Category: culture and media

Tunisian cinema marked its presence at the 78th edition of the Cannes Film Festival and, as always, professionals won’t be going home empty-handed, especially as two prizes were awarded at the Critics Awards for Arab Films 2025. These were Best Actor, awarded to Adam Bessa for his role in the Franco-Tunisian film “Ghost Trail”, and Best Music, won by Amin Bouhafa in the Franco-Tunisian film “Aïcha”. Tunisia, represented by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs and the Centre National du Cinéma et de l’Image, also made its presence felt with a…

Tunisian filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hnia is directing a new drama on the harrowing death of Hind Rajab, the six-year-old Palestinian girl killed in Gaza by Israel in 2024. The upcoming project is produced by Nadim Cheikhrouha, known for Four Daughters, along with Oscar-winning producers Odessa Rae and James Wilson, some media reports. Hind Rajab’s martyrdom exposed Israel’s brutality and became a powerful example of its heinous war crimes in Gaza.  She was one of thousands of children killed in the conflict, but her story sparked particular international outrage.  In one…

In a remarkable move reflecting the Cairo International Film Festival’s leading position, the Egyptian Pavilion at Marché du Film during the 78th Cannes Film Festival (May 13–24, 2025) will witness a historic collaboration between theCairo International Film Festival and the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) as part of the celebrations marking 100 years since the federation’s establishment. The two parties have agreed to publish a special book about FIPRESCI, stemming from a research seminar involving critics from the federation and members of the Egyptian Film Critics Association, focusing on…

In the ancient Phoenician language, which has its roots in the Semitic language, the ancient port of Bizerte addressed the audience on Sunday evening that accompanied the event “Return of the Phoenicians” or “Year of Hyam”, which is the literal translation of the phrase “people of the sea” in Phoenician. Organized as part of the 34th Heritage Month celebrations, this cultural and scientific event was a journey back in time to a time when the Canaanites crossed the sea to the western coasts of the Mediterranean, where they merged with…

In a step that reflects its leading position, the Cairo International Film Festival (CIFF) is set for an exceptional presence at the 78th edition of the Cannes Film Festival (May 13–24, 2025). This unprecedented participation includes a wide array of events and activities, highlighting CIFF’s pivotal role in supporting Egyptian and Arab cinema and strengthening its global footprint. At the Egyptian Pavilion in the Marché du Film, CIFF President Hussein Fahmy will join a high-profile panel titled “From Hollywood to Cairo: Bridging the U.S. and Egyptian Film Industries.” The session…

Cairo International Film Festival (CIFF) has announced the opening of submissions for the 11th edition of the Cairo Film Connection, part of the festival’s 46th edition, scheduled to take place from November 12 to 21, 2025. Applications will be accepted from May 7 through August 1, 2025, via the festival’s official website: www.ciff.org.eg. Cairo Film Connection is a professional platform dedicated to supporting feature-length narrative and documentary projects from the Arab world, in both development and post-production stages. It aims to empower Arab filmmakers by providing financial grants, production services,…

Doha Film Institute (DFI) announced on Monday that eight films supported through its grants program have been selected for the 78th Cannes Film Festival, reaffirming the Institute’s enduring commitment to nurturing bold, original voices in world cinema. Spanning a wide spectrum of genres, styles, and cultural narratives, this year’s selected films reflect the richness of global storytelling and underscore DFI’s mission to champion compelling, underrepresented perspectives from the Arab world and beyond. The selected projects will be unveiled to global audiences across various sections of the festival, including the official…

Jebba on the World Heritage List Kerkouane archaeological site hosts the official launch of the 34th Heritage Month Kerkouane archaeological site in Tunisia hosted the official launch of the 34th Heritage Month on April 19, 2025. This year’s theme was “Heritage and art, memory of civilization”. In the presence of Culture Minister Amina Srarfi, the ceremony highlighted Tunisia’s rich heritage, with the announcement of new UNESCO World Heritage candidacies, including that of the Tunisian jebba. The opening evening was marked by the immersive show “La Dame de Kerkouane”, combining theater,…

It was inaugurated recently in Tataouine, in the south of the country, along with a sales outlet run by the Groupe Féminin de Développement Agricole (Gda) offering local products and testimonials on the history of the community. The Ksar Ouled Soltane, a historic fortified granary of Berber origin, restored with Italian support, was inaugurated recently in Tataouine, a region in southern Tunisia. The inauguration ceremony was attended by the Italian Ambassador in Tunis, Alessandro Prunas, Director of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) in Tunis, Isabella Lucaferri, Director of…

The jury awarded the best documentary award for the Arab participants to “The Mask of Life”, directed by Fadia Ben Henda, produced by Tunisian TV, and the best documentary award for the European participants to “Dancing Freely”, directed by Clara Blazcaz, produced by Spanish TV. The award comes within the framework of the tenth edition of the Arab-European TV co-production “Inter-Rives” under the theme “The Power of Art: Creativity for Change”, organized by the Arab States Broadcasting Union (ASBU) and the Permanent Conference of the Mediterranean Audiovisual Operators (COPEAM). The jury watched and…