The 5th Annaba Mediterranean Film Festival concluded Tuesday night with a vibrant ceremony at the Azzedine Medjoubi Regional Theatre, celebrating cinematic excellence from across the Mediterranean region. The festival awarded prizes in categories including feature films, short films, and documentaries, highlighting both established and emerging talents.
Festival Director Mohamed Allal emphasized in his closing remarks that this year’s edition was “exceptional,” realizing a dream and opening doors for ambition, positioning Annaba as a Mediterranean icon and a welcoming space for cinema. He also highlighted the festival’s initiative, “Annaba Days for Cinema Industry,” providing opportunities for young talents and reinforcing cinema as a collective art form.
**Short Film Winners**
In the short film category, the Algerian film “Without You” by Najib Oulbessir clinched the Golden Gazelle award. The Silver Gazelle went to “A Matter of Honor” by Oussama Koubi, also from Algeria. Special mentions were given to “A Small Promise” from Palestine and “Ten Minutes Younger,” a joint Algerian-Palestinian production.
**Feature Film Awards**
The prestigious Golden Gazelle for Best Feature Film was awarded to the Turkish film “When Walnuts Turn Yellow.” The jury presented its special prize to “Day Zero” from Syria. Algerian actor Salim Kechiouche won Best Actor for his performance in “Between Us,” while Italian actress Lucia Sardo took home the Best Actress award.
The Spanish film “Island of the Gradient” won Best Director. The award for Best Screenplay went to “Star of Africa” from Cyprus, with a special mention for “Lisbon” from Greece.
**Documentary Recognition**
Lebanon’s “Confessions from the War” earned the Golden Gazelle in the documentary category. “The Sound Engineer in Gaza” from Palestine and “On the Edge of a Dream” from Egypt received certificates of appreciation. The Amar Al-Askari Award for Best Short Documentary was presented to the Algerian film “The Brain” by Souleimani Mohamed Cherif and Younes Boudali.
**AI and Tributes**
This year’s festival also introduced a special award for a short film focusing on Artificial Intelligence, which was won by the Tunisian work “Breath Between Breaths” by Zoubeir Guesmi. The closing ceremony included a moment of silence in memory of the late Algerian artist Fouzi Saichi. The event was attended by cultural and diplomatic figures, including a representative from the Spanish Embassy in Algeria, as Spain was the guest of honor for the 5th edition.
The Annaba Mediterranean Film Festival continues to foster cinematic exchange and collaboration within the Mediterranean region, providing a platform for diverse voices and perspectives. The festival’s commitment to nurturing young talent and exploring innovative cinematic approaches ensures its continued relevance in the regional and international film landscape. The event’s success further solidifies Annaba’s role as a key cultural hub for Mediterranean cinema. Keywords: Annaba Film Festival, Mediterranean cinema, film awards, Algerian film, Turkish film, documentary film, short film, film festival.
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