All of the 22 films nominated by national film promotion institutes from throughout Europe (EFP’s member organizations), have been premiered or screened at leading international film festivals, and have won awards. They include films like “Loveable” by Lilja Ingolfsdottir from Norway (Special Jury Prize, Best Actress/Helga Guren, Grand Prize of the Ecumenical Jury, Fipresci Award/Karlovy Vary International Film Festival), “Three Days of a Fish” by Peter Hoogendoorn from The Netherlands (Best Actor Award/Karlovy Vary International Film Festival), “The Village Next to Paradise” by Mo Harawe (Heart of Sarajevo for Best Actress/Anab Ahmed Ibrahim/Sarajevo Film Festival) or “Reinas” by Klaudia Reynicke from Switzerland (Grand Prix of the International Jury for the Best Film in Generation Kplus/Berlinale).

Eight of the nominated films have now been entered for the Academy Awards in the Best International Feature Film category, e.g. “Julie Keeps Quiet” by Leonardo van Dijl (Belgium), “Waves” by Jiri Madl (Czech Republic), “The Girl with the Needle” by Magnus von Horn (Denmark), “8 Views of Lake Biwa” by Marko Raat (Estonia), “The Seeds of The Sacred Fig” by Mohammad Rasoulof (Germany), “Semmelweis” by Lajos Koltai (Hungary), “Flow” by Gints Zilbalodis (Latvia) and “Family Therapy” by Sonja Prosenc (Slovenia).

89 of the most prominent and influential Arab film critics from 15 Arab-speaking countries will first decide on their top three favorites before announcing the winning film during the El Gouna Film Festival (24 October – 1 November).

“We are absolutely thrilled to have the opportunity to show a fine selection of 22 films from 22 countries from throughout Europe to such a distinguished jury of Arabian film critics. It is a pleasure and an honor to continue our partnership with the Arab Cinema Center and the El Gouna Film Festival to make European cinema visible in the Arab world“, says EFP Managing Director Sonja Heinen.

As for ACC co-founders and managing partners Alaa Karkouti and Maher Diab, they stated their excitement for yet another year of the Arab Critic’s Awards saying, “As always, it’s a great pleasure to join forces with EFP and GFF for the sixth year in a row, but it’s an even bigger pleasure to have the opportunity to once again, amplify European cinema through our very own Arab critics and continue to expand the horizons for European films and filmmakers in the Arab-speaking region.”

The Arab Critics’ Awards for European Films was launched in 2019 by EFP and ACC. It is a spin-off from the ACC’s now well-established Critics’ Awards to boost film diversity in the region and raise the interest of sales companies and the industry for outstanding European films.

This initiative also aims to cast a spotlight on the distinguished film critics from 15 Arab-speaking countries and their important role in opening up new perspectives and bridging cultural idiosyncrasies.

The previous three winners were “God Exists, Her Name Is Petrunya” by Teona Strugar Mitevska (2019), “Undine” by Christian Petzold (2020), “107 Mothers” by Peter Kerekes (2021), “EO” by Jerzy Skolimowski (2022) and “Fallen Leaves” by Aki Kaurismäki (2023).

About The Arab Cinema Center
Organized by MAD Solutions in 2015, the Arab Cinema Center (ACC) is a non-profit organization registered in Germany. The ACC is an international promotional platform for Arab cinema as it provides the filmmaking industry with a professional window to connect with their 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-to-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, 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.

About European Film Promotion (EFP)
European Film Promotion (EFP) is an international network of film promotion institutes from 37 European countries, each representing their national industry and talents abroad. Under the EFP flag, these organizations promote the diversity of European cinema at key film festivals and markets outside of Europe. EFP is financially supported by the Creative Europe MEDIA Programme of the European Union and by its member organizations.

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

For more information, please visit: www.efp-online.com