Hiam Abbass to Receive European Film Academy Lifetime Achievement Award
Translated & summarized from Ynet by baba
Palestinian actress and director Hiam Abbass, born in Israel, will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at the European Film Academy Awards in Athens in January. The award honors her significant contributions to global cinema, including roles in "Succession" and collaborations with international and Israeli directors. Abbass, who has spoken about her family's history as refugees, also directed a documentary exploring this theme. She has recently been vocal in her criticism of Israel's actions in Gaza.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Hiam Abbass, a Palestinian actress born in Israel, will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at the European Film Academy Awards.
- The award ceremony will take place in Athens in January, honoring Abbass's contributions to world cinema.
- Abbass is known for her role in the series "Succession" and has worked with directors like Steven Spielberg and Ridley Scott.
- Her family's history as refugees from Tiberias was the subject of her daughter's documentary, "Bye Bye Tiberias."
- Abbass has publicly criticized Israel's actions in Gaza and highlighted historical injustices against Palestinians.
Palestinian actress and director Hiam Abbass, born in Israel, will be honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 39th European Film Academy Awards ceremony in Athens in January. The Academy stated the award recognizes Abbass for "European achievement in world cinema and in recognition of her unique contribution to the film world and her exceptional body of work." Past recipients include Liv Ullmann, Werner Herzog, Wim Wenders, Margarethe von Trotta, Carmen Maura, and Vanessa Redgrave.
Abbass, 65, who resides in France, has collaborated with prominent directors such as Steven Spielberg, Jim Jarmusch, Julian Schnabel, Thomas McCarthy, Ridley Scott, and Denis Villeneuve. She gained recent acclaim for her role as Marcia Roy in the award-winning series "Succession," earning an Emmy nomination. Her career also includes collaborations with Israeli directors Eran Riklis, for whom she starred in "The Syrian Bride" and "Lemon Tree" (winning an Ophir Award for the latter), and Amos Gitai.
Born in Nazareth to a family of ten, Abbass grew up in Dir Hanna in the Galilee. She has spoken about her mother being a refugee from Tiberias who fled in 1948. Abbass's mother's family attempted to return but were unable to, eventually finding refuge with a Druze family. Her grandfather's attempt to reclaim their home in Tiberias after the war led to his mental breakdown and death, with the family home occupied by a Jewish family and later becoming a supermarket.
Abbass's family history was explored in her daughter Lina Sualem's documentary "Bye Bye Tiberias," which was selected to represent Palestine for the Best International Feature Film Oscar in 2024. Abbass began her acting career in East Jerusalem and Haifa before moving to England in the 1980s, seeking artistic freedom. She has noted the increased opportunities for women in film and the growing interest in portraying Arab culture authentically.
Since the October 7th attacks and the subsequent war in Gaza, Abbass has publicly criticized Israel, accusing it of "genocide in Gaza" and asserting that Palestinian history predates October 7th. She also highlighted Britain's role in the historical injustices against Palestinians and criticized filmmakers for perceived political inaction.
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