The third edition of the International Cinema in the Desert Festival will commence on Thursday, November 12, 2026, at the outdoor theater in the New City area of Qebli, Tunisia. The festival will run until November 15, showcasing a selection of cinematic works and discussions on the latest developments in cinema in Tunisia and worldwide. The event features a mix of film screenings, competitions, workshops, and intellectual seminars, with participation from filmmakers and artists from Tunisia and several Arab and foreign countries.
The festival's opening ceremony will be preceded by a cinematic caravan, which includes a performance by the Five-Star Folk Music Group from Douz. The group will perform a folk show in the middle of the New City square, accompanied by the opening of a women's exhibition of traditional Maghrebi crafts near the Open Air Museum. Additionally, two youth film camps will be launched during the festival. The event will also honor artist Salah Mseddiq and director Ibrahim Al-Latif, as well as pay a symbolic tribute to the late Tunisian playwright Mohamed Al-Khamis Chaoud.
A total of eight films from Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, the Congo, France, Iran, and India will participate in the festival's official competition. The competition will be judged by a committee consisting of Ibrahim Al-Latif, Alifa Shaqroun, and Atef Ben Hussein. The festival program also includes screenings of films, such as "Serab" by Mondher Ben Ibrahim and the Finnish film "White Rage" by Arto Halonen.
The festival will feature various activities, including screenings of short films that have won awards in the "Little Ambulance Oscar for Short Films" competition, as well as films from the official competition and youth screenings. There will also be workshops on filmmaking, documentary film production, and other related topics. A masterclass on the experience of the Cinema Laboratory in Wadi Al-Ghriq will be provided by directors Ibrahim Al-Latif and Abdullah Al-Shamkh.
The festival's program is diverse, with events including film screenings, visual arts, and musical performances. The festival will also feature a light mapping show on the facade of the Uqba bin Nafe mosque and other archaeological landmarks in old Qebli. Other activities include a musical performance called "Electro Sahara" and a youth evening called "Al-Samour," which has become a tradition at the festival.
The festival will also include various activities for children, a tourist tour of the region, and a honoring ceremony for the participating artists. The event aims to promote cinema and provide a platform for filmmakers to showcase their work. The festival's organizers expect a large turnout of cinema enthusiasts and fans from Tunisia and abroad.
Key participants in the festival include filmmakers and artists from Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, the Congo, France, Iran, and India. The festival's events will take place in various locations in Qebli, including the outdoor theater and the Open Air Museum. The festival's program can be accessed through the Radio Tunisie Culture website.
Key points
- The festival features a mix of film screenings, competitions, workshops, and intellectual seminars.
- The event aims to promote cinema and provide a platform for filmmakers to showcase their work.
- The festival will honor artist Salah Mseddiq and director Ibrahim Al-Latif, as well as pay a symbolic tribute to the late Tunisian playwright Mohamed Al-Khamis Chaoud.
Reporting sources
- Radio Tunisie Culture · Radio Tunisie Culture
