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.
