The Jury of Arab Critics' to Select Best European Films

The Arab Cinema Center (ACC) and European Film Promotion (EFP) have announced the launch of the second edition of the Arab Critics' Awards for European Films, revealing that 14 film critics have newly joined its jury. The nominations list will be revealed soon, and the winner will be announced in a ceremony during Cairo International Film Festival (CIFF) in December.

This year, Palestinian film critic Ola Al-Sheikh has been appointed as Manager of The Arab Critics’ Awards for European Films, and the jury of the Arab Critics' Awards for European Films has expanded to encompass 56 members from across 14 Arabic-speaking countries.

The film critics will select the Best European Film from the entries submitted by the national film promotion institutes from throughout Europe. The winner will be revealed in an Award ceremony at the Cairo International Film Festival.

This prize comes a spin-off the ACC's now well-established Critics' Awards to boost film persity in the region and raise the interest of distributors and industry players for outstanding European films. This initiative also aims to cast light on the distinguished film critics from so many Arab countries and their important role in opening up new perspectives and bridging cultural idiosyncrasies.

Sonja Heinen, EFP’s Managing Director says: "We are so grateful and delighted to continue our successful cooperation with the Arab Cinema Center in this difficult year. Once again, current European films will be seen by a jury of renowned Arab film critics, and the best film will be honoured with the Arab Critic Award at the CIFF, which offers our films a great visibility in the Arab world."

In a joint statement, Maher Diab and Alaa Karkouti, founders of the ACC commented: "Despite all the challenges paused ahead of the global film industry this year, our duty is to overcome these obstacles; to continue in organizing key film-related activities, especially the first-of-a-kind Arab Critics' Awards for European Films. We are thrilled and proud to launch the second edition of the Award in cooperation with EFP and CIFF."

Producer and screenwriter, Mohamed Hefzy, President of the CIFF says: "Last year, we were privileged to host the inaugural edition of the Critics' Awards for European Films at the CIFF where two of the final nominees were already featured in our screening programs. This year, we are delighted to host the second edition of the awards, as we believe that the Critics' Awards for European Films opens new windows for the Egyptian and Arab audiences on the persity of the European cinema."

List of newly joined film critics in the Arab Critics’ Awards for European Films include (in alphabetical order):

Ahmed Sami (Egypt), Aliaa Talaat (Egypt), Chaf Tabbara (Lebanon), Doha Elwardaney (Egypt), Fahad Alestsa (Saudi Arabia), Hind Mezaina (UAE), Mohamed Allal (Algeria), Mohamed Awad (Egypt), Mohamed Sayed Abdel Rehim (Egypt), Narjes Torchani (Tunisia), Nidal Queshha (Syria), Rahma El Haddad (Egypt), Taher Alwan (Iraq), and Yousra Chikhawi (Tunisia).

List of film critics in the Arab Critics’ Awards for European Films (in alphabetical order): Abdelkarim Ouakrim (Morocco), Abdelkrim Kadri (Algeria), Abdul Sattar Naji(Kuwait), Ali Wajeeh (Syria), Amal El-Gamal (Egypt), Andrew Mohsen (Egypt), Erfan Rashid (Iraq), Essam Zakaria (Egypt), Hammadi Gueroum (Morocco), Hassan Haddad (Bahrain), Hauvick Habéchian (Lebanon), Houda Ibrahim (Lebanon), Husam Asi (Palestine), Ibrahim Haj Abdi (Syria), Ikbal Zalila (Tunisia), Kadhum Saloom (Iraq), Kais Kassem (Iraq), Khaled Mahmoud (Egypt), Khalid Ali (Sudan), Khalil Demmoun (Morocco), Lamia Guiga(Tunisia), Magda Khirallah (Egypt), Mahdi Abbas (Iraq), Mohamed Atef (Egypt), Mohamed Benaziz (Morocco), Mohammed Chouika (Morocco), Mohammed Rouda(Lebanon), Nabil Hadji (Algeria), Nada Azhari (Syria), Nadim Jarjoura (Lebanon), Nageh Hassan (Jordan), Ola Kamel Al-Sheikh (Palestine, UAE), Ola Shafey (Egypt), Ossama Abdel Fattah (Egypt), Rachid Naim (Morocco), Rasha Hosny (Egypt), Safaa Elaisy (Egypt), Safaa Jibara Al-saleh (Iraq, UK), Tarek Ben Chaabane (Tunisia), Tarek El Shinnawi (Egypt), Ziad Khuzai (Iraq).

About EFP (European Film Promotion)

EFP (European Film Promotion) is an international network of film promotion institutes from 37 countries from throughout Europe, each representing their national films and talent abroad. Under the EFP flag.

These organizations come together to promote the persity 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 Programme of the European Union and by its member organizations.

The Hamburg-based office is backed by 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