The Palestinian film Once Upon a Time in Gaza, directed by Tarzan and Arab Nasser, has won the Best Film award at the 10th Critics’ Awards for Arab Films, as reported by Deadline. The story is set in Gaza in 2007 and follows a student and a restaurant owner who start selling drugs while delivering sandwiches, but things go wrong when they encounter a corrupt police officer.
Other Winners
Palestine 36, which received six nominations, also won Best Screenplay for director Annemarie Jacir and Best Cinematography for Helene Louvart. Additionally, Cherien Dabis won Best Director for All That’s Left of You.
Awards Ceremony
Organized by the Arab Cinema Centre, the Critics’ Awards for Arab Films were voted on by a record 307 Arab and international critics from 75 countries this year. The awards ceremony took place at Cannes’ Plage des Palmes.
ACC co-founders Alaa Karkouti and Maher Diab stated: “As we celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Critics’ Awards for Arab Films, our mission has remained steadfast — to spotlight the finest Arab films and talents and help bring them the international recognition they deserve.”
Special Honors
The 10th edition also honored prominent figures with the Game Changer Award presented to Vincenzo Bugno for his role in supporting Arab cinema, and the Personality of the Year Award granted to Hussein Fahmy for his outstanding artistic career and contributions to Arab cinema.
