Manarat Festival for Mediterranean Cinema to debut in Tunisia

CAIRO - 25 June 2019: The second edition of Manarat Film Festival for Mediterranean Cinema will take place in Tunisia from July 1 - 7.

The festival aims to group together different parties concerned with the Mediterranean cinema to eventually promote joint cooperation.

“The Manarat Festival seeks to establish its name in the Mediterranean film scene, providing the opportunity for Tunisians to feel that they are an integral part of the wealth of the Mediterranean,” said the festival's producer Dora Bouchoucha.

The program includes long films and documentaries from more than 20 Mediterranean countries. It honors the Egyptian and Italian cinemas and contains discussions among the various eminent figures of the filmmaking industry. The festival will also hold meetings between representatives of the sector and institutions on some of the problems related to the distribution of Arabic films.

Furthermore, screenings will be held on nine beaches from the north to the south of the Tunisian coast, which is preparing to host the public free of charge.

Bouchoucha noted that the festival will also honor guests from the Mediterranean region, including artists Mahmoud Hemida, Elham Shahin, Nelly Karim and director Yusra Nasrallah from Egypt, Helmi el-Doridy from Tunisia and the Dardenne brothers from Belgium.

The festival’s producer explained that the competition includes 10 films. The festival’s judging panel includes five members: Algerian writer Kamal Daoud, Salwa Mohamed Ali, French director Michel Leclair, Tunisian artist Suhair Ben Amara and Turkish actress Damla Sounmaz.

Moreover, special performances will be presented and will be followed by various discussion sessions with directors and actors.

The festival will witness the launch of a new initiative in 2019, namely the Arab Film Platform. It includes seven countries: Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria, Palestine, Egypt, Lebanon and Jordan.