In a continued celebration of excellence in Arab filmmaking, the Arab Cinema Center (ACC) has announced the nominees for the ninth edition of its highly anticipated Critics Awards for Arab Films. The winners will be revealed during an exclusive awards ceremony on May 17, held on the sidelines of the 78th Cannes Film Festival.
Leading the nominations this year are four standout films—Thank You for Banking with Us, Everybody Loves Touda, Ghost Trail, and Seeking Haven for Mr. Rambo—each receiving five nominations. Close behind is Tunisia’s Aïcha, which garnered four nods. Other notable contenders with multiple nominations include The Village Next to Paradise, To a Land Unknown, Voy! Voy! Voy!, and Norah.
Organized in collaboration with MAD Solutions and the International Emerging Film Talent Association (IEFTA), the awards are by-invitation-only and recognize Arab films that premiered outside the Arab world in 2024.
This year’s jury includes a record-breaking 281 film critics from 75 countries, further establishing the global relevance of Arab cinema. Nominees span ten categories, including Best Feature Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Actor, and Best Actress—showcasing the region’s creative talent and storytelling depth.
Nominees by Category:
Best Feature Film
- Thank You for Banking with Us – Laila Abbas (Palestine)
- Everybody Loves Touda – Nabil Ayouch (Morocco)
- Seeking Haven for Mr. Rambo – Khaled Mansour (Egypt)
- Aïcha – Mehdi Barsaoui (Tunisia)
- Ghost Trail – Jonathan Millet (France)
Best Director
- Laila Abbas – Thank You for Banking with Us
- Nabil Ayouch – Everybody Loves Touda
- Khaled Mansour – Seeking Haven for Mr. Rambo
- Jonathan Millet – Ghost Trail
- Mahdi Fleifel – To a Land Unknown
Best Screenplay
- Laila Abbas – Thank You for Banking with Us
- Nabil Ayouch & Maryam Touzani – Everybody Loves Touda
- Mehdi Barsaoui – Aïcha
- Jonathan Millet & Florence Rochat – Ghost Trail
- Mo Harawe – The Village Next to Paradise
Best Actor
- Essam Omar – Seeking Haven for Mr. Rambo
- Adam Bessa – Ghost Trail
- Yagoub Alfarhan – Norah
- Muhammad Farrag – Voy! Voy! Voy!
- Majd Mastoura – Agora
Best Actress
- Yasmine Al Massri – Thank You for Banking with Us
- Nisrin Erradi – Everybody Loves Touda
- Hala Rajab – Ghost Trail
- Diamand Abou Abboud – Arzé
- Rakeen Saad – Seeking Haven for Mr. Rambo
Best Cinematography
- Antoine Héberlé – Aïcha
- Mostafa El Kashef – The Village Next to Paradise
- Thodoros Mihopoulos – To a Land Unknown
- Jonathan Sela – The Strangers’ Case
- Wojciech Staron – Red Path
Best Editing
- Heba Othman – Thank You for Banking with Us
- Yasser Azmy – Seeking Haven for Mr. Rambo
- Joana Scrinzi – The Village Next to Paradise
- Ahmed Hafez – Voy! Voy! Voy!
- Noaz Deshe & Felipe Guerrero – Xoftex
Best Original Music
- Kristian Eidnes Andersen & Flemming Nordkrog – Everybody Loves Touda
- Amin Bouhafa – Aïcha
- Omar Fadel – Norah
- Florencia Di Concilio – The Vanishing
- Rodrigo D’Erasmo – Samia
Best Documentary
- No Other Land
- Diaries from Lebanon
- A Fidah Film
- Sudan, Remember Us
- From Ground Zero
Best Short Film
- After the Sun
- Upshot
- Mango
- Shadows
- A Short Film About Kids
A Decade of Recognition for Arab Cinema
Launched alongside the 70th Cannes Film Festival, the Critics Awards for Arab Films have become a flagship initiative by the ACC, spotlighting the best Arab productions each year. Now in its ninth edition, the initiative continues to elevate Arab voices and stories on the international stage.
As it approaches its tenth year, the ACC remains a vital force in supporting emerging filmmakers across the Arab world. Through mentorship, funding, and visibility, the Center empowers storytellers to challenge norms, explore new cinematic forms, and share authentic narratives with global audiences.
