Journees Cinematographiques de Carthage (JCC)
The oldest film festival in Africa and the Arab world, held biennially in Tunis, Tunisia, celebrating African and Arab cinema with competitive programming and a longstanding commitment to Third Cinema traditions.
Overview
The Journees Cinematographiques de Carthage (JCC) is the oldest film festival in Africa and the Arab world. Founded in 1966 in Tunis, Tunisia, the festival is held biennially (in even-numbered years) and celebrates African and Arab cinema with competitive programming. The JCC is distinct from the Carthage Film Festival referenced elsewhere; the JCC (Carthage Film Days) is the original and historic event.
The festival was founded during a period of postcolonial cultural assertion, when African and Arab nations were establishing independent cultural institutions. The JCC was explicitly conceived as a platform for Third Cinema and anti-colonial filmmaking, providing a space for African and Arab filmmakers to show their work to each other and to build a pan-African, pan-Arab film culture.
Tunisia has been a center of progressive Arab cultural politics, and the JCC reflects this heritage. The Tanit d'Or (Golden Tanit) award is named after the ancient Carthaginian goddess and is one of the most historically resonant prizes in African and Arab film culture.
Key Sections
- Arab Film Competition -- films from the Arab world competing for the Tanit Awards
- African Film Competition -- films from sub-Saharan Africa
- Documentary Competition -- nonfiction programming
- Short Film Competition -- Arab and African short films
- Retrospectives -- programs honoring pioneers of African and Arab cinema
What Filmmakers Should Know
The JCC accepts open submissions in its biennial years. For Arab and African filmmakers, the Tanit Awards carry historical weight and cultural significance beyond their practical value as prizes. A Tanit d'Or connects a film to a tradition of African and Arab cinematic resistance that stretches back over five decades.
The festival's Tunis location has been shaped by Tunisia's political history, including the 2011 revolution that launched the Arab Spring. This context gives the JCC particular resonance for politically engaged filmmaking.
Major Awards
- Tanit d'Or (Golden Tanit) -- Best Arab or African Film
- Tanit d'Argent (Silver Tanit) -- Special Jury Prize
- Best Documentary
- Best Short Film
- FIPRESCI Prize
Festival History
JCC was founded in 1966 by Tahar Cheriaa, a Tunisian cinephile and cultural official, with the explicit mission of building a pan-African, pan-Arab film culture. The festival has operated biennially since then, becoming one of the most historically significant events in African and Arab cinema.
See Also
For African and Arab cinema history, see International Film Markets. For festival strategy, see Film Festival Strategy.
