The seventh edition of the "Regards de Femmes" film festival, also known as "Biouyounihena" in Arabic, is set to take place in Tunisia from October 3 to 7, 2026. The festival will be held in the cities of Nabeul, Hammamet, and Bouargoub, located in the cap Bon region of northeastern Tunisia. This year's edition features 19 short films in competition, showcasing the works of female filmmakers from around the world.
One of the new additions to this year's festival is a workshop designed to support female filmmakers in developing their projects. The "Atelier de développement et de présentation de projets cinématographiques" will be led by Tunisian filmmaker Ibrahim Letaïef and will focus on helping participants refine their ideas, write synopses and loglines, and prepare pitches to present to industry professionals. The workshop is open to filmmakers participating in the official competition.
The workshop will cover various aspects of project development, including defining the artistic vision, preparing a project dossier, and working on pitching techniques. Participants will also engage in exercises to present and defend their projects before producers and professionals. The workshop accepts projects in various formats, including short fiction films, documentaries, animation, and experimental cinema.
In addition to the workshop, the festival will also feature a residency program dedicated to scriptwriting, coordinated by scenarist Samia Amami. During the residency, female filmmakers from the Arab world will have the opportunity to work on the structure, characters, and treatment of their films, aiming to advance their scripts to a more developed stage of production.
The festival program includes a range of events, such as film screenings, masterclasses, and debates on topics like artificial intelligence, new cinema professions, and female leadership in the cultural and creative industries. The festival's theme for this year is "Oui, il y a de l'espoir" or "Yes, there is hope." The festival will also pay tribute to Lebanese filmmaker Heiny Srour, who was the first Arab woman to have a film selected for the Cannes Film Festival.
The opening film of the festival will be "The Miracle of Life," a documentary and experimental short film by Palestinian filmmaker Sabrine Khoury, which will be screened on October 4. The competition jury will be presided over by Egyptian filmmaker Yousry Nasrallah. The festival is organized by the Tunisian Federation of Film Clubs (FTCC).
The "Regards de Femmes" festival aims to promote women's cinema and provide a platform for female filmmakers to showcase their work. With its diverse program of events and activities, the festival is expected to attract a large audience and provide a valuable opportunity for filmmakers to network and exchange ideas.
Key points
- The festival features 19 short films in competition and includes various events such as workshops, masterclasses, and debates.
- A workshop and residency program are offered to support female filmmakers in developing their projects.
- The festival pays tribute to Lebanese filmmaker Heiny Srour and features a range of events on topics like artificial intelligence and female leadership.
