For the second year in a row, The Film Verdict is proud to join the Cairo International Film Festival in honoring five Arab talents who have distinguished themselves this year in the field of cinema.
Category: Established Talent
And the winner is: NAHED EL SEBAI
Nahed El Sebai, born on 25 May 1987, is an Egyptian actress known for her expressive screen presence and her commitment to roles that explore the emotional and social complexities of contemporary Egyptian life. Coming from a prominent artistic family—she is the granddaughter of legendary actor Farid Shawqi—El Sebai carved out her own distinct path in both cinema and television.
She gained early recognition with Basra (2008), followed by standout performances in 678 (2010) and Yousry Nasrallah’s Cannes-selected After the Battle (2012). Her work in Ali, the Goat & Ibrahim (2016) further showcased her range and ability to move fluidly between realism, comedy, and psychological drama. On television, she is best known for her nuanced role in Bint Esmaha Zat, where she captured the intimate transformations of an Egyptian woman over decades. Throughout her career, El Sebai has remained drawn to characters caught between personal desire and societal pressure, earning a reputation as one of the most compelling actresses of her generation.
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Category: Film Critic
And the winner is: AHMED EZZAT AMER
Ahmed Ezzat Amer is an Egyptian film critic who has written for numerous online platforms and film publications, including Ida2at, Midan Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera Documentary, Chrome, and Al Film Magazine. He has served on viewing committees for several film festivals, including El Gouna Film Festival and the Ismailia International Festival for Documentary and Short Films.
He is the author of “The Cinema of Yousry Nasrallah: Stories that Long to Embrace the World” and “The Cinema of Ildiko Enyedi: So That Magic Does Not Die in the World.”
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Category: Acting
And the winner is: CHIRINE KARAMEH
Chirine Karameh is an actress and multidisciplinary artist. Her return to her artistic career was marked by her leading role in Dead Dog, directed by Sarah Francis, which premiered at the Rotterdam International Film Festival. She began her journey in theatre, performing under renowned directors such as Roger Assaf, Siham Nasser, Jana El Hassan, and Georges Hachem, and acting alongside celebrated performers including Antoine Kerbage.
A former dancer trained in classical ballet, modern and contemporary dance, she has evolved through multiple artistic disciplines. Chirine also holds an MSc in Psychology from the University of Roehampton in London and is a Graduate Member of the British Psychological Society. Her background in psychology deeply informs the way she builds her characters. Having lived between Beirut, Montreal, Brussels, London, Manila, and Tokyo, she embraces a global perspective that shapes her artistic vision.
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Category: Directing
And the winners are:
MAI SAAD
Mai Saad is an Egyptian filmmaker and producer. She began her career as an assistant director, working on several feature films, and short films. She served as assistant director on the films The Island (2007) and Cousins (2009). She is currently producing a feature- documentary and working as a creative producer on a feature narrative film. One More Show marks her directorial debut in documentary filmmaking.
AHMED AL DANAF
Ahmed Al Danaf is a cinematographer and filmmaker from Gaza whose short film, School Day, won the Youssef Chahine Award at CIFF 2024 and went on to screen internationally. One More Show marks the feature documentary directorial debut of both Saad and Al Danaf.
