The Arab Cinema Center (ACC) has officially revealed the shortlist of nominees for the 9th edition of its highly anticipated Critics Awards for Arab Films, which will take place during the 78th Cannes Film Festival on May 17.
In this year’s selection, four films are tied for the lead with five nominations each: Thank You for Banking with Us, Everybody Loves Touda, Ghost Trail, and Seeking Haven for Mr. Rambo. Trailing closely is Aïcha with four nominations, followed by other notable entries including The Village Next to Paradise, To a Land Unknown, Voy! Voy! Voy!, and Norah, each earning multiple nods.
Held in partnership with MAD Solutions and the International Emerging Film Talent Association (IEFTA), the awards ceremony is a private, invite-only affair that celebrates the best of Arab cinema released internationally during 2024.
This year’s edition marks a new record, with 281 film critics from 75 countries participating in the voting process—underscoring the growing global footprint of Arab cinema. The awards span ten categories, reflecting a diverse and dynamic body of work from across the Arab world.
Full List of Nominees:
Best Feature Film
- Thank You for Banking with Us – Laila Abbas (Palestine)
- Everybody Loves Touda – Nabil Ayouch (Morocco)
- Seeking Haven for Mr. Rambo – Khaled Mansour (Egypt)
- Aïcha – Mehdi Barsaoui (Tunisia)
- Ghost Trail – Jonathan Millet (France)
Best Director
- Laila Abbas – Thank You for Banking with Us
- Nabil Ayouch – Everybody Loves Touda
- Khaled Mansour – Seeking Haven for Mr. Rambo
- Jonathan Millet – Ghost Trail
- Mahdi Fleifel – To a Land Unknown
Best Screenplay
- Laila Abbas – Thank You for Banking with Us
- Nabil Ayouch & Maryam Touzani – Everybody Loves Touda
- Mehdi Barsaoui – Aïcha
- Jonathan Millet & Florence Rochat – Ghost Trail
- Mo Harawe – The Village Next to Paradise
Best Actor
- Essam Omar – Seeking Haven for Mr. Rambo
- Adam Bessa – Ghost Trail
- Yagoub Alfarhan – Norah
- Muhammad Farrag – Voy! Voy! Voy!
- Majd Mastoura – Agora
Best Actress
- Yasmine Al Massri – Thank You for Banking with Us
- Nisrin Erradi – Everybody Loves Touda
- Hala Rajab – Ghost Trail
- Diamand Abou Abboud – Arzé
- Rakeen Saad – Seeking Haven for Mr. Rambo
Best Cinematography
- Antoine Héberlé – Aïcha
- Mostafa El Kashef – The Village Next to Paradise
- Thodoros Mihopoulos – To a Land Unknown
- Jonathan Sela – The Strangers’ Case
- Wojciech Staron – Red Path
Best Editing
- Heba Othman – Thank You for Banking with Us
- Yasser Azmy – Seeking Haven for Mr. Rambo
- Joana Scrinzi – The Village Next to Paradise
- Ahmed Hafez – Voy! Voy! Voy!
- Noaz Deshe & Felipe Guerrero – Xoftex
Best Music
- Kristian Eidnes Andersen & Flemming Nordkrog – Everybody Loves Touda
- Amin Bouhafa – Aïcha
- Omar Fadel – Norah
- Florencia Di Concilio – The Vanishing
- Rodrigo D’Erasmo – Samia
Best Documentary
- No Other Land
- Diaries from Lebanon
- A Fidah Film
- Sudan, Remember Us
- From Ground Zero
Best Short Film
- After the Sun
- Upshot
- Mango
- Shadows
- A Short Film About Kids
About the Awards:
Launched at the 70th Cannes Film Festival, the Critics Awards for Arab Films have become a cornerstone of the Arab Cinema Center’s efforts to champion regional cinema. With categories recognizing narrative, documentary, and technical excellence, the initiative continues to spotlight groundbreaking Arab filmmakers and ensure their voices resonate on the world stage.
As the awards enter their ninth year, the ACC reaffirms its commitment to nurturing emerging talent and fostering a vibrant, globally engaged Arab film ecosystem.
