The 14th edition of Tunisia's Short Film Festival came to a close on October 4, 2026, at the Africa Art Center in Tunis. The festival, which ran from October 1 to 4, awarded its top prizes to outstanding films and critics. Mohamed Rachedi's documentary "Image of the Ant" took home the Grand Prize. The festival coincided with the 40th anniversary of the Tunisian Association for the Promotion of Film Criticism.
The festival's jury announced the winners in various categories. Walid Tayaa won the Best Director award for his film "Sersi." The Best Female Performance award went to Mariem Sayah for her role in "On the Edge," directed by Sahr El Chehi. Ramzi Aziz won the Best Male Performance award for his role in "A Nearly Ordinary Day," directed by Slim Belheiba.
The festival also awarded prizes for technical achievements. Youssef Sanhaji won the Best Screenplay award for "Casting." Amina Maaref took home the Best Sound award for "I Knew It Was Over," directed by Seif Ferch and Esraa Al Feki. Ryan Salmi won the Best Image award for "The Olive Tree May Die," directed by Marwan Salmi.
In addition to film awards, the festival recognized outstanding film criticism. A special mention was given to Fedoua Medellel's article "A Conjugal Home as a Metaphor for a World in Ruins." The Best Film Critic award went to Maysam Al Marouki for his article "Where the Wind Comes From." Badee Al Malki won the Best Critical Article award for his piece on Walid Tayaa's "Sursis."
The festival also featured a competition for film critics' articles. The awards ceremony marked the conclusion of the 14th edition of the festival. Earlier, on October 3, 2026, the University of Manouba announced that it would continue to accept applications for a documentary filmmaking workshop until October 6, 2026.
Other film-related events took place around the same time. The third edition of the "Cinema Gates" event continued in Jendouba. The Mediterranean Film Festival in Montpellier, France, featured three Tunisian films in its "Arab Fantasy Cinema" section.
The 14th Short Film Festival's awards reflect the richness and diversity of Tunisian cinema. The event celebrated the best of Tunisian film production and criticism. The festival's success highlights the continued importance of cinema in Tunisian culture.
Key points
- Mohamed Rachedi's documentary "Image of the Ant" won the Grand Prize.
- The festival awarded prizes in various categories, including film, directing, acting, and technical achievements.
- The event recognized outstanding film criticism, with awards for best articles and critics.
