Arab Critics Crown 'Once Upon a Time in Gaza' at Cannes
SkimNews Take
While mainstream Cannes coverage highlights the festival's diverse offerings, the Critics Awards for Arab Films suggest a parallel, regionally focused critical discourse operating within the broader event, identifying and elevating specific narratives.
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- Once Upon a Time in Gaza won Best Film at the 10th Critics Awards for Arab Films on the Cannes fringe, adding to its previous Un Certain Regard best directing win.
- Annemarie Jacir earned Best Screenplay for “Palestine 36,” while cinematographer Hélène Louvart secured Best Cinematography for the same film.
- Cherien Dabis took Best Director for “All That’s Left of You,” a multi‑generation Palestinian epic.
- Arab Cinema Centre organized the Critics’ Awards, with 307 critics from 75 countries voting, and co‑founders Alaa Karkouti and Maher Diab reaffirmed the mission to spotlight Arab talent.
- Deadline ran a Cannes piece on a Beatles‑themed party, while IndieWire and Variety covered Palme d’Or speculation and German Dogma initiatives, showing the festival’s broad media attention.
Why it matters: Arab filmmakers gain exposure to 307 critics from 75 nations, boosting prospects for distribution and funding, while Cannes’ broader media focus amplifies the market for Arab cinema.
