Tunisian cinema will be present at the 14th edition of the Luxor African Film Festival (Egypt) which will be held from January 9 to 14, 2025. This edition is dedicated to the memory of Tunisian journalist and film critic Khemais Khayati.
Two Tunisian films will participate in the official competition: the feature film “Asfour Jenna” by director Mourad Ben Cheikh, in competition with 12 other works, and the short film “Loading” by Anis Lassoued, which competes in the short film category at the alongside 13 other films.
The two competitions bring together works from various countries, including Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Mauritania, Egypt, Sudan, Nigeria, South Africa, Ghana and Cameroon.
The feature film “Asfour Jenna” (90 min) by Mourad Ben Cheikh, released in theaters on September 25, 2024, is his first feature film and also his first comedy. The film addresses the issue of marriage between a Muslim woman and a non-Muslim man in Tunisia, through a satirical critique of customs and traditions, while promoting religious tolerance and acceptance of difference.
The short film Loading (2024), written and directed by Anis Lassoued, stars actors Salah Mseddi and Mohamed Ali Nahdi. It was screened in world premiere during the 35th edition of the Carthage Cinematographic Days (JCC) in 2024.
This edition pays posthumous tributes to five African cultural figures: Khemais Khayati, the Egyptian screenwriter Atef Beshai, the Moroccan artist and director Tayeb Saddiki, the Senegalese filmmaker Safi Faye, and the French actor, director, screenwriter and producer Mauritanian Med Hondo.
Tributes will also be paid to artists from several countries, including the Tunisian actor Ahmed Hafiane, the Egyptian Khaled El Nabawy, the Egyptian screenwriter and director Magdi Ahmed Ali, the Senegalese director and producer Moussa Sène Absa, as well as the actress Ghanaian Akosua Busia.
In addition to film screenings and tributes, the festival will dedicate space to the discussion of the main issues related to film production, with the organization of a symposium entitled The future of African film festivals in the digital age, January 11 and 12. This conference will address the themes of exploring digital technological tools in film production, strengthening collaboration between African filmmakers as well as issues of intellectual property in the era of artificial intelligence.
