Annaba – dzwatch.dz
The Annaba Mediterranean Film Festival returns for its fifth edition from September 24 to 30, 2025, featuring the participation of 76 films from 20 Mediterranean countries. Spain will be honored as the guest of this year’s edition.
Festival director Mohamed Allal announced during a press conference that the event aims to establish Annaba as a hub for cultural dialogue and cinematic exchange, reinforcing its position as the “capital of cinema” on the southern shores of the Mediterranean.
Among the participating countries are Palestine, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Spain, Italy, Turkey, and Greece, making the festival a true meeting point for filmmakers from both shores of the Mediterranean.
The official awards include the prestigious Golden Gazelle for Best Feature Film, worth 2.3 million dinars, along with the Jury Prize, Best Director, Best Actor and Actress, Best Screenplay, and the Audience Award. Additional categories include the Golden Gazelle for Best Short Film and Best Documentary (each worth 1.2 million dinars), as well as the Amar Laskri Prize for short documentaries and the newly introduced Artificial Intelligence Award.
A major highlight of this year’s edition is the participation of three Oscar-winning filmmakers who will preside over the official juries—an unprecedented first in Algeria. The juries will oversee competitions in feature films, short films, documentaries, and the new AI category.
This edition will also pay tribute to prominent cinematic figures, including Algerian director El Ghaouti Ben Dedouch, Spanish filmmaker Pilar Joucame, Egyptian actor Khaled El Nabawy, Bosnian director Danis Tanović, and Greek filmmaker Yorgo Voyagis, winner of the 2002 Academy Award.
The festival’s promotional teaser was directed by Yahia Mezahim and features several Algerian actors such as Idir Ben Aibouche, Aziz Boukerouni, Othmane Ben Daoud, Akram Jguim, Lydia Chabout, and Ali Namos. Shot in Annaba, it showcases both local cinematic talent and the city’s cultural landmarks to promote Annaba as a vibrant film and tourism destination.
New initiatives include the “Annaba Talents 2025” competition, as well as workshops dedicated to the development and post-production of feature films.
For more coverage on Algeria’s cultural and cinematic events, visit dzwatch.dz.
