A Czech co-production is among the finalists for this year’s Arab Critics’ Awards for European Films, highlighting the growing international reach of Czech producers. DJ Ahmet, directed by North Macedonian filmmaker Georgi M. Unkovski, was selected alongside Deaf by Spain’s Eva Libertad and Yunan by Ameer Fakher Eldin, a co-production between Germany, Canada, Italy, and Middle Eastern partners.
The awards are presented jointly by European Film Promotion and the Arab Cinema Center, with the winner to be announced during the El Gouna Film Festival, held in Egypt from Oct. 16 to 24. Now in its sixth edition, the Arab Critics’ Awards for European Films honor outstanding European productions that resonate with Arab audiences and critics, bridging cinematic cultures across continents.
Czech collaboration behind DJ Ahmet
DJ Ahmet marks Unkovski’s debut feature and stands as a collaboration between North Macedonia’s Cinema Futura and Sektor Film, the Czech Republic’s Alter Vision and Analog Vision, Serbia’s Backroom Production and Baš Čelik, and Croatia’s 365 Films. The film’s inclusion underscores Czechia’s continued involvement in international co-productions that connect European and Balkan filmmaking networks.
Premiering at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year, DJ Ahmet earned the World Cinema Dramatic Audience Award and a Special Jury Award for Creative Vision. The coming-of-age drama centers on a 15-year-old shepherd in a remote Macedonian village whose discovery of electronic music sparks a quiet rebellion against traditional expectations.
Unkovski describes the story as one about “silent resistance that begins in the smallest corners of the world,” where personal dreams confront generational silence.
Czech companies Alter Vision and Analog Vision, both known for their work on cross-border art-house projects, contributed to the film’s post-production and co-financing. Their involvement reflects a broader trend in Czech cinema toward regional partnerships, particularly with Balkan filmmakers, who often share both cultural ties and logistical advantages in production.
European finalists explore identity and communication
Alongside DJ Ahmet, this year’s finalists explore deeply personal and socially resonant themes. Deaf, directed by Spain’s Eva Libertad, adapts her earlier short film into a moving portrait of a deaf woman and her hearing partner as they prepare for parenthood. Starring Libertad’s real-life sister Miriam Garlo, the film premiered at the Berlinale, where it received the Panorama Audience Award and the Arthouse Cinema Award. Its sensitive portrayal of intimacy and communication barriers earned it further recognition at the Festival de Málaga and the Guadalajara Film Festival.
The third contender, Yunan, by Ameer Fakher Eldin, is a philosophical exploration of identity and exile. Shot on a remote North Sea island, the film follows an Arab man confronting isolation and spiritual reckoning within an unfamiliar community. Yunan competed at the Berlinale and went on to win acting prizes at the Hong Kong International Film Festival.
While diverse in tone and setting, all three films share an emphasis on human connection, silence, and renewal—qualities that align with the jury’s focus on works that cross cultural boundaries and evoke universal experiences. The 100-member jury, drawn from 16 Arabic-speaking countries, represents a growing dialogue between European and Arab film criticism.
The Arab Critics’ Awards for European Films continue to spotlight the cultural exchange fostered by cross-border filmmaking. For Czech producers, the recognition of DJ Ahmet highlights not only their contribution to emerging regional cinema but also the country’s evolving role as a bridge between Western Europe and the Balkans. The winner will be revealed during the El Gouna Film Festival later this month.
Lead photo DJ Ahmet (2025) © Cinema Futura
