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arab critics’ award for european films creating a taste for european films in the arab world
The ARAB CRITICS AWARD is a promotional programme that is offering the Arab industry and cinephiles from the Arab world access to European arthouse films.
Each year, a jury of 89 renowned film critics and journalists from 15 Arabic-speaking countries watch a selection of the latest European festival hits and select their three favourites. These three finalist films are promoted internationally through social media and press activities. The winner is announced in a festive ceremony at the El Gouna or Cairo International Film Festival.
The ARAB CRITICS AWARD is organised in collaboration with the Arab Cinema Center.
how to participate
The programme is open for European films from 2025 which:
- have screened at Sundance, Rotterdam, Berlinale, HotDocs, Annecy, Cannes, Locarno, Karlovy Vary, Thessaloniki, Venice, TIFF or San Sebastian, and/or
- have won „Best Film“ at the national film awards (only for films from 2025), and/or
-
were the national feature-length Oscar entry in 2025
Interested parties whose films meet the entry criteria, please contact your national EFP representative by September 2025.
Each EFP member country is entitled to nominate one film. The final list of nominees will be announced by end-September.
2024 finalists
The Seed of the Sacred Fig
Director: Mohammad Rasoulof
Country: Germany
Flow
Director: Gints Zilbalodis
Country: Latvia
Loveable
Director: Lilja Ingolfsdottir
Country: Norway
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