Palestine 36’Leads Nominations For 10th Critics Awards For Arab Films

Annemarie Jacir’s award-winning film Palestine 36 leads the nominations for the 10th edition of the Critics Awards For Arab Films, which were announced today.

The annual prizes, organized by the Arab Cinema Centre (ACC), have been voted on by a record 307 Arab and international critics from 75 countries this year, with the awards ceremony due to take place during the Cannes Film Festival on May 16.

Palestine 36 has been nominated in six categories including best film, director and screenplay. It is followed by Maryam Touzani’s Calle Málaga with five nominations; Cherien Dabis’ All That’s Left Of You with four; and then Yunan, My Father’s Scent, and Once Upon A Time in Gaza with three each.

Kaouther Ben Hania’s Oscar-nominated and Venice Grand Jury Prize winner Gaza War-set drama The Voice of Hind Rajab has garnered just one nomination in the best director category.

Exploring the events around the 1936-1939 revolt in which Palestinians rose up against Britain’s colonial rule, Palestine 36 world premiered in Toronto last year and went to tour raft of festivals, winning the Tokyo Grand Prix, and made it into the Academy Awards Best International Feature Film December shortlist.

Following a packed festival run, Watermelon Pictures launched the picture theatrically in North America at the end of March. It has also enjoyed successful runs in the UK and a raft of European territories and continues to travel.

Moroccan director Touzani’s Spanish-language drama Calle Málaga, starring Carmen Maura as a woman fighting to keep her childhood home in Tangier, debuted in Venice, winning the Audience Award.

U.S.-Palestinian director Dabis’ All That’s Left Of You, following three generations of a Palestinian family in the wake of 1948, premiered at Sundance, and also made it onto the Best International Feature Film shortlist.

Recent winners of the best film award are Thank You For Banking With Us! (2025) and Goodbye Julia (2024).

The Full List Of 2026 Nominees:

Best Feature Film

Best Screenplay

Best Director

Best Actress

Best Actor

Best Music

Best Editing

Best Cinematography

Best Documentary

Best Short Film