Algeria has been named guest of honor at the 2nd International Sahara Film Festival, scheduled from October 29 to November 2 in Ksar Ghilane, Tunisia. The festival will showcase historic Algerian films and host a special session celebrating the country’s rich cinematic heritage.
Algeria Sahara Film Festival to Highlight Cultural Legacy
Organizers of the festival confirmed Algeria’s prominent role in the second edition, which will take place in the oasis town of Ksar Ghilane in southern Tunisia. The program includes a curated selection of landmark Algerian films commemorating the November 1, 1954 Revolution, reflecting the nation’s enduring cultural influence and historical memory.
Featured works include Es’sakia, an animated film by Naoufel Kalache, produced in collaboration with Algeria’s Ministry of Mujahideen and Rights Holders and the Ministry of Culture and Arts. The film recounts the 1958 Sakiet Sidi Youcef massacre, highlighting tragic events of the French colonial era.
Other notable films include Rose du désert by Oussama Benhassine, exploring the French nuclear tests in the Algerian desert in 1960, and 196 Mètres / Algiers by Chakib Taleb Bendiab.
Celebrating Algerian Cinema Night
A dedicated segment titled “Algerian Cinema Night” will honor Algeria’s film legacy and reinforce strong cultural and artistic ties between Algeria and Tunisia. The festival also features an official competition, with Algerian director Oussama Daas’s The Last Card competing alongside Tunisian filmmaker Imen Ayed’s NYA and entries from Lebanon, Libya, Syria, Iran, Yemen, and Saudi Arabia.
Founded in 2024, the International Sahara Film Festival is organized by the Sahara Art Association under the patronage of Tunisia’s Ministry of Cultural Affairs.