The Tunisian drama Round 13 has secured a significant international victory, winning the Crystal Simorgh for Best Film in the Future Frame competition at the 43rd Fajr International Film Festival in Shiraz, Iran. The award marks the latest success in the film’s celebrated global festival run.
Directed by Mohamed Ali Nahdi and produced by Melik Kochbati, Round 13 triumphed in a section dedicated to first and second features, sharing the top prize with Two Faces of Autumn. The jury, comprising international members Deniz Yavuz (Turkey), Eugene Henri More (France), and Mehdi Karampour (Iran), honored the film for its artistic strength and directorial maturity.
The win at Fajr, one of Asia’s most prominent film festivals, culminates a standout season for the project. Round 13 premiered globally at the A-category Tallinn Black Nights Festival in Estonia before moving to the 46th Cairo International Film Festival, where lead actress Afef Ben Mahmoud won the Best Performance award.
“This recognition at Fajr solidifies the film’s position as one of the year’s notable emerging titles,” said an industry observer, noting its trajectory from European to Arab and now Asian acclaim.
The closing ceremony in Shiraz was attended by senior Iranian cultural officials, including Minister of Culture Seyed Abbas Salehi. The film’s success is seen as a testament to the rising wave of contemporary Tunisian cinema on the world stage.
TunisianMonitorOnline (Douha Essaafi)
