The countdown has started with a lot of anticipation: The Annaba Mediterrean Film Festival will open it's doors welcoming international guests and filmmakers in only 5 days.

The Annaba Mediterranean Film Festival returns for its fifth edition from September 24 to 30, 2025  honoring Spain as a country of focus and featuring 76 films from 20 Mediterranean countries.

Festival director Mohamed Allal announced during a press conference that the event aims to establish Annaba as a hub for cultural dialogue and cinematic exchange, reinforcing its position as the “capital of cinema” on the southern region of the Mediterranean.

Among the participating countries are Palestine, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Spain, Italy, Turkey, and Greece, making the festival a true meeting point for filmmakers from both shores of the Mediterranean.

The official awards include the prestigious Golden Gazelle for Best Feature Film, worth 2.3 million dinars, along with the Jury Prize, Best Director, Best Actor and Actress, Best Screenplay, and the Audience Award. Additional categories include the Golden Gazelle for Best Short Film and Best Documentary (each worth 1.2 million dinars), as well as the Amar Laskri Prize for short documentaries and the newly introduced Artificial Intelligence Award.

A major highlight of this year’s edition is the participation of three Oscar-winning filmmakers who will preside over the official juries—an unprecedented event in Algeria. The juries will oversee competitions in feature films, short films, documentaries, and the new AI category.

This edition will also pay tribute to prominent cinematic figures, including Algerian director El Ghaouti Ben Dedouch, Spanish filmmaker Pilar Joucame, Egyptian actor Khaled El Nabawy, Bosnian director Danis Tanović, and Greek filmmaker Yorgo Voyagis, winner of the 2002 Academy Award.

The festival’s promotional teaser was directed by Yahia Mezahim and features several Algerian actors such as Idir Ben Aibouche, Aziz Boukerouni, Othmane Ben Daoud, Akram Jguim, Lydia Chabout, and Ali Namos. Shot in Annaba, it showcases both local cinematic talent and the city’s cultural landmarks to promote Annaba as a vibrant film and tourism destination.

New initiatives presented at the festival include the “Annaba Talents 2025” competition, as well as workshops dedicated to the development and post-production of feature films.

The Annaba Mediterranean Film Festival (AMFF) was launched in 2016 and it's one of the leading film festivals in North Africa. The AMFF showcases film premieres from established filmmakers as well as young directors from around the world, in a variety of sections.

Film Festival director Mohamed Alal explains:

"In our main Competition, we accept submissions from Mediterranean countries for films that have not yet been released in Algeria (Algerian Premiere), including documentary and short film features.

And for the first time, the Southern Mediterranean Future section will highlight films made by emerging directors from Southern Mediterranean countries, including those from North Africa and the Middle East, who have directed no more than three feature-length films.

Awards & Prizes

"Official Competition - Main Competition: See Rules & Terms"

Mediterranean Competition Section :

Grand Prix : Golden ghazal Trophy, Certificate and 2.3 million DZD (Two million three hundred thousand Algerian dinars)

-Special Jury Prize: Trophy, Certificate

-Award for Best Director: Trophy, Certificate

-Award for Best Actress : Trophy, Certificate

-Award for Best Actor: Trophy, Certificate

-Award for Best Screenplay: Trophy, Certificate

- Audience Award: Trophy, Certificate

Best Short Film :

Golden ghazal Trophy, Certificate and 1.2 million DZD (one million Two hundred thousand Algerian dinars)

Best documentary film :

Golden ghazal Trophy, Certificate and 1.2 million DZD (one million Two hundred thousand Algerian dinars)

Other Competitions :

Ammar El Askri Award - Golden ghazal Trophy, Certificate

"Ammar El Askri Award for Best First Feature (National Competition)

Eligibility:

The competition is open to Algerian filmmakers only.

The film must be a first feature film by the director (i.e., the director must not have previously directed a feature film).

Films should be narrative feature films, with a duration of minimum 60 minutes.

Only films completed in the past 12 months from the submission date are eligible.

The film must have Algerian content or be primarily filmed in Algeria.

There is no participation fee for this competition.

AI award - Golden ghazal Trophy, Certificate

AMMF Artificial Intelligence Film Award (AI Award)

Eligibility:

All submitted films must be original works created by the entrant. You must own or have clearance for all content, including visuals, sound, music, and AI-generated elements.

The film must include significant use of artificial intelligence in the creative process. This may include AI-

Short Films: Typically under 10 minutes.

Best Animated Short - Golden ghazal Trophy, Certificate

Annaba Award for Best Animated Short

I am very honored to be invited to attend the festival, especially as it is my first time to travel to Algeria and discover an unknown land!

To be continued! But next time from Algeria!