In the film, Zeidan plays the role of a family patriarch in a village under siege by ISIS, trying to shield his family from ISIS and keep young men away from joining the organization.

 

Best Actress was split by two winners, both of whom starred in the Lebanese film Nuts (Waraqa Bayda’a). The actresses were Alexandra Kahwagi and Darine Hamze.

 

Eleven nominees competed for the Best Film award, which went to Algerian film Until the Birds Return (Intithar al-Sanawat); its director, Karim Moussaoui, took home Best Director.

 

Palestinian director Said Zagha won Best Short Film for his Five Boys and a Wheel; Algerian director Mohammed Yariqy took home the same for I Promised You.

 

Finally, Palestinian director Raed Andoni won for his short documentary film Ghost Hunting.