Updated with the cancellation of Carthage Cinema Days… The Tunisian Ministry of Culture has canceled the upcoming 34th Carthago Film Days (Carthago Film Festival), which was scheduled to take place from October 28 to November 4.
This is the fourth film festival from the Middle East and North Africa to be canceled in the last 48 hours, after Cairo, El Gouna and Ajyal in Qatar.
The cancellations come amid growing unrest in the region sparked by Hamas’ deadly terror attacks on Israel on October 7, which in turn triggered a retaliatory campaign of Israeli blockades and bombings of Gaza. Tunisia said the decision to suspend Carthage was taken in solidarity with the Palestinian people.
Autumn is traditionally a busy time for film festivals in MENA. These events may not have the same profile as Cannes or Venice, but they are the lifeblood of the region’s independent film industry. They showcase the latest work and also encourage emerging talent through project development workshops and industry discussions.
There is debate in the industry as to whether Marrakech (November 24 – December 3), where Martin Scorsese and Jessica Chastain will be present, and Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea (November 30 – December 9) will make up the upcoming editions. . At the moment both festivals seem to be busy with preparations.
There is likely to be little interest in canceling Marrakesh, which went ahead determinedly with its 20th edition after the devastating earthquake in the nearby Atlas Mountains in September that killed more than 2,000 people. The presence of numerous guests is intended to be a sign of solidarity with the affected region, which for economic reasons depends on visitors from outside the affected areas.
PREVIOUS, 8:33 AM PT: Qatar’s Doha Film Institute (DFI) has canceled the 11th edition of its Ajyal Film Festival, which runs from November 8 to 16, due to the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
It is the third film festival in the Arab world to be canceled in the past 48 hours, joining events in Cairo and El Gouna in Egypt, as anger mounts in the Middle East over the rising death toll in Gaza due to the Israeli blockade and bombing of the Gaza Strip. Palestinian territory.
Israel took this measure in response to Hamas’ horrific terror attacks in southern Israel, which killed more than 1,400 people and took another 199 hostages. Leaders around the world have recognized Israel’s right to defend itself.
More than 3,000 people in Gaza have been killed in the retaliatory bombings, while the territory’s 2.1 million residents are left without fresh food, water and electricity.
The DFI said it canceled the Ajyal out of “solidarity” with its “Palestinian brothers and sisters.” The institute maintains close ties with the Palestinian film scene and its artistic advisor is the Palestinian director Elia Suleiman.
“As those of you familiar with the festival know, Ajyal as an event is much more than an annual celebration of the art of storytelling. In essence, Ajyal is a grassroots event created and run by the community, for the community,” the institute said.
“At this time, we join the community in our region in mourning and are devastated by the devastating daily loss of innocent lives. This is simply not a time for celebration, it is a time for intentional and conscious action.”
There is industry debate over whether other film festivals in the region – such as Marrakesh (November 24 to December 3) and Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea (November 30 to December 9) – will follow a similar course, but both will run for now . events ahead. continue preparations for the upcoming editions.
Noting that its core mission is to represent voices of underrepresented communities, DFI said that “amplifying Palestinian narratives” is a “critical” part of its work as a cultural organization.
“We remain true to our commitment to strengthen their authentic portrayals and stand firm in the accuracy of their experiences and humanity.”
“With this in mind, in lieu of this year’s edition of the Ajyal Film Festival, the Institute will explore new ways to use our platform to expand the reach and volume of Palestinian voices worldwide. The time for meaningful action is now, and it is more important than ever that we continue to serve as a conduit for their unfiltered stories to be heard, recognized and respected.”
The Ajyal Film Festival was launched in 2013 as a youth-oriented event and consists of young public juries who watch and discuss the films.
It has often celebrated Palestinian culture, most recently with the art exhibit “We Will Not Leave,” inspired by residents of East Jerusalem’s Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood who struggle to stay in their homes despite efforts by Israeli settler organizations to evict them .
Source: Deadline
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