Rose film wins Arab Critics Award for European Film

The Austrian-German co-production ‘Rose’, directed by Markus Schleinzer, has won the 2026 Arab Critics Award for European Film. The announcement was made on October 17 during the El Gouna Film Festival.

Presented by the Arab Cinema Center (ACC) in collaboration with European Film Promotion (EFP), the award is currently in its eighth edition. More than 100 film critics from various Arab countries participated in the voting process, selecting the winner from a pool of 25 European films. Producer Johannes Schubert accepted the award on behalf of the film's team.

Set in 17th-century Germany following the Thirty Years' War, ‘Rose’ is a black-and-white film starring Sandra Hüller. The story follows a woman who disguises herself as a man to claim an inheritance in a small village. The film has received international acclaim for its portrayal of war-related psychological trauma and gender roles.