ACC reveals final list of nominations for 8th Critics Awards for Arab Films
ACC reveals final list of nominations for 8th Critics Awards for Arab Films: The Arab Cinema Center (ACC) has unveiled the final roster of contenders for the eighth iteration of the Critics Awards for Arab Films. The victors will be unveiled during a special ceremony on May 18th at the esteemed Cannes Film Festival. This year’s nominees, carefully selected from the array of Arab films released and premiered outside the Arab World in the calendar year of 2023, will be subjected to the discerning judgment of an unprecedented jury panel comprising 209 critics hailing from 72 countries worldwide.
Introducing a new addition to the fray, this year’s event will incorporate the category of Best Short Film, supplementing the existing accolades for 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, remarked on the imminent ceremony, expressing, “Another year, another Critics Awards for Arab Films that’s bigger than the last one! For the eighth iteration of this highly esteemed event, we’re spotlighting films from diverse corners of the region, including Sudan, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Palestine, Yemen, Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, and even a compelling Arab narrative from France.”
“These films, as always, represent the pinnacle of cinematic achievement and have traversed the festival circuit throughout the past year, with some still gaining momentum in the current year. This edition sees the addition of the Best Short Film category, underscoring our commitment to encompassing the entirety of talent within the pan-Arab cinema landscape. Once again, my heartfelt thanks go out to our esteemed jury members for their dedication and diligence in evaluating these awards, and we eagerly anticipate collaborating with them again in the future,” she added.
Echoing the excitement, ACC Co-Founders Alaa Karkouti and Maher Diab conveyed their profound gratitude for the resounding success achieved by the Critics Awards for Arab Films, and the profound impact it has had in elevating Arab cinema onto the global stage.
“We are particularly thrilled to introduce the long-awaited Best Short Film Award, a significant addition that has been eagerly awaited. With each successive edition of these awards, our aim is to broaden their scope until they encompass every facet of this cherished industry that we are committed to championing,” they elaborated.
The culmination of anticipation, the final list of nominees spans across various categories:
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 was inaugurated on the sidelines of the 70th Cannes Film Festival. The final selection of nominees was meticulously curated according to stringent criteria: films must have premiered at international film festivals outside the Arab World during 2023, with at least one of the production companies being Arab, regardless of its contribution's magnitude to the film's production.
Established by MAD Solutions in 2015, the ACC is a non-profit organization headquartered in Amsterdam, serving as an international platform for promoting Arab cinema. It facilitates connections between the Arab filmmaking industry and counterparts worldwide through various events, including film markets, networking sessions, and pavilions, fostering collaboration with companies and institutions specializing in co-production and international distribution. Moreover, the ACC's English-language Arab Cinema Guide offers a comprehensive resource for filmmakers, aiming to enhance access to international markets and bolster recognition of Arab film productions.