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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 85 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 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 2023 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, and/or
-
were the national feature-length Oscar entry in 2023 (world premiere in 2023)
Interested parties whose films meet the entry criteria, please contact your national EFP representative by mid-September 2023.
Each EFP member country is entitled to nominate one film. The final list of nominees will be announced by mid-October.
2023 finalists
Fallen Leaves tells the story of two lonely people (Alma Pöysti and Jussi Vatanen) who meet each other by chance in the Helsinki night and try to find the first, only, and ultimate love of their lives. Their path towards this honourable goal is clouded by the man’s alcoholism, lost phone numbers, not knowing each other’s names or addresses, and life’s general tendency to place obstacles in the way of those seeking their happiness.
watch trailer
Fallen Leaves
Director: Aki Kaurismäki
Country: Finland
Io Capitano tells the story of the adventurous journey of Seydou and Moussa, two young men who leave Dakar to make their way to Europe. A contemporary Odyssey through the dangers of the desert, the horrors of the detention centers in Libya and the perils of the sea.
watch trailer
Io Capitano
Director: Matteo Garrone
Country: Italy
Serbia, 1996. During the student demonstrations against the Milosevic regime, 15-year-old Stefan has to go through the hardest revolution of all. He has to confront his beloved mother, spokesperson and accomplice of the corrupted government that his friends are rising against.
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Lost Country
Director: Vladimir Perišić
Country: Serbia
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