Latest news with #CriticsAwardsforArabFilms
Broadcast Pro
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Broadcast Pro
‘Thank You For Banking With Us' wins top prize at Critics Awards
The film, directed by Laila Abbas, is an incisive portrayal of two sisters navigating the complexities of patriarchal laws and the broader political tensions of the Israeli occupation of Palestine. Laila Abbas's debut feature, Thank You For Banking With Us, has taken top honours at the ninth Critics Awards for Arab Films, winning Best Film. The Palestinian production, which had its world premiere at the BFI London Film Festival, also earned Abbas the Best Director award. Written, directed and produced by Abbas through her Ramallah-based company Young Oak Productions, the film is a joint German-Palestinian production that delves into themes of female empowerment and familial struggle. It follows the story of sisters Mariam and Noura, who, after the death of their father, hatch a plan to claim a large inheritance, determined to bypass their brother's legal claim to half of the estate. Laila Abbas describes the film as a tribute to the strength of womanhood and the power of solidarity among women. 'It's a story about sisters who, having endured their own tragedies and heartbreaks, come together to become stronger,' she said. Moroccan director Nabil Ayouch's Everybody Loves Touda also made a strong showing, taking home two awards. The film premiered in the Cannes Premiere section last year and continues to gain critical recognition across the festival circuit. Actor Adam Bessa was awarded Best Actor for his performance in Ghost Trail, a French-Tunisian film that further underscores the diversity and talent emerging from the Arab film world. The Critics Awards for Arab Films honour the most outstanding achievements in Arab cinema over the past year. Winners are chosen by a global panel of 281 film critics, reflecting a broad and international perspective on the region's cinematic output. The awards are organised by the Arab Cinema Center in partnership with MAD Solutions, the International Emerging Film Talent Association, and the NEFT Emerging Film Talent International Competition, all of which work to promote and celebrate Arab storytelling on a global stage.
Identity
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Identity
New Awards for 'Thank You for Banking With Us' at Cannes Festival
'Thank You for Banking With Us', directed by Laila Abbas, has received new awards. The film won two awards at the Critics Awards for Arab Films on the sidelines of the Cannes International Film Festival; the Best Film and the Best Director for Laila Abbas. Producers Shahinaz Al-Akkad and Hanna Atallah received the awards. The awards were granted by a jury of 281 film critics from across the world. Shahinaz Al-Akkad, who co-produced and distributed the film, expressed her gladness with the two new awards on the sidelines of Cannes Festival. Recently, the film won multiple awards from festivals across the world. It has also received acclaim since its recent screenings in numerous countries; Egypt, KSA, and the UAE, in addition to its participation in many festivals.
Egypt Today
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Egypt Today
The Arab Cinema Magazine tracks the journey of Arab films in Cannes Film Festival
Arab Cinema Center. The Arab Cinema Center (ACC) returns once again to the Cannes Film Festival with an exclusive edition of its Arab Cinema Magazine, covering key topics shaping the Arab film industry and relevant to filmmakers and cinema enthusiasts across the region. This 25th edition highlights Fatma Hassan Alremaihi, CEO of the Doha Film Institute (DFI) and recipient of the sixth Arab Cinema Personality of the Year Award. Through an in-depth interview, she discusses her career, the institute's role in supporting Arab cinema, and the impact it has had on the industry, including its notable successes at international festivals. The issue also features the ninth Critics Awards for Arab Films, recognizing standout films from 2024, as voted by a jury expanded to include 281 critics from 75 countries. Additionally, it pays tribute to Iraqi film critic Erfan Rashid and Cypriot journalist Ninos Mikelides, both honored with the ACC's Lifetime Achievement Award in film criticism, and each contributing an article exploring this year's award theme: Exile. The magazine's 25th edition also tracks Arab films' journeys through global festivals from the start of the year through Cannes, as well as introduces new partners joining the Arab Cinema Center — like A. A. Films, Station Films, Yellow Camel, Abbout Productions, Bonanza Films, and the Palestine Film Institute — showcasing their auspicious profiles. Additionally, the issue returns with its annual Golden 101 power list of the Arab film industry's leading movers and makers, featuring a fresh selection of directors, actors, and behind-the-scenes professionals, including writers, cinematographers, editors, and costume designers — all chosen based on their achievements in the past year. The magazine also includes regular features, such as reports on the successes of the Arab Cinema Center's partners over the previous year and updates on their latest projects.
Broadcast Pro
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Broadcast Pro
ACC expands global reach with ninth critics awards for Arab films
This year's winners will be revealed during a ceremony on May 17 in Cannes. Arab Cinema Centre (ACC) has announced the ninth edition of its Critics Awards for Arab Films, solidifying its commitment to honouring the region's most exceptional cinematic achievements. The 2025 edition sets a new benchmark for international participation, bringing together a record 281 film critics from 75 countries to evaluate and celebrate Arab films that have gained increasing recognition on the global stage. Deborah Young, Manager of the Critics Awards, highlighted the growing prestige of the initiative, emphasising that the expanding jury reflects the rising importance of Arab cinema worldwide. The awards aim not only to recognise artistic excellence but also to amplify Arab voices within the global film community. Marking a decade since the Arab Cinema Centre's founding, ACC Co-founders Alaa Karkouti and Maher Diab reflected on the Centre's evolving role in the industry. They noted the Critics Awards' growth into a cornerstone event that consistently elevates Arab filmmaking talent and fosters cross-cultural exchange. The awards have grown in scope and influence, continually introducing new perspectives and categories that draw attention from international audiences. Launched alongside the 70th Cannes Film Festival, the Critics Awards are held annually in collaboration with Festival Scope. They spotlight the best Arab productions from the previous year, with honours awarded in multiple categories including Best Feature Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Actress, Best Actor, Best Documentary, Best Short, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, and Best Music. Beyond the awards themselves, the ACC has played a vital role over the past ten years in supporting emerging directors and championing innovative storytelling within Arab cinema. Through mentorship, resources, and international exposure, the Centre continues to inspire the next generation of filmmakers and position Arab cinema as a vibrant and dynamic force in the global film landscape.
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.
