The ARAB CRITICS AWARD is a promotional programme that is offering the Arab industry and cinephiles from the Arab world access to European arthouse films.
Each year, a jury of 89 renowned film critics and journalists from 15 Arabic-speaking countries watch a selection of the latest European festival hits and select their three favourites. These three finalist films are promoted internationally through social media and press activities. The winner is announced in a festive ceremony at the El Gouna or Cairo International Film Festival.
The ARAB CRITICS AWARD is organised in collaboration with the Arab Cinema Center.
The programme is open for European films from 2025 which:
Interested parties whose films meet the entry criteria, please contact your national EFP representative by September 2025.
Each EFP member country is entitled to nominate one film. The final list of nominees will be announced by end-September.
Deaf
Director: Eva Libertad
Country: Spain
DJ Ahmet
Director: Georgi M. Unkovski
Countries: North Macedonia, Czech Republic, Serbia, Croatia
Yunan
Director: Ameer Fakher Eldin
Countries: Germany, Canada, Italy, Palestine, Qatar, Jordan, Saudi Arabia