Tunisia’s Djerba International Festival of Cinema for Women and Youth will launch its twelfth edition from October 24 to 27, 2026, showcasing 68 films from 38 countries across competitive and non-competitive screenings.
The festival aims to establish the island as a vibrant hub for cinematic dialogue, bridging local talent with regional and international filmmakers. Guided by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs of Tunisia, the four-day event highlights youth and female perspectives in the seventh art through screenings, masterclasses, and workshops.
Official Competition and International Screenings in Djerba
Out of the total lineup, 32 films have earned spots in the official competition spanning documentary, narrative, and youth categories. The documentary slate features 12 entries split evenly between six features and six shorts, while the narrative division also includes 12 works divided equally between feature-length and short projects. An additional eight films compete within the school and children’s film tracks.
Beyond the competition brackets, the program features 29 out-of-competition selections representing a wide array of cinematic traditions. India takes center stage this year as the guest of honor, bringing official representatives from the Indian Embassy in Tunisia alongside filmmakers presenting works in and out of competition to bolster cultural exchange.
Mohamed Ali Ben Jemaa Leads Festival Tributes
Tunisian actor Mohamed Ali Ben Jemaa serves as the honorary president of the twelfth edition in recognition of his contributions to Tunisian cinema and television drama. Meanwhile, opening night ceremonies will celebrate several notable figures from the Arab and Tunisian artistic scenes with official career tributes.
- Egyptian actress Dalka Mostafa receives recognition for her extensive contributions to Egyptian and Arab drama.
- Saudi artist and filmmaker Omar Al-Jasser joins the honoree list and participates on the feature film jury.
- Tunisian actresses Dhafer Lâabidine, Dorra Zarrouk, Afef Ben Mahmoud, and Salwa Mohamed, alongside Tunisian actor Jamal Madani, complete the slate of acknowledged talents.
Three distinct panels oversee the competitive entries. Tunisian filmmaker Lamia Belgaied Guiga chairs the narrative feature jury, which includes Omar Al-Jasser and Egyptian screenwriter Abdel Rahim Kamal. German film critic Pascaline Facchetti leads the documentary jury alongside Algerian actor-director Essam Taachit and Palestinian journalist Feda Naser. Finally, Syrian director Muhannad Kalthoum heads the school and youth film jury, flanked by Egyptian journalist Doaa Fouda.
Prizes and Professional Training Tracks
The festival structures its accolades around specialized technical and artistic achievements. Narrative features compete for the Golden Lighthouse for best feature and best short, alongside awards for directing, editing, acting, and a $500 prize for best Arab narrative film awarded by the General Union of Arab Artists. School and regional student submissions enjoy a separate municipal competition recognizing top films, cinematography, and script ideas.
Educational components run concurrently with screenings. Panel discussions address the structural development of regional film festivals and the evolving role of women in visual storytelling.
