The awards ceremony is organised by the Arab Cinema Centre, with winners chosen by 225 critics from over 70 countries.
At the 77th Cannes Film Festival, the eighth Critics Awards for Arab Films recognised notable achievements in Arab cinema, with Goodbye Julia, Four Daughters, and Inshallah a Boy emerging as the major winners. The ceremony, set against the backdrop of Cannes’ beaches, was organised by the Arab Cinema Centre in collaboration with MAD Solutions, the International Emerging Film Talent Association, and the NEFT Emerging Film Talent International Competition.
This year’s awards saw the participation of 225 film critics from around the globe, who evaluated the best in Arab filmmaking from 2023 via Festival Scope, an ACC partner platform.
Goodbye Julia, directed by Sudanese filmmaker Mohamed Kordofani, clinched the Best Feature Film and Best Screenplay awards. The film, which depicts the complex relationship between two women from different backgrounds during the lead-up to South Sudan’s 2011 secession, was praised for its insightful commentary on morality and reconciliation. Notably, Goodbye Julia is the first Sudanese film to be included in the Cannes Film Festival’s official selection.
Tunisian filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania’s Four Daughters won Best Director, Best Documentary, and Best Editing. The film, which was an Oscar contender, narrates the story of Olfa Hamrouni, a Tunisian woman vilified after her two eldest daughters joined ISIS in Libya in 2016.
In the Best Actress category, Palestinian actress Mouna Hawa received accolades for her role in Inshallah a Boy. This film, directed by Jordanian filmmaker Amjad Al Rasheed, also earned the Best Cinematography award.
Palestinian actor Saleh Bakri won the Best Actor award for his performance in Farah Nabulsi’s The Teacher.
The Best Short Film category, a new addition to the awards, was won by Egyptian filmmaker Morad Mostafa’s I Promise You Paradise. French-Tunisian composer Amin Bouhafa received the Best Music award for Hajjan.
The ACC Achievement Award for Film Critics honoured British critic Peter Bradshaw and Lebanese critic Nadim Jarjoura for their contributions to film criticism.
