The 12th edition of the Algiers International Film Festival (AIFF) officially commenced last night in Algiers, under the patronage of the Minister of Culture and Arts, Malika Bendouda. The festival, which runs until December 10th, features Cuba as the guest of honor.
The opening ceremony was held at the Mustapha Kateb National Theater, in the presence of Kamal Sidi Said, Advisor to the President in charge of the General Directorate of Communication; Amar Bendjeda, Head of the National Independent Authority for Audiovisual Regulation; Mohamed Bagali, Director General of Algerian Television; Victor Eigarza Carriera, the Cuban Ambassador to Algeria; and representatives from the diplomatic corps and the artistic community.
In her opening address, Minister Bendouda emphasized that the festival “promotes a vision that makes creativity a force for building society, a force that allows for multiple voices and safeguards the place of critical thinking in our public life.” She added that “when culture embraces the diversity of experiences and approaches, artistic action becomes a partner in consolidating the values of openness, justice, and mutual respect.”
The Minister further stated that “under the roof of this festival, works from distant places converge, carrying with them the memory of their peoples, their questions, and their interrogations of the world. The audience encounters new experiences and rediscovers their ability to empathize and read events with a deeper and broader perspective.”
Bendouda affirmed that “Algeria, with its renowned cultural history and continuous civilizational role, continues to support the arts.” She noted that “every film shown here is an addition to our symbolic capital and to the human cultural project that believes that knowledge is renewed when it interacts with creativity, and that dialogue flourishes when it finds its language in image and sound.”
Festival Commissioner, Mehdi Ben Aissa, pointed out that “cinema today faces challenges, but it has also crossed all borders and lived through wars, coexisting with television, generations, and new technologies.” He added that “today’s films are the memory of tomorrow and the history of the future.”
The Cuban Ambassador to Algeria stated that the selection of his country as the guest of honor reflects the deep and distinguished historical relations between Algeria and Cuba, expressing his hope for continued cooperation.
