Latest news with #ArabCinemaPersonalityoftheYear
Broadcast Pro
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Broadcast Pro
Arab Cinema Center returns to Cannes 2025 with four-day programme
Through a series of panels, awards and networking events, the ACC will showcase the depth of Arab cinema, delve into major industry developments across the MENA region, and encourage global dialogue among leading filmmakers, producers and decision-makers. The Arab Cinema Centre (ACC), in partnership with the Marché du Film, is set to return to the Cannes Film Festival with a four-day programme running from May 15 to 18, 2025. Designed to spotlight the diversity of Arab cinema, the initiative will feature a series of industry panels, award ceremonies and discussions aimed at fostering meaningful dialogue within the global film community. This year's edition will address critical themes shaping the audiovisual landscape across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), including the rise of regional production hubs, funding challenges and international co-production opportunities. Industry professionals from across the Arab world and beyond—including filmmakers, producers and key decision-makers—are expected to participate. Alaa Karkouti and Maher Diab, Co-Founders of the Arab Cinema Centre, said: 'This year's Cannes edition marks another year in which we inform, educate, and sing the praises of the pan-Arab cinema industry. We will be highlighting its depth and richness, while at the same time creating an agenda for what remains to be done at an industry level. As always, we'd like to thank Marché du Film for this ongoing collaboration and for the platform it provides to our corner of the world. 'This year, aside from annual events like the Critics Awards for Arab Films and the ceremony to name the Arab Cinema Personality of the Year, we have a bevy of panels lined up for those keen to learn about the Arab World's largest filmmaking hub: Egypt; we will also shine a timely spotlight on Palestinian cinema; and we will examine important new funding avenues for Arab films and the secrets for success when it comes to international co-productions. It's a lot to discuss, but there's no better place to do it than at the Cannes Marché.' In addition to staple events like the Critics Awards for Arab Films and the Arab Cinema Personality of the Year ceremony, the ACC will host four curated panels. These include sessions examining Egypt's prominent role in Arab cinema, a spotlight on Palestinian filmmaking, insights into authentic Arab co-productions and a discussion on innovative equity financing models for Arab film projects. The Arab Cinema Personality of the Year will be honoured in a private ceremony on May 15, while the Critics Awards, which launched in Cannes in 2017, will take place on May 17 at the Plage des Palmes, with more than 280 international film critics selecting the winners. Notable figures participating this year include Egyptian actress Youssra, Royal Film Commission of Jordan's Mohannad Al Bakri, Orascom's Samih Sawiris, Hussein Fahmy, Mohamed Hefzy, Amr Mansi, Morad Mostafa and May Odeh, among many others. Guillaume Esmiol, Executive Director of the Marché du Film, added: 'We are happy to welcome back Arab Cinema Centre at the Marché du Film. Their continued engagement and curated programming contribute to shining a light on the richness and complexity of Arab cinema, while helping structure conversations that matter across our industry. This long-standing collaboration underscores our commitment to fostering diverse perspectives and facilitating meaningful exchange across the global film community.' The Marché du Film – Festival de Cannes opens its doors on May 13, 2025, with the film market running until May 21 and the festival concluding its activities on May 24.
