FIPRESCI Announces a New Collaboration with Malmö Arab Film Festival

The International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) and the Malmö Arab Film Festival (MAFF) announce a new partnership, whereby the festival will host a jury composed of FIPRESCI member critics starting from its 16th edition, taking place from April 10 to 16, 2026.

The jury will each year include critics from Europe, the Nordic countries, and the Arab world, reflecting the festival’s mission to foster cinematic collaboration between Europe and the Arab world—a mission that has established it as Europe’s largest festival dedicated to Arab cinema.

Festival founder and president Mouhamad Keblawi commented on the partnership, stating: “We are proud of this partnership, which reflects the great respect that the Malmö Arab Film Festival holds for film criticism. Over the years, we have organized the Critics Without Borders forum to support critical dialogue between Europe and the Arab world, and the FIPRESCI jury affirms the International Federation’s appreciation for the festival.”

President of FIPRESCI Ahmed Shawky commented on the collaboration, saying: “We have followed for years the impactful role played by MAFF in supporting unique cinematic voices and building cultural partnerships between different regions of the world, which aligns with FIPRESCI’s values. We are confident that the critics will enjoy watching a selection of the best and most successful Arab films each year in Malmö.”

The Malmö Arab Film Festival is a unique event that, since its founding in 2011, has sought to promote cinematic culture and build bridges for communication between the Nordic countries and Arab nations. The festival screens around 80 feature and short films annually, alongside seminars, workshops, and events, in addition to the Malmö Industry Days, which supports production partnerships between the Nordic and Arab film industries.

The International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI), founded in 1925 on the initiative of Belgian and French critics, currently brings together the efforts of critics from more than 80 countries worldwide, with over 1,600 members. FIPRESCI awards more than 80 prizes annually at various festivals, including Cannes, Venice, Berlin, and Locarno, in addition to numerous journalistic and critical initiatives throughout the year.

©FIPRESCI 2026