The city of Sousse, Tunisia, will host the fifth edition of the International Festival of Awareness Videos (FIVS) on August 30–31, an event dedicated to creative audiovisual works that inspire social impact and cultural dialogue.
Unveiled during a press conference at the Arab States Broadcasting Union headquarters in Tunis, the festival announced its dual competitions: the international contest themed “Sustainable Citizenship for a Growing World”, and the national Tunisian category, “Tourism in Tunisia through the Lens of Creativity—A Driver of Development.”
Algeria stands out once again as one of the leading participants, fielding 13 awareness videos, the highest contribution among foreign delegations. Out of 18 submissions, 13 Algerian films were selected, securing the country’s place at the forefront for the fifth consecutive edition. These entries will compete among 73 films from 20 nations, chosen from a remarkable pool of 579 submissions representing 60 countries.
Adding to Algeria’s prominence, acclaimed filmmaker Yahia Mezahim—renowned for his works “El Dhamma,” “El Barrani,” and “Timoucha”—will serve on the festival’s jury. The panel will be chaired by Tunisian actor Salah Eddine Mseddi, alongside Tunisian actress Kawther El Bardi, celebrated in Algeria for her role in the popular series “Achour El Acher”, Tunisian director Nasreddine Rekem, and Libyan artist Ramadan Al-Mazdawi.
Festival director Aymen Dardouri highlighted that the international competition is designed to promote noble values, fraternity, and social awareness, with strict criteria emphasizing originality, technical quality, and exclusive works made specifically for the event. Meanwhile, the Tunisian competition seeks to creatively spotlight the country’s tourism potential as a cultural and economic driver.
Founder Walid Ben Hassan praised Algeria’s enduring commitment: “We are delighted that Algeria remains the most consistent participant in FIVS, with 13 films this year. The presence of a great filmmaker like Yahia Mezahim on the jury brings immense value, and we look forward to expanding collaborations, including future workshops in Algeria.”
Joining the press conference live, Mezahim underscored the festival’s importance: “Creating awareness videos with meaningful impact is crucial in an era flooded with content lacking substance. This festival gives young people a chance to influence minds positively, provided the works are crafted with depth and creativity rather than superficiality.”
Jury president Salah Eddine Mseddi echoed the sentiment, noting that the festival has grown stronger with every edition: “Each year, the quality improves and the choice becomes harder. It is not only a competition but also a cultural bridge, giving participants an opportunity to discover Tunisia and promoting it as a destination.”
