The Carthage Film Festival Announces the Juries of Its 36ᵗʰ Edition

The Carthage Film Festival (JCC) unveils the jury panels of its 36ᵗʰ edition, bringing together an exceptional constellation of filmmakers, critics, artists, and academics from the Arab world, Africa, and beyond. Reflecting the Festival’s long-standing commitment to artistic excellence and intercultural dialogue, this year’s juries embody both the heritage and the future of global cinema.

Presiding over the Feature Narrative Competition Jury is distinguished Palestinian filmmaker Najwa Najjar, celebrated for films such as Eyes of a Thief and Between Heaven and Earth, which explore identity, memory, and the human cost of conflict through deeply emotional storytelling. She is joined by Jean-Michel Frodon of France, one of the most influential film critics of his generation and former editor-in-chief of Cahiers du Cinéma, whose work continues to shape contemporary debates on cinema and society. Completing the panel are Swiss-Rwandan filmmaker Kantarama Gahigiri, whose films probe displacement, hybridity, and the politics of belonging; Tunisian director Lotfi Achour, known for his cross-disciplinary approach to film and theatre; and Algerian filmmaker Lotfi Bouchouchi, whose powerful works examine the enduring echoes of colonial history and national memory. Together, they represent a broad spectrum of artistic visions with a shared passion for cinematic innovation.

The Feature Documentary Competition Jury is chaired by acclaimed Tunisian filmmaker Raja Amari, whose bold, character-driven films—among them Satin Rouge and Foreign Body—navigate the terrain between personal transformation and social constraints. She is accompanied by Senegalese documentarian Alassane Diago, whose intimate, patient cinema has brought new emotional depth to African nonfiction storytelling; Lebanese filmmaker Eliane Raheb, internationally recognized for her incisive explorations of memory, trauma, and political complexity; French producer and festival programmer Laura Nikolov, whose work supports emerging documentary voices across continents; and Tunisian visual artist Nadia Kaabi-Linke, whose multidisciplinary practice brings a fresh perspective to cinematic form and the politics of representation.

In an exciting development for this edition, the Short Film and Ciné-Promesse categories are merged into a single competition dedicated to emerging filmmakers. The unified jury is led by Iraqi filmmaker and academic Dr. Hikmat Al-Beedhani, whose dual role as practitioner and scholar has shaped generations of Arab cinema students. He is joined by Senegalese critic Bassirou Niang, a specialist in African film cultures; Lebanese director and festival founder Elias Khlat, an advocate for independent cinema; Tunisian animation filmmaker Nadia Rais, known for her politically daring and visually distinctive work; and Sudanese filmmaker Sara Suliman, representing the creative vitality of the new Sudanese cinema.

The Debut Film Competition Jury is chaired by celebrated Egyptian screenwriter and novelist Mariam Naoum, whose socially engaged writing has brought new depth and complexity to Arab television and cinema. She is joined by Tunisian filmmaker and cultural figure Ibrahim Letaief, and Burkinabé critic and scholar Salam Zampaligré, both of whom bring decades of experience in supporting and chronicling African and Arab film movements.

With these distinguished juries, the 36ᵗʰ Carthage Film Festival reaffirms its role as a cultural bridge and a platform for bold artistic voices. Each jury member carries a unique perspective, ensuring that this edition will continue the Festival’s tradition of championing films that resonate, challenge, and illuminate the human experience.