Yomeddine takes top prize at Arab Cinema Awards

Capernaum and Of Fathers And Sons also honoured

by Amber Wilkinson

Yomeddine was named Best Film at the Arab Cinema Awards
Yomeddine was named Best Film at the Arab Cinema Awards Photo: Desert Highway Pictures

The Arab Cinema Centre announced the winners of its third Annual Critics Awards at a fringe event in Cannes last week.

Egyptian director Abu Bakr Shawky won the award for Best Film for his directorial debut Yomeddine, which tells the story of a quirky road trip by a cured leper and a young orphan who stows away on his donkey cart. The Best director award went to Nadine Labaki's much-garlanded Lebanese film Capernaum, about a child who rebels against the life imposed on him.

The Best Documentary award went to Talal Derki, who embedded himself in a radical Islamic family to make Of Fathers And Sons.

Moroccan film Sofia was a double winner, taking home the Best Screenplay award for Meryem Benm'Barek and Maha Alemi named Best Actress for her role in the film that examines what happens when a girl gives birth out of wedlock. Mohamed Dhrif was named Best Actor for Dear Son (Weldi), for his portrayal of a father who discovers his son has been radicalised.

The awards were selected by an international jury of 75 critics and industry professionals from 34 countries.

Share this with others on...
News

Where crows are watching JP Davidson and Craig Russell on nature, belief, UK horror and The Cull

Truth and lies Sean Hogan on true crime documentaries, unknowable characters and The Dark Gets In

A walking contradiction Sinéad O'Shea on James 'Fergie' Chambers Jr and All About The Money

Unconventional families Milcho Manchevski on being blacklisted and making Sister Brother Manhole Cover

Expecting the unexpected Jordan Mark Windsor and Sean Wallace on Mum, I’m Alien Pregnant

Celluloid vampire Arthur Harari on Léa Seydoux, the mystery of ideas, and The Unknown

Patrick Stewart dies X-men and Star Trek actor was 86

More news and features

We're bringing you all the latest news and reviews from the Belfast Film Festival, the Cheltenham International Film Festival and the Leeds International Film Festival.



We're looking forward to the Thessaloniki International Film Festival, the French Film Festival and DOC NYC.



We've recently brought you coverage of Halloween Frightfest, the Scottish Queer International Film Festival, Newfest, the London Film Festival, the New York Film Festival, Grimmfest and Beyond Fest.



Read our full for more.


Visit our festivals section.

Interact

Don't forget that you can follow us on YouTube for trailers of festival films and more. You can also find us on Mastodon, Instagram and Bluesky.


It's a busy time for festivals and here's the latest:


Sundance Announces Legacy line-up of archive films


Frightfest Newcastle event announced for May 2027


French Film Festival UK Programme announced


Tallinn Black Nights Documentary line-up and Special Screenings announced


London Winners announced