The Arab Cinema Center (ACC) has announced that this year’s Critics Lifetime Achievement Award will be granted to prominent Egyptian critic Tarek El-Shennawy and renowned Turkish critic Alin Taşçıyan, in recognition of their distinguished professional careers. The award ceremony is scheduled to take place at the Marché du Film during the 79th edition of the Cannes Film Festival.
Commenting on this year's winners, Co-Founders of the ACC Alaa Karkouti and Maher Diab said, “This year, the ACC chose to honor Tarek El-Shennawy, one of the most prominent critical figures in the Arab World and a long-standing fixture at international festivals, alongside Alin Taşçıyan, whose prolific international career spans three decades across criticism, journalism, TV production, and festival programming. Her extensive expertise ultimately led her to the presidency of the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI).”
Reflecting on the honor, El-Shennawy said, “My journey began on the balcony of our home in El Sayyida Zeinab — my first window into the magic of cinema and music. Today, after 34 years of continuous attendance at the Cannes Film Festival, I view this recognition from the Arab Cinema Center as a proud moment of reflection on a career where the screen evolved from a mere hobby into a full life lived in every detail.”
Alin Taşçıyan added, “My passion for film criticism stems from a deep belief that ‘there is no cure for cinephilia.’ As critics, we act as tools to open new horizons for the viewer and protect forgotten films to ensure they find their rightful place in art history. Today, more than ever, I emphasize the necessity of a conscious ‘Feminist Film Criticism’ that addresses gender issues, challenges stereotypes, and contributes to building a more just and beautiful world through the screen.”
About the Honorees
Tarek El-Shennawy
A prominent Egyptian film critic and academic, El-Shennawy graduated from the Faculty of Mass Communication at Cairo University. He is considered one of the most influential and frequently present Arab critics on the global stage. He has served on the juries of numerous international and Arab film festivals and has authored dozens of books documenting the careers of legendary artists. He is widely known for his bold opinions and daily columns that professionally track the cinematic movement in the region.
Alin Taşçıyan
An internationally acclaimed Turkish film critic and journalist who served as the President of the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) from 2014 to 2018. Taşçıyan is a key figure in film programming and the international development of film criticism. She has written for various Turkish newspapers and global film magazines and has participated in juries for major festivals, including Cannes, Berlin, and Venice.
About the Critics Lifetime Achievement Award
Launched in 2018, the award aims to spotlight the profession of film criticism by honoring one Arab or international critic annually at the Cannes Film Festival. Previous recipients include the late Youssef Cherif Rizkallah, Safaa El Leithy, Ibrahim Al-Ariss, Mohammed Rouda, Ziad Khuzai, and Erfan Rashid, as well as international critics such as Deborah Young, Peter Bradshaw, and Ninos Mikikelides.
About the Arab Cinema Center
Founded in 2015 by MAD Solutions, the Arab Cinema Center is an international promotional and networking platform for the Arab film industry. Registered as a non-profit organization in Berlin, it provides partner companies with a tangible presence at all major film festivals and markets, organizes industry events, and publishes special editions of the Arab Cinema Magazine.
