The 36th edition of the Carthage Film Festival (JCC) concluded on Saturday evening at the Tunis Opera Theatre, with Egyptian director Abu Bakr Shawky’s film The Stories taking home the coveted Golden Tanit for best feature film.
The festival, a cornerstone event for Arab and African cinema since 1966, presented a diverse slate of winners from across the Global South, rewarding bold artistic vision and compelling storytelling.
Nigerian filmmaker Akinola Davies Jr. earned a double distinction, securing the Silver Tanit for My Father’s Shadow, which also won the Tahar Chériaa Prize for best first film. The Bronze Tanit for feature fiction was awarded to Jordanian director Zain Duraie for Sink.
Tunisian Films Garner Audience and Jury Praise
Tunisian cinema made a strong showing. Kaouther Ben Hania’s The Voice of Hind Rajab received the Jury Honorable Prize, while Amel Guellaty’s Where the Wind Comes From won both the Audience Award and the award for Best Screenplay. Guellaty’s film was noted for its sensitive portrayal of female narratives.
In the acting categories, Saja Kilani won Best Actress for The Voice of Hind Rajab, and Saudi actor Nawwaf Aldaferi won Best Actor for his role in Hijra.
Artistic and Documentary Awards
The artistic awards recognized technical excellence across borders. Assem Ali (Egypt) won for Best Set Design, while the Chadian film Diya earned two awards for Best Editing (Guillaume Talvas) and Best Original Music (Afrotronix). The Best Cinematography award went to Miguel Ioann Littin Menz for Hijra (Saudi Arabia).
In the documentary competition, the Golden Tanit was awarded to Senegalese director Mamadou Khouma Gueye for Liti Liti.
A Platform for Emerging Voices
The festival’s commitment to new talent was highlighted in the “First Film” competition. Sudanese director Suzannah Mirghani’s Cotton Queen received the TV5 Monde Prize, celebrated for its insightful look at women’s lives amidst social change.
This year’s JCC showcased over 200 films from 44 countries, reaffirming its role as a vital crossroads for cinematic dialogue from the Arab world and Africa. The festival maintains its founding mission of championing auteur-driven cinema that engages directly with contemporary realities.
TunisianMonitorOnline (NejiMed)
