Hiam Abbass will receive the European achievement in world cinema award at the 2026 European Film Awards.
Palestinian actress Abbass, who is based in France, will receive the award as recognition of her body of work and contribution to the world of film. It will be presented at the European Film Awards ceremony on January 16 in Athens, Greece.
Abbas has previously been nominated for two European Film Awards: for the People’s Choice award in 2005 for Syrian Bride, and for European actress in 2008 for Lemon Tree, both by Eran Riklis.
Her extensive Arab and international credits include Ariane Mnouchkine’s La Nuit Miraculeuse, Hany Abu-Assad’s Paradise Now, Tom McCarthy’s The Visitor, Denis Villeneuve’s Blade Runner 2049, Annemarie Jacir’s Palestine 36, and Reed Van Dyk’s Cannes 2026 Directors’ Fortnight title Atonement.
Abbass came to prominence in North America for TV roles in Hulu’s Ramy and as Marcia Roy, wife of patriarch Logan Roy, in HBO’s Succession.
She directed 2012 feature Inheritance, about a Palestinian woman caught in the conflict between Israel and Lebanon; and featured in Bye Bye Tiberias, the 2023 documentary about several generations of her family, directed by her daughter Lina Soualem.
Abbass’ upcoming roles include BBC Film and BFI-backed UK feature Daughter Of Eden, from 2026 Screen Star of Tomorrow filmmaker Fateme Ahmadi.
The European Film Awards are presented by the European Film Academy.
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