The winning film will be announced in a ceremony at the CIFF.

European Film Promotion (EFP) and the Arab Cinema Center (ACC) announced this week the finalists for the Arab Critics’ Awards for European films after the jury watched 23 nominated European films via Festival Scope – a digital partner. 

The winning film will be announced right before SAINT OMER’s screening at Cairo Opera House’s Grand Hall at the 44th Cairo International Film Festival (CIFF), which will run from November 13th to the 22nd.

The finalist for the Arab Critics’ Awards for European Films:

• EO | Jerzy Skolimowski | Poland | Jury Prize and Best Composer at Cannes Film Festival. 
• TO THE NORTH | Mihai Mincan | Romania | Held its world premiere at the Venice International Film Festival. 
• THE HAPPIEST MAN IN THE WORLD | Teona Strugar Mitevska | North Macedonia | Held its world premiere at the Venice International Film Festival. In 2019, the director won an award in the first edition of the Arab Critics’ Awards for European Films for her film GOD EXISTS, HER NAME IS PETRUNIJA. 

“The Arab Critics’ Awards for European Films welcome its new members, who gave their time and effort to vote with transparency for selecting the best European films among 23 films featured in the most prestigious international festivals,” commented Ola Al-Sheikh – Director of the Arab Critics’ Awards for European Films. 

“The jury members’ judgments varied from agreeing and disagreeing upon some films until they achieved an agreement on the shortlisted three films, and it’s expected for the winner to be announced at the 44th Cairo International Film Festival,” she added. 

The Arab Critics' Awards for European Film aim to promote European cinema in the Arab world and attract the attention of distributors and decision-makers in the Arab film industry for European films.

This is in addition to highlighting prominent Arab critics and their prominent role in revealing different perspectives and in exchanging cultural specificities among societies. The Arab Critics' Awards for European Film’s jury this year consists of 76 critics from 15 Arab countries.

European Film Promotion

EFP is an international network of film promotion institutes from 37 countries throughout Europe, each representing their national films and talent abroad.

Under the EFP flag, these organizations team up to jointly promote the diversity and spirit of European cinema and talent at key film festivals and markets, in particular outside of Europe. 

EFP is financially supported by the Creative Europe – MEDIA Program of the EU and by its member organizations.

Its office in Hamburg supports the German Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and Media, Film Fund Hamburg Schleswig-Holstein, and the Hamburg Ministry of Culture.