The Arab Cinema Center (ACC) proudly announces the ninth edition of the Critics Awards for Arab Films, reinforcing its mission to celebrate the finest achievements in Arab cinema. This year, the awards continue to expand their reach, bringing together an esteemed jury of 281 film critics from 75 countries, setting a new record for the initiative. With an increasing number of Arab films gaining international recognition, the Critics Awards remain a pivotal force in highlighting the region’s cinematic excellence.
“For its ninth edition, the Critics Awards for Arab Films continues to grow in both scale and influence. The increasing number of participating critics underscores the importance of Arab cinema on the global stage. Our goal remains to celebrate and elevate these films, ensuring they receive the recognition they deserve,” said Deborah Young — Manager of the Critics Awards for Arab Films.
Co-Founders of the ACC Alaa Karkouti and Maher Diab also expressed their joy for nine years of the Critics’ Awards and a decade of the ACC, saying “For over ten years, the Arab Cinema Center has been a vital hub for Arab filmmakers, providing international exposure and opportunities. The Critics Awards for Arab Films have become a cornerstone of this mission, highlighting the creativity and excellence of Arab cinema on a global level. With each edition, the awards evolve — introducing new voices, expanding categories, and attracting more international attention. We are proud to see the growing impact of Arab films worldwide and remain committed to fostering dialogue and collaboration across borders.”
The first Critics Awards for Arab Films was held on the margins of the 70th Cannes Film Festival and is an annual event held in partnership with Festival Scope that honors the best Arab productions of the previous year with awards in the following categories: Best Feature Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Actress, Best Actor, Best Documentary, Best Short, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, and Best Music.
With the ninth edition of the Critics Awards for Arab Films, the ACC reaffirms its mission to celebrate and empower Arab filmmakers, ensuring their stories resonate on an international scale. As the center enters its next decade, it continues to be a driving force behind the ever-evolving and dynamic Arab film industry.
For the past decade, the ACC has been at the forefront of championing and nurturing up-and-coming directors who dare to explore revolutionary film genres. With a steadfast commitment to fostering creativity and innovation, the center has become a pivotal force in the Arab film industry. By providing invaluable guidance, mentorship, and resources, the ACC empowers emerging filmmakers to push boundaries, challenge conventions, and bring their unique visions to life.
Organized by MAD Solutions, the ACC is a nonprofit organization registered in Amsterdam and is an international promotional platform for Arab cinema, providing the Arab filmmaking industry with a professional window to connect with its counterparts from all over the world through a number of events that it organizes.
The ACC also provides networking opportunities with representatives of companies and institutions specialized in co-production and international distribution, among others. The ACC's activities vary between film markets, stands, and pavilions, networking sessions and one-on-one meetings bringing together Arab and foreign filmmakers, welcome parties, as well as meetings with international organizations and festivals, and the issuance of the Arab Cinema Magazine to be distributed at the leading international film festivals and markets.
Furthermore, a newsletter subscription is now available on the ACC's website, allowing users to obtain digital copies of the Arab Cinema Magazine, as well as news on the ACC's activities, notifications of application dates for grants, festivals and offers from educational and training institutions, updates on Arab films participating at festivals, exclusive news on the Arab Cinema LAB, and highlights from the ACC's partners and their future projects.
The ACC also launched an English-language Arab Cinema Guide, available on its website, which is a comprehensive cinematic guide that provides a variety of tools presented collectively for the first time to offer information on Arab cinema to filmmakers inside and outside the Arab world. It also aims to facilitate filmmakers' access to international markets and help film industry representatives easily identify Arab film productions.
