The 48th edition of the Mediterranean Film Festival in Montpellier, France, will feature three Tunisian films in its "Arab Fantasy Cinema" section. The festival will take place from October 16 to 24, 2026. The Tunisian films participating in the festival are "What You Hear Is the Wind" (2021) by Youssef Chabi, "Dachra" (2018) by Abdelhamid Bouchnaq, and "La Bête qui a dévoré le soleil" (2021) by Kais Majri.
The film "What You Hear Is the Wind" will be screened on October 18 at 9:15 PM at the Rabelais center. The film, which lasts 1 hour and 36 minutes, tells the story of a woman named Nada who leads a double life. The film reuses the myth of Medusa in a contemporary context related to issues of violence and women. The film "La Bête qui a dévoré le soleil", which lasts 23 minutes, will be screened on October 21 at 2:00 PM at the Corum Einstein hall.
The film "La Bête qui a dévoré le soleil" is set in Tunisia in 1987, during the presidency of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. The film follows a detective named Ayad as he investigates the murder of a child. The film is directed by Kais Majri and produced by Imad Marzouki. The film "Dachra" will be screened on October 21 at 9:00 PM at the Rabelais center. The film is a mix of investigative journalism and horror, and tells the story of three journalists who investigate an old case related to a woman accused of practicing magic.
The "Arab Fantasy Cinema" section of the festival also includes two rare Egyptian films, "Baba Amin" (1950) by Youssef Shahine, and "Fangs" (1981) by Mohamed Shibl. The festival will also feature a professional meeting around fantasy cinema on October 20 at 11:00 AM. The meeting will discuss the latest developments in fantasy cinema and its impact on the film industry.
As part of the "Arab-African Series Lab" program, nine writers from 28 African countries will participate in a training program that will last for 11 months, starting in December 2025. The program aims to develop the skills of African writers in scriptwriting for television series. The program is supported by the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs and the French Institute in Paris.
The Mediterranean Film Festival in Montpellier, which was founded in 1979, is one of the most prominent film festivals dedicated to Mediterranean and neighboring cinemas. The festival features a mix of film screenings, professional meetings, and events related to cinema. The festival is supported by the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs and the French Institute in Paris, as part of the "Saison Méditerranée 2026" program.
The participation of Tunisian films in the festival reflects the growing interest in Tunisian cinema and its presence on the international film scene. The festival provides a platform for Tunisian filmmakers to showcase their work and connect with international filmmakers and industry professionals. The event is also an opportunity for the audience to discover new and innovative films from the Mediterranean region and beyond.
Key points
- Three Tunisian films will participate in the 2026 Mediterranean Film Festival in Montpellier, France.
- The films will be screened in the "Arab Fantasy Cinema" section of the festival.
- The festival will take place from October 16 to 24, 2026, and will feature a mix of film screenings, professional meetings, and events related to cinema.
