprecedented jury committee comprising 209 critics from 72 countries around the world.
Adding to the anticipation, this year’s edition introduces a new category: Best Short Film, alongside established categories such as 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 excitement about the upcoming event, stating, “With each passing year, the Critics Awards for Arab Films grow in significance. For our eighth edition, we’re thrilled to showcase outstanding films from across the region, including Sudan, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Palestine, Yemen, Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, and even a compelling Arab narrative from France!”
“These films represent the pinnacle of cinematic achievement and have captivated audiences worldwide throughout the festival circuit. In line with our commitment to celebrating the diversity of talent in the pan-Arab cinema industry, we’re delighted to introduce the Best Short Film category this year. I extend my heartfelt thanks 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, expressed their gratitude for the growing recognition of Arab cinema on the global stage. They also welcomed the addition of the Best Short Film category, emphasizing their commitment 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 first 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.
