Cinema’s profound impact on society lies in its ability to blur the boundaries between fiction and reality, offering audiences fresh perspectives on the world. This year’s selected cinema projects explore the strength of the human spirit and the universal longing to overcome oppressive circumstances.

In one narrative, a young man navigates war-torn Damascus in search of his detained father, shedding light on the brutal reality of conflict and the desire for family. Another follows a young woman weaving through Cairo’s crowded streets alongside a first responder. In Algiers, a housewife flees an abusive marriage, embarking on a journey with a park attendant by her side. These stories reflect the courage to dream of a better future, even against insurmountable odds, and highlight cinema’s power to inspire courage and empathy.

There were two cinema jury committees for the 2024 cycle, one focused on shorts and one focused on feature-length films. The feature films jury was composed of Egyptian writer and editor Yasmine Zohdi, Lebanese film director Georges Hachem, and Tunisian film producer Nadim Cheikhrouha. And for shorts, Lebanese filmmaker Rania Rafei, Yemeni film and theater director, producer, and writer Amr Gamal, and Egyptian co-founder and director of Zawya Cinema and Distribution Youssef Shazli were tasked with selections.

Following their deliberations, the jury committees issued the following statements:

Short Films Jury Statement

“This year’s submissions highlighted the bold vision and creativity of filmmakers across the region. We were particularly struck by the courage evident in the storytelling, the number of women behind the projects and the connections many projects made to current realities. Several submissions proposed innovative forms, blending cinema with contemporary art, reflecting a desire to experiment, document and archive. The overall quality of the submissions signals a promising future for regional cinema.

However, we identified certain challenges. Submissions from some countries revealed disparities in access to knowledge and resources, and there was a noticeable underrepresentation from specific Arab countries. Additionally, some budgets were disproportionately high for short films, misaligned with the region’s economic context. A few promising projects also appeared to have been submitted prematurely and required further development. We encourage participants to thoughtfully present their previous work as part of their applications.

Selecting the final projects was a challenging task given the strength of any submissions. It is essential to note that funding decisions are influenced by multiple factors and are not solely based on the quality of the project. We urge filmmakers to remain motivated and explore alternative funding models beyond grants. The resilience of cinema lies in its adaptability, and we are confident that the future holds immense potential for filmmakers and their projects in the region.”

Feature Films Jury Statement

“It was both a privilege and an exceptionally heartening experience to review this year’s proposals, knowing that, amid the unprecedentedly dark moment our region is enduring, Arab filmmakers persist in creating, fighting to bring their ideas to life, and discovering new, authentic ways to tell our stories, despite the mounting challenges they face.

We were particularly pleased by the diversity in themes, scope, and cinematic approaches among the proposed projects. While many selected films address pressing social and political issues within their respective contexts, what stood out was the fresh perspective that most adopted. In navigating increasingly complex realities that often exceed our capacity for comprehension — defying even the limits of imagination — some filmmakers have chosen not direct confrontation, but instead, a piercing sideways glance. This approach, evident in many of this year’s submissions, offers a unique and effective means of addressing profound implications and repercussions.

A striking example is the use of genre. Some filmmakers employ the possibilities of horror, fantasy, or black comedy to revisit the collective wounds of a haunting past, conjure alternative futures, or grapple with present absurdities. Other projects reach back in time to revive forgotten historical figures or folkloric myths, reclaiming our shared heritage to reflect on the urgent questions of today. Others turn to the format of the fable as a conduit for subtle political commentary or engage tropes of magical realism to expand the potential of the mundane, particularly in coming-of-age films: yet another genre we are pleased to see on the rise.

Some of the best projects we reviewed are more firmly rooted in realism. Yet they still assume their own singular point of view, either by focusing on individuals leading a precarious existence on the fringes of society, who often bear the heaviest consequences of the system’s failures and injustices, or by telling profoundly personal stories that, in their searing honesty and specificity, manage to become universally resonant. We noticed an interest in reexamining the concept of family, both as a grounding force in the face of accelerating external changes, but also as a site of conflict where different values and moral codes collide. We were also thrilled to come across many intriguing, multi-layered and powerful portrayals of leading women, not to mention that a significantly large number of this year’s applicants were women directors or producers.

Choosing the winning films wasn’t easy. We tried to select projects that display skill, originality, and narrative depth, are relevant to their contexts yet still relatable to a relatively wide range of viewers beyond it, and that evoke truly transcendent cinematic moments—scripts so sensitively and vividly written we could almost visualize them as we flipped through their pages. Last but not least, we favored bold films, ones that entail risk, and that are courageous in form and unflinching in their examination of the subject matter.

We are grateful for being granted the opportunity to get to know all of these projects, to spend time with them, and to play a very small part in their journey to completion. Encouraged and enthusiastic by the promise of what we read, we are genuinely eager to see the finished films on-screen (those we picked and those we didn’t), and we wholeheartedly look forward to an exciting future for film in our region.

Our genuine thanks to AFAC, and to everyone who shared their work.”

The projects selected by the jurors

Features

• Mimouna by Amel Blidi, Algeria
• The Sea Was Once Blue by Mohamad El-Hadidi, Egypt
• Exodus by Rasha Shahin, Syria
• Ronaldo is Dead by Nour Khair Alanam, Syria
• Strawberries by Laïla Marrakchi, Morocco
• The Return of the Prodigal Son by Rani Massalha, Egypt
• The Side Effects of Trusting Life by Ahmad Ghossein, Lebanon
• Of Debt and Money by Houssem Eddine Sansa, Tunisia
• Sink by Zain Duraie, Jordan
• Roqia by Yanis Koussim, Algeria
• Tide by Hussen Ibraheem, Lebanon
• Whisky or Marlboro by Reber Dosky, Iraq
• Chentian by Suha Arraf, Palestine
• The Masters of Magic and Beauty by Jad Chahine, Egypt
• Arkala, Gilgamesh's Dream by Mohamed Al-daradji, Iraq
• Barni by Mohammed Sheikh, Somalia

Shorts

• The Heaviness of Absence by Jalal Maghout, Syria
• Ambush by Yasmin Karajah, Jordan
• Sundial by Atheel Elmalik, Sudan
• Finding Oppo by Youssef Michraf, Morocco
• In the Belly of the Ground by Dina Mimi and Maya Khaldi, Palestine