Egypt Today
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Egypt Today
The Arab Cinema Center unveils its dynamic program at 78th Cannes Film Festival
The Arab Cinema Center unveils its dynamic program at 78th Cannes Film Festival. In collaboration with Marché du Film, the Arab Cinema Center (ACC) is set to host a captivating lineup of activities at this year's 78th Cannes Film Festival, running from May 13th to 24th, featuring thought-provoking panels and prestigious award ceremonies that celebrate the diversity and dynamism of Arab cinema. Over a four-day program, the ACC will present four panels and two prestigious award ceremonies, showcasing industry professionals both in front of and behind the camera and exploring the latest developments in MENA's changing and exciting entertainment landscape. Eager to collaborate with the ACC once again, Executive Director Of The Marché Du Film Guillaume Esmiol said, 'We are happy to welcome back the Arab Cinema Center at the Marché du Film. Their continued engagement and curated programming contribute to shining a light on the richness and complexity of Arab cinema while helping structure conversations that matter across our industry. 'This long-standing collaboration underscores our commitment to fostering diverse perspectives and facilitating meaningful exchange across the global film community,' he added. 'This year's Cannes festival marks another year in which we inform, educate, and sing the praises of the pan-Arab cinema industry. We will be highlighting its depth and richness, while at the same time creating an agenda for what remains to be done at an industry level. As always, we'd like to thank Marché du Film for this ongoing collaboration and for the platform it provides to our corner of the world,' said ACC Co-Founders Alaa Karkouti and Maher Diab. 'This year, aside from annual events like the Critics Awards for Arab Films and the ceremony to name the Arab Cinema Personality of the Year, we have a bevy of panels lined up for those keen to learn about the Arab World's largest filmmaking hub: Egypt; we will also shine a timely spotlight on Palestinian cinema; and we will examine important new funding avenues for Arab films and the secrets for success when it comes to international co-productions. It's a lot to discuss, but there's no better place to do it than at the Cannes Marché.' Kicking off the program will be a compelling panel titled 'Egypt: Arab World's Blockbuster Nation,' moderated by Nick Vivarelli of Variety from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm on Thursday, May 15th, at the main stage. That same day, the ACC's Arab Cinema Personality of the Year, CEO of the Doha Film Institute Fatma Alremaihi, will be honored in an invite-only ceremony held from 5 to 7 pm at Viewpoint, Palais des Festivals. The following day, Friday, May 16th, will feature a panel titled 'Palestinian Cinema Under The Spotlight,' moderated by Melanie Goodfellow of Deadline, from 10 to 11 am at the main stage. Later that day, from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm at View Point Venue, Michael Rosser of Screen International will lead a case study on the 'Anatomy of an Authentic Arab Co-Production,' exploring collaboration within the industry. On May 17th, from 5 to 7 pm, the ACC, MAD Solutions, and the International Emerging Film Talent Association (IEFTA) will host the Critics Awards for Arab Films ceremony, which will be held at Plages des Palmes by invitation only, celebrating standout achievements in recent Arab cinema. Launched in 2017 by the ACC at the Cannes Film Festival, the Arab Critics Awards for Arab Films provides a platform for a glittering jury of more than 280 prominent international film critics to select and honor the best of recent Arab cinema across numerous awards categories. Concluding the ACC events at Marché du Film will be a panel titled 'Equity Financing: Pioneering New Financing Avenues for Arab Cinema,' moderated by Gamal Guemeih and taking place from 2 to 3 on Sunday, May 18th, at the main stage. A distinguished lineup of guests will grace these events, including trailblazing Egyptian superstar Youssra; Managing Director of the Jordanian Royal Film Commission Mohannad Al Bakri; business entrepreneur and President of the El Gouna Film Festival Samih Sawiris; actor Hussein Fahmy, President of the Cairo International Film Festival; producer and Founder of Film Clinic Mohamed Hefzy; Director of the El Gouna Film Festival Amr Mansi; Managing Director of Egypt Film Commission Ahmed Sami; director of Un Certain Regard title AISHA CAN'T FLY AWAY Morad Mostafa, its producer Sawsan Mostafa, and Founder of A. A. Films Ahmed Amer. Other notable attendees include Acting Executive Director of Film AlUla Zaid Shaker; Palestinian producer May Odeh; French producer Didar Domehri; Puerto Rican filmmaker and Co-Founder of the IEFTA Marco Orsini; Program Manager at the Arab Fund for Arts and Culture Soleil Gharbieh; director and actress Sherine Dababis; director and Program Manager of the Palestinian Film Foundation Mohamed Al-Jabali; director Rashid Mashharawi; Founder and Executive Director of Yellow Camel Studios Rasha Al-Imam; Director of production services at the Royal Film Commission Bashar Abu Nawar; Cinema Affairs Advisor to the Deputy Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region and Founder and President of the Cinema Authority in Kurdistan Sulaymaniyah Bafi Yasin; Tunisian producer Dora Bouchoucha; Saudi producer and General Manager of Rotana Studios Mohamed Wafa; Lebanese producer and Founder of Abbout Productions Georges Schoucair; and many more to be announced soon.
