24/04/2024 - After a four-year hiatus, the much-anticipated Algerian gathering returns with a strong European presence in its programme

The fourth edition of the Annaba Mediterranean Film Festival, which will unspool from 24-30 April in various locations across the seaport city of Annaba, Northeastern Algeria, marks the return of the event after a four-year hiatus. The gathering boasts a strong line-up, featuring 70 films from 18 countries across five sections, including a substantial contingent of European productions and co-productions.

The theme for this year’s edition is “New Vision”, aiming to create a “true international dimension” for the festival by showcasing the best productions from the Mediterranean region, and encouraging dialogue between national and international producers.

Three juries have been appointed to evaluate the films competing for the prestigious Golden Gazelle across the different categories. Renowned Turkish writer-director Nuri Bilge Ceylan (About Dry Grasses [+see also:
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interview: Nuri Bilge Ceylan
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interview: Nuri Bilge Ceylan
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interview: Mohamed Ben Attia
film profile] by Mohamed Ben Attia, which world-premiered in the Orizzonti section last year; Daaaaaali! [+see also:
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film profile] by Quentin Dupieux, presented Out of Competition; and Io Capitano [+see also:
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film profile] by Matteo Garrone, which vied for the 2023 Golden Lion, and won the Award for Best Director and the Marcello Mastroianni Award for Best New Talent. Also competing at the festival are a couple of films from the Berlinale, including this year’s Forum entry True Chronicles of the Blida Joinville Psychiatric Hospital in the Last Century, when Dr Frantz Fanon Was Head of the Fifth Ward between 1953 and 1956 [+see also:
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interview: Álvaro Gago
film profile] by Álvaro Gago, presented in the Panorama section in 2023. A clutch of titles from the Balkans will also be contending for the Golden Gazelle, such as Hôtel Pula [+see also:
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film profile] by Andrej Korovljev, One of Us by Ergys Meta and Grandpa Goes South [+see also:
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film profile] by Vinci Vogue Anzlovar. Rounding off the selection of European productions in the competitive feature-film strand, we find La seconda via by Alessandro Garilli and The Teacher [+see also:
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Moreover, Italy has been announced as the guest of honour this year. Starting with the opening film, A Brighter Tomorrow [+see also:
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film profile] by Nanni Moretti, Italian cinema “will be celebrated through screenings of classic and contemporary movies, conferences and an exhibition”, welcoming renowned directors, producers, actors and film critics.

“The Pearl of the Mediterranean”, a parallel strand showcasing female directors who have stood out on account of their innovation and dedication to filmmaking, features a total of five European co-productions: Anatomy of a Fall [+see also:
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interview: Justine Triet
film profile] by Justine Triet, Four Daughters [+see also:
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interview: Kaouther Ben Hania
film profile] by Kaouther Ben Hania, Jeanne du Barry [+see also:
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film profile] by Maiwenn, Iman by Korinna Avraamidou and Kyriakos Tofaridis, and La Chimera [+see also:
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film profile] by Alice Rohrwacher. Additionally, the festival is presenting the new “Viva Palestine” section, organised in collaboration with the Palestinian Film Institute, along with various special screenings.

In addition to the film programme, the Algerian gathering will host Annaba Film Industry, where 12 candidates will pitch local projects in two categories: Script Development Assistance and Production Assistance. Aiming to create a platform for the exchange and sharing of experiences, this edition will also feature various conferences, workshops and master classes, bringing together film professionals from the Mediterranean Basin and beyond.

The full programme can be found on the festival’s official website.