The Carthage Film Festival is rolling out the red carpet for Egyptian cinema as the official guest of honor for its upcoming 37th edition.
Scheduled to run in Tunis from December 12 to 19, this milestone gathering coincides with the prestigious festival’s 60th anniversary.
This strategic selection places Egyptian cinema at the heart of an extraordinary celebration that looks back at the festival’s rich history while honoring over a century of Egyptian filmmaking and its profound cultural impact across the Arab world and Africa.
Festival organizers announced Egypt’s spotlight under the banner of celebrating a country with over a century of cinema, recognizing the Egyptian industry’s legacy as one of the oldest continuous cinematic movements in the region, alongside its enduring presence in the festival’s history since its inception in 1966.
More Than a Protocol Honor
This tribute goes beyond a routine diplomatic gesture, arriving as the festival reflects on six decades of championing cinema.
The 37th edition carries a dual significance: a festival celebrating its diamond jubilee alongside a guest nation showcasing more than 100 years of groundbreaking productions, legendary auteurs, and iconic films.
Festival leadership announced that the upcoming edition will be spearheaded by Tunisian director Mokhtar Ajimi.
Organizers also unveiled a striking new visual identity featuring the number sixty intertwined with a film strip and a geometric face—a design inspired by Cubism and Bauhaus aesthetics that reflects the festival’s diverse cinematic memory.
Youssef Chahine Taking Center Stage
Among the highlights of the Egyptian tribute is a special retrospective dedicated to the late legendary Egyptian director Youssef Chahine, honoring his foundational relationship with the festival during its early years. Ajimi confirmed that the tribute celebrates Chahine’s monumental cinematic legacy and his enduring ties to the event.
The program will also feature a curated selection of films that previously won the Golden Tanit, revisiting pivotal chapters in the festival’s history.
Chahine’s history with Carthage is legendary, having won the Golden Tanit in 1970 for his acclaimed feature film “The Choice”, cementing his status in the festival’s lore. His visionary approach transcended national borders, engaging audiences directly with pressing questions of society, identity, and history.
A Shared Cinematic Memory
The Egyptian spotlight offers a powerful lens to re-examine the deep ties between Egyptian cinema and Tunisian audiences—a bond forged not only through widespread distribution across the Arab world, but through the active participation of Egyptian artists in regional festivals and intertwined cultural trajectories. Carthage remains the natural home for this retrospective.
Founded in 1966 by Tunisian critic Tahar Cheriaa, the festival has spent six decades serving as a vital crossroads for Arab and African cinema, fostering dialogue between art, societal issues, and cross-border storytelling.
Egypt’s presence also builds on its recent triumphs at the festival, including top awards in previous editions, proving that Egyptian cinema continues to excel in both competition arenas and retrospective programs.
Six Decades of Cinematic Legacy
The 37th edition arrives at a moment of comprehensive reflection for the festival. Alongside its official competitions for feature narratives, documentaries, shorts, and promising young talent, alongside parallel sections like World Cinema and Visions Plus, the management is set to resurrect classic films, figures, and milestones that defined its legacy. With the official press conference scheduled for December 1, organizers are poised to unveil the full lineup, proving that Egypt’s role this year is far more than a fleeting guest appearance—it is an intrinsic chapter in a shared cinematic journey celebrating six decades of building bridges across regional cinemas.
