The Carthage Film Festival has come to an end, and this year’s winners brought us everything from intimate family dramas to urgent, real-world stories. Here’s a look at some of the standout films and the awards they took home.
The Stories — Golden Tanit for Best Film
Country: Egypt
This year’s top prize, the Golden Tanit for Best Film, went to The Stories, directed by Abu Bakr Shawky. Set during President Nasser’s era in Cairo, the film follows Ahmed, a stubborn young pianist, who receives an unexpected letter from Elizabeth, a European classical musician.
Ahmed’s passion for music clashes with his family’s love of football, leading to humorous, frustrating, and heartfelt moments. The film captures the chaos, humor, and dreams of Cairo, showing how small acts of rebellion and personal ambition can ripple through everyday life.
The Voice of Hind Rajab — Honorary Jury Award & Best Actress
Country: Tunisia
Kaouther Ben Hania’s film received an Honorary Jury Award, and Saja Kilani won Best Actress for her powerful performance.
The film follows Red Crescent volunteers responding to a frantic emergency call from Gaza: a six-year-old girl trapped in a car under active fire. As they struggle to keep her safe and coordinate a rescue, the film highlights the tension, urgency, and human compassion involved in life-or-death moments.
My Father’s Scent — Best Decor Award
Country: Egypt
The award for Best Decor went to Mohamed Siam’s Cologne – My Father’s Scent. Starring Ahmed Malek and Kamel El Basha, the film unfolds over a single night in a small apartment, where a father and son confront unresolved tension and long-held resentments.
The intimate, carefully designed setting adds to the emotional intensity, exploring whether, given one last night with a lost loved one, you would choose reconciliation or vengeance.
Hijraa — Best Picture & Best Actor
Country: Saudi Arabia
Hijraa earned Best Picture, with cinematography by Miguel Ioann Littin Menz, and Nawwaf Aldaferi won Best Actor. The story follows twelve-year-old Janna on a journey to Mecca with her strict grandmother, Sitti, and rebellious sister, Sarah, for Hajj.
When Sarah disappears along the way, Janna and Sitti embark on a tense search across Saudi Arabia, uncovering family secrets and intergenerational conflicts. The journey becomes both a physical and emotional odyssey, exploring reconciliation, faith, and the bonds between women in a family.
32 B — Golden Tanit for Best Short Film
Country: Egypt
Directed by Mohamed Taher, 32 B won the Golden Tanit for Best Short Film. The story follows a separated father trying to maintain a relationship with his teenage daughter, led by Mohamed Mamdouh, Hana Shiha, Ahmed Dash, Jessica Hosameldin, and Gehad Hossam El Din.
Through awkward, tender, and sometimes funny moments, the film explores fatherhood, emotional fragility, and the subtle ways family relationships shift over time.
Overall, this year’s festival showcased films that combined strong storytelling with real emotional depth, highlighting the talent and perspectives coming out of the region. These films reminded us why Carthage continues to be a vital platform for voices that deserve to be seen and heard.
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