The Arab Cinema Centre (ACC), in collaboration with the Marché du Film, is gearing up for its return to the Cannes Film Festival with an engaging four-day program from May 15 to 18, 2025. This initiative aims to highlight the rich diversity of Arab cinema, featuring a range of industry panels, award ceremonies, and discussions designed to cultivate meaningful dialogue within the global film community.

This year’s edition will tackle vital themes that are shaping the audiovisual landscape in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Key topics include the emergence of regional production hubs, funding challenges, and opportunities for international co-productions. We anticipate participation from industry professionals across the Arab world and beyond, including filmmakers, producers, and influential decision-makers.

Alaa Karkouti and Maher Diab, Co-Founders of the Arab Cinema Centre, expressed: “This year’s Cannes edition is another opportunity for us to inform, educate, and celebrate the pan-Arab cinema industry. We will showcase its depth and richness while also setting an agenda for future industry developments. We extend our gratitude to Marché du Film for their ongoing collaboration and for providing a platform for our region.”

“In addition to our annual events, such as the Critics Awards for Arab Films and the ceremony honoring the Arab Cinema Personality of the Year, we have an exciting lineup of panels. These will focus on Egypt, the largest filmmaking hub in the Arab world, shine a timely spotlight on Palestinian cinema, and explore new funding avenues for Arab films as well as the keys to successful international co-productions. There’s much to discuss, and there’s no better venue than the Cannes Marché.”

Alongside staple events like the Critics Awards for Arab Films and the Arab Cinema Personality of the Year ceremony, the ACC will host four curated panels. These sessions will delve into Egypt’s significant role in Arab cinema, highlight Palestinian filmmaking, provide insights into authentic Arab co-productions, and discuss innovative equity financing models for Arab film projects.

The Arab Cinema Personality of the Year will be honored in a private ceremony on May 15, while the Critics Awards, which debuted in Cannes in 2017, will take place on May 17 at the Plage des Palmes, with over 280 international film critics selecting the winners.

This year’s notable participants include esteemed figures such as Egyptian actress Youssra, Mohannad Al Bakri from the Royal Film Commission of Jordan, Orascom’s Samih Sawiris, as well as Hussein Fahmy, Mohamed Hefzy, Amr Mansi, Morad Mostafa, and May Odeh, among many others.

Guillaume Esmiol, Executive Director of the Marché du Film, remarked: “We are thrilled to welcome back the Arab Cinema Centre at the Marché du Film. Their ongoing engagement and curated programming play a crucial role in illuminating the richness and complexity of Arab cinema, while facilitating essential conversations within our industry. This long-standing collaboration highlights our commitment to fostering diverse perspectives and enabling meaningful exchanges across the global film community.”

The Marché du Film – Festival de Cannes will open its doors on May 13, 2025, with the film market running until May 21 and the festival concluding its activities on May 24.

Persons

Youssra, Alaa Karkouti, Maher Diab, Mohannad Al Bakri, Samih Sawiris, Hussein Fahmy, Mohamed Hefzy, Amr Mansi, Morad Mostafa, May Odeh, Guillaume Esmiol

Company Names

Arab Cinema Centre, Marché du Film, Royal Film Commission of Jordan, Orascom

Titles

Critics Awards for Arab Films, Arab Cinema Personality of the Year

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