The 21st Mediterranean Cinema Days, scheduled to take place from October 21 to 25 in the Tunisian city of Gabes, have announced the list of short films participating in the official competition. A total of 12 films, including six documentaries and six narrative films, have been selected from six Mediterranean countries: Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Egypt, Syria, and Lebanon.
The documentary category features three Tunisian films: "What We Don't Fear 202" by Youssef Zriat and Heitham Mhegrebi, "Earth or Death" by Nour El Hoda Trabelsi, and "The Cursed Tomatoes" by Marwa Tayba. Syria, Egypt, and Algeria will also be represented in this category with films titled "Fading Light" by Ibrahim Malham, "The Sky Can Be Changed" by Asmaa Nour, and "A Shot" by Khair Eddine Bouchikhi, respectively.
The narrative short film category will feature four Tunisian films: "Somewhere I Belong" by Youssef Hindous, "Hass" by Abdel Wahed Hossam Eddine, "Homeless" by Iyad M'noushi, and "Soap Kills" by Momen Gharbi. Lebanon will be represented by "One Last Time" by Karim Rahbani, while Morocco will participate with "The Shadow Remains" by Mehdi Abdel Ali.
The selection committee for the 21st edition of the Mediterranean Cinema Days, responsible for choosing the competing films, consists of prominent cinema critics and directors, including Nasser Al-Sardi, Kamal Ben Wanas, and Fadoua Model. The committee sought films that explore the relationship between humans and their land.
The Mediterranean Cinema Days aim to promote emerging voices in cinema, particularly those that focus on the intersection of youth and the land. The festival encourages films that address issues such as identity, migration, and environmental responsibility. This year's edition carries the theme "Youth and Land."
The festival previously announced the closure of submissions for the official competition, accepting films from across the Mediterranean region. The selected films will compete for awards, with the jury evaluating them based on their artistic merit and relevance to the festival's theme.
The 21st Mediterranean Cinema Days will provide a platform for emerging filmmakers to showcase their work and engage with industry professionals. The event also includes workshops, discussions, and other activities that foster dialogue and collaboration among participants.
Key points
- The festival will feature 12 short films from six Mediterranean countries competing in the official competition.
- The selection committee chose films that explore the relationship between humans and their land.
- The festival aims to promote emerging voices in cinema, particularly those that focus on the intersection of youth and the land.
