The first edition of the Timimoun International Short Film Festival will take place from November 13th to 18th in Timimoun, southern Algeria. The festival will showcase 61 short films from 31 countries, with Senegal being the guest of honor, organizers announced Wednesday. The event will also feature the participation of numerous Algerian and international filmmakers.
Festival Commissioner Azzedine Agab stated during a press conference in Algiers that this year’s inaugural edition will celebrate African cinema by hosting Senegal as the guest of honor. He added that this new film event, dedicated to short films, is organized under the patronage of the Algerian Ministry of Culture and Arts.
Agab emphasized that organizing the first edition of the festival is both a cinematic challenge and a responsibility. The aim is to establish an annual event deeply rooted in Timimoun’s cultural heritage, encourage young filmmakers, promote exchange, build cultural bridges, and foster joint productions between African and international professionals through workshops and masterclasses.
Over six days, the festival will screen 61 films from 31 countries, including 19 narrative shorts, 13 documentary shorts, and 15 national shorts, all competing for the grand prize, the “Golden Gourara.” Additionally, six Algerian short films will be featured in the “Carte Blanche” section, curated this year by director Abdelnour Zahzah. Five screenings will also be dedicated to Senegalese short films.
The films will be screened in a hall in downtown Timimoun, which is currently being equipped to host the documentaries, according to the festival’s artistic director, Faisal Sahbi. Narrative films will be shown in an open-air theater, also being prepared to ensure high-quality screenings.
Sahbi also announced the members of the competition’s jury, including Mounes Khmar (Algeria), Dieudo Hamadi (Democratic Republic of Congo), Giusy Buemi (Italy), Amine Boukhriss (Tunisia), Jehane El-Tahri (Egypt), and Delphine Oattara (Burkina Faso).
The festival will also include tributes to notable figures.
