At the Cairo International Film Festival last year. The Maghrebian Film Festival at the city of Nabeul, in the north eastern part of Tunisia opens today, September 7, 2011. Photo | SAMIR ABDEL HAMID | CIFF |
By HASSOUNA MANSOURIPosted Friday, September 9 2011 at 10:44
Filmmakers in the North African region have a comeback film festival. Renamed after the region where it will be screening, the Maghrebian Film Festival is scheduled to open at the city of Nabeul, in the north eastern part of Tunisia, to screen between September 7 and 11.
This is seen as a sign of cultural and political revival, in a region where festivals and other cultural productions have been highly censored by governments.
Since last January, North Africa and sections of the Arab world have experienced revolutionary protests that have shaken the power bases, loosening up earlier realities in a way that has widened spaces. This festival is one such space.
Set to screen at the events are professionals from all the countries in the region- Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Libya and Mauritania- but Egypt, whose Cairo International Film Festival was put off as a result of an economic crunch that has hit the country, will is not be participating officially.
Initially Nabeul Film Nights, the event is entirely dedicated to the cinema of the Maghreb as a way of bringing the region under one; of a dream that has been differed over the years, especially due to conflicting interests by leaders.
With a freer environment thanks to the Arab Revolt that has swept through the region, bands of artistes seem to be pushing the regional dream, going back to the initial regional plan of a united Maghreb.
At the screenings under different categories in the festival, debate on region's identity is expected to dominate the festival headlines. Inclusion of co-productions between Maghreb and Europe and the Berber identity issue are some of the provocative items on the programme.
Email: mansourihassouna@yahoo.fr
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