Gaza Mon Amour leads Critics Awards for Arab films nominations

Salim Dau and Hiam Abbas in Gaza Mon Amour

Gaza Mon Amour leads the nominations for this year's Arab Cinema Center's Critics Awards for Arab Films.

Arab and Tarzen Nasser's quirky drama received five nominations, followed by Ameen Nayfeh's family drama 200 Meters with four. The films were shortlisted by an international jury panel of 160 film critics from 63 countries. The winners will be revealed during this year's edition of the Cannes Film Festival, which is scheduled to run form July 6 to 17.

Deborah Young, manager of the Critics Awards for Arab Films, commented: “Although last year was hard on everyone, the Arab cinema provided a recognisably high-quality level of fiction and documentary films; making it hard to pick the nominees for this year’s Critics Awards for Arab Films. I was also heartened to see a growing number of women directors among the nominees, a trend I hope will continue. My congratulations to everyone who made it this year, and thanks to all the critics on the jury panel for their efforts.”

The full list of nominations is below:

Best Feature Film

• 200 Meters, directed by Ameen Nayfeh, Palestine, Jordan
• Gaza Mon Amour, directed by Arab Nasser, Tarzan Nasser, Palestine
• Zanka Contact, directed by Ismaël El Iraki, Morocco

Best Documentary

• Lift Like A Girl, directed by Mayye Zayed, Egypt
• The Postcard, directed by Asmae El Moudir, Morocco
• Before The Dying Of The Light, directed by Ali Essafi, Morocco

Best Screenplay

• Ameen Nayfeh, 200 Meters, Palestine, Jordan
• Arab Nasser,Tarzan Nasser, Gaza Mon Amour, Palestine
• Kaouther ben Hania, The Man Who Sold His Skin, Tunisia

Best Director

• Ameen Nayfeh, 200 Meters, Palestine, Jordan
• Arab Nasser,Tarzan Nasser, Gaza Mon Amour, Palestine
• Kaouther ben Hania, The Man Who Sold His Skin, Tunisia

Best Actress

• Hiam Abbas, Gaza Mon Amour, Palestine
• Kansha Batma, Zanka Contact, Morocco
• Zoe Adjani, Honey Cigar, Algeria

Best Actor

• Ali Suliman, 200 Meters, Palestine, Jordan
• Salim Dau, Gaza Mon Amour, Palestine
• Tarek Yaacoub, Broken Keys, Lebanon