The Carthage Film Days 2024 : a celebration of commitment and creativity
The 35th edition of the Carthage Film Days (JCC) took place in Tunis from December 14 to 21, 2024. Featuring over 200 films from 20 countries, the event celebrated Pan-African and Pan-Arab cinema through the lens of humanistic values. Here's a look back at the highlights and award winners.
This year’s JCC marked a turning point following the event’s cancellation in 2023 in solidarity with Palestine. For this edition, Artistic Director Lamia Belkaied Guiga placed Palestine at the heart of the festival, with a special selection of Palestinian works and a poignant tribute to filmmaker Hany Abu-Assad.
With a diverse and rich program, the festival showcased 56 films in the official competition, spanning feature films, documentaries, and short films. True to the festival’s identity, these works highlighted bold narratives reflecting the social and political challenges of the African continent and the Arab world.
A strengthened national competition
For the first time, a national competition was held to celebrate the dynamism of Tunisian cinema. Among the 99 Tunisian works presented, Qantra by Walid Mattar won Best Film, while Le Sentier de Aïcha by Selma Hobbi and Couleur du phosphate by Ridha Tlili received awards in their respective categories.
The Awards: Excellence eecognized
During the closing ceremony, juries honored outstanding works:
Golden Tanit for Feature Film:
- Les Enfants rouges by Lotfi Achour (Tunisia)
Silver Tanit:
- Vers un monde inconnu by Mahdi Fleifel (Palestine)
Bronze Tanit:
- Demba by Mamadou Dia (Senegal)
For documentaries, the Golden Tanit went to Le Film est un acte de résistance by Kamal Aljafari (Palestine), while Tongo SAA, Rising Up at Night by Nelson Makengo (DRC) and Matula by Abdallah Yahya (Tunisia) received the Silver and Bronze Tanits, respectively.
In the short film category, the Golden Tanit was awarded to Ensuite, rien ne se passera by Ibrahim Omar (Sudan), with notable mentions for works from Egypt and Tunisia.
A tribute to memory and art
The festival paid homage to iconic figures, including the late Tunisian actor Fethi Haddaoui, as well as filmmakers Merzak Allouache (Algeria), Mohsen Makhmalbaf (Iran), and Ababacar Samb Makharam (Senegal).
The Carthage Film Days 2024 once again demonstrated that cinema remains a powerful tool for storytelling, championing causes, and celebrating humanity.
