The fourth edition of Tunisia's National Theater Festival "Moassem Al-Ibdaa" came to a close with "Jaras" by Assem Baltouhami taking home the grand prize for Best Integrated Work, along with the award for Best Playwright. The festival, which ran from October 30 to November 7, 2026, saw 14 theatrical works competing for various awards. The grand prize is valued at 30,000 Tunisian dinars.
The awards ceremony, held at the Fourth Art Hall in the capital, was attended by Minister of Cultural Affairs Amira Al-Sarrafi and several theater professionals and cultural actors. Other winners included "3 Nahj Palestine" by Marwan Al-Misawi, which took home the award for Best Scenography, and Sirin Qanun, who won Best Director for her work on "Houma".
In the acting categories, Abdel Monem Chouiat won the award for Best Male Dramatic Performance for his role in "Houma", while Asala Kawas took home the award for Best Female Dramatic Performance for her role in "Al-Insawan" by Mohamed Kawas. Each of these awards is valued at 10,000 Tunisian dinars. The festival's official competition was judged by a committee chaired by artist Mona Nour El-Din.
The festival also awarded several encouraging prizes, including Best Video for Theater, which went to Nour Al-Shawsh for her video of "Al-Sabbat" by Monir Al-Arqi. The award for Best Photographic Image went to Azza Al-Hadar for her photo of "Bidh Thawani" by Hamza Al-Warttani. The award for Best Critical Article went to Nurhan Jaafar for her article on "Jaras" by Assem Baltouhami.
In his closing remarks, Mohamed Al-Murabit, director of the Tunisian National Theater Foundation, highlighted the festival's success in bringing together 14 theater groups from across the country, showcasing a diverse range of performances. He emphasized that the festival aims not only to recognize the best works but also to create a space for communication and interaction between theater professionals.
The festival also included a tribute to Tunisian artists Mohamed Idris and Tawfiq Al-Jabali, with their works featured in a special screening. Al-Murabit stressed the importance of preserving Tunisia's theatrical heritage and inspiring future generations. A photo exhibition, "Maestro Al-Funun", showcasing the work of Mohamed Idris, is set to continue until January 30, 2027.
The closing ceremony also featured a performance by the musical duo "Jazb", composed of Maryam Al-Hamroni and Mohamed Al-Barsawi, which blended traditional Sufi music with modern arrangements. The ceremony was preceded by the premiere of "Chayka", a play directed and designed by Mohamed Al-Murabit, based on Anton Chekhov's "The Seagull".
Key points
- The festival's grand prize winner, "Jaras", took home 30,000 Tunisian dinars.
- The festival featured 14 theatrical works competing for various awards.
- The event aimed to promote cultural decentralization and support emerging talent in Tunisia's theater scene.
