Arab Critics’ Awards for European Films

With the aim to discover the Arab world, EFP (European Film Promotion) and the Arab Cinema Center (ACC) launched the Arab Critics' Award for European Films in 2019 dedicated to European cinema.

The Arab Critics' Awards for European Films 2022

Another 5 distinguished film critics have joined the jury this year, bringing the total to 76 of the most prominent and influential Arab film critics from 15 Arab-speaking countries. Put together by ACC, the jury under the direction of Ola Kamel Al-Sheikh selected the best European film from nominations submitted by the European national film institutions – EFP's member organisations.

Qualifying films need to be from 2022 and have to have screened at major international film festivals. Current national Oscar entries were also eligible in the run-up to the award. The Arab critics screened the films at Festival Scope Pro's private screening room for a short list of three films. The lucky winner was chosen following a second round.

The nominated films in alphabetical order:

A Ballad by Aida Begić Bosnien and Herzegovina; A Long Break by Data Pirtskhalava, Georgia; Beautiful Beings by Guðmundur Arnar Guðmundsson, Iceland; .Dog by Ioanna Amerikanou, Cyprus; EO by Jerzy Skolimowski; Poland; Gentle (Szelíd) by László Csuja, Hungary; Il Boemo by Petr Vaclav, Czech Republic; January by Viesturs Kairiśs, Latvia; Kalev by Ove Musting, Estonia; Magnetic Fields by Yorgos Goussis, Greece; Matter out of Place by Nikolaus Geyrhalter, Austria; Moja Vesna by Sara Kern, Slovenia; Mr. Landsbergis by Sergei Loznitsa, Lithuania; Nelly & Nadine by Magnus Gertten, Sweden; Rabiye Kurnaz vs. George W. Bush by Andreas Dresen, Germany; Safe Place by Juraj Lerotić, Croatia; The Happiest Man in the World by Teona Strugar Mitevska, North Macedonia; The Woodcutter Story by Mikko Myllylahti, Finland; To The North by Mihai Mincan, Romania; Unrest by Cyril Schäublin, Switzerand; Unruly (Ustyrlig) by Malou Reymann, Denmark; Victim by Michal Blaško, Slovak Republic; Working Class Heroes by Miloš Pušić, Serbia

The previous three winners were God Exists, Her Name Is Petrunya by Teona Strugar Mitevska (2019), Undine by Christian Petzold (2020) and 107 Mothers by Peter Kerekes (2021).

Organized by MAD Solutions, the Arab Cinema Center (ACC) is now celebrating the fifth year since its inception in 2015. A non-profit organization registered in Amsterdam, 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 its organised events. The ACC also provides networking opportunities with repre-sentatives of companies and institutions specialized in co-production and international distribution, among others.