Overview
The Journeyes Cinematographiques de Carthage (JCC), also known as the Carthage Film Festival or Carthage Film Days, is the oldest film festival in Africa and the Arab world. Founded in 1966 in Tunis, Tunisia, the festival is dedicated to Arab and African cinema. It was originally biennial (alternating with the Carthage Theatre Festival) but became an annual event in 2014. The 36th edition took place from December 13 to 20, 2025, with Tarek Ben Chaabane as executive director.
The festival's main competition is restricted to films from African and Arab countries. The top prize is the Tanit d'Or (Golden Tanit), named after the ancient Carthaginian goddess Tanit. The 2024 (35th edition) Golden Tanit for feature fiction was awarded to "Red Path" by Lotfi Achour (Tunisia), which also won the Audience Prize. The 2024 edition was held December 14 to 21, chaired by Ferid Boughedir, with Lamia Belkaïd Guiga as artistic director.
The JCC is organized by a directing committee under the Tunisian Ministry of Culture. It is not FIAPF-accredited. The festival's official languages are French, Arabic, and English. Opening and closing ceremonies are held at the Theatre Municipal de Tunis (Municipal Theater of Tunis).
Submission Details
Submissions are made through the festival's official portal, not FilmFreeway.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Submission Platform | inscription.jcctunisie.org |
| Submission Fee | Free (no entry fee for competition sections) |
| Eligibility Window | Films completed after January 1, 2025 (for the 2025 edition) |
| Competition Eligibility | African and Arab films only (official competition) |
| Screener Format | Digital screener via submission portal |
| Subtitle Requirement | French or Arabic subtitles; English accepted |
| Website | jcctunisie.org |
For the 2025 (36th) edition, the feature film competition submission deadline was September 15, 2025. The 2024 edition extended its deadline to September 25, 2024. Deadlines are typically in September for a December festival. The official competition is reserved for African and Arab films in the following categories: feature-length fiction, short fiction (under 30 minutes), feature-length documentary, and short documentary.
The Cine Promesse competition is restricted to African and Arab film school productions. The Carthage Pro section includes the Chabaka workshop (for projects in development) and Takmil workshop (for films in post-production seeking completion support).
Premiere Status Requirements
The JCC does not require a world premiere for all competition sections, but films should not have had their Tunisian theatrical release before the festival. The official competition typically expects at least an African or Arab premiere. Check the festival's regulations on the submission portal for current requirements, as rules may vary by section and edition.
Competition Sections and Categories
Based on the 2024 and 2025 editions:
- Official Feature Film Competition - 12 Arab and African fiction features competing for the Tanit (Gold, Silver, Bronze)
- Official Short Film Competition - Arab and African fiction short films under 30 minutes, competing for Tanit awards
- Documentary Competition - Arab and African feature and short documentaries, competing for Tanit awards
- Cine Promesse - school films from African and Arab film schools, judged by an international jury
- National Competition (Tunisia) - separate competition for Tunisian films (Best Feature, Best Short, Best Documentary)
- Panorama Section - non-competitive Arab and African films
- International Section - recent international films of artistic quality, non-competitive
- Tribute / Retrospective - programs honoring pioneers of African and Arab cinema
- Carthage Pro - professional section with Chabaka (development workshop), Takmil (post-production workshop), Carthage Talks, and Meet the Talents
Awards and Prizes
The JCC awards Tanit prizes in Gold, Silver, and Bronze across multiple categories. The festival does not publish specific cash prize amounts in its publicly available regulations. The primary value of a Tanit award is cultural and industry recognition within African and Arab cinema circuits.
2024 Feature Film Competition Winners:
- Golden Tanit: "Red Path" by Lotfi Achour (Tunisia)
- Silver Tanit: "To a Land Unknown" by Mahdi Fleifel (Palestine)
- Bronze Tanit: "Demba" by Mamadou Dia (Senegal)
- Special Jury Mention: "Rambo. Mr. for Haven Seeking" by Khaled Mansour (Egypt)
- Audience Award (ex aequo): "Red Path" by Lotfi Achour (Tunisia) and "Salma" by Joud Said (Syria)
2024 Documentary Competition Winners:
- Golden Tanit (Feature): "A Fidai Film" by Kamal Aljafari (Palestine)
- Golden Tanit (Short): "Les derniers jours avec Eliane" by Mehdi Hajri (Tunisia)
2024 Short Film Competition Winners:
- Golden Tanit: "Nothing Happen After That" by Ibrahim Omar (Sudan)
- Silver Tanit: "Better Than Earth" by Sherif Elbendary (Egypt)
- Bronze Tanit: "Bord a bord" by Sahar El Euchi (Tunisia)
2024 Artistic Awards:
- Best Actor: Sammy Lechea for "The Vanishing" by Karim Moussaoui (Algeria)
- Best Actress: Sulef Fawakherji for "Salma" by Joud Said (Syria)
- Best Screenplay: Bode Asiyanbi for "Man is Dead" by Awam Ampa (Nigeria)
- Best Photography: Mostafa El Kashef for "The Village Next to Paradise" by Mo Harawe (Somalia)
The Tahar Cheriaa Prize is awarded for a first work presented in the official selection.
Past Winners
The Golden Tanit has been awarded since the first edition in 1966. Key winners:
- 2025 (36th): The Stories (Egypt), dir. Abu Bakr Shawky
- 2024 (35th): Red Path (Tunisia), dir. Lotfi Achour
- 2022: Tug of War (Tanzania), dir. Amil Shivji
- 2021: Feathers (Egypt), dir. Omar El Zohairy
- 2010: Microphone (Egypt), dir. Ahmad Abdalla
- 1994: The Silences of the Palace (Tunisia), dir. Moufida Tlatli
- 1990: Halfaouine (Tunisia), dir. Ferid Boughedir
- 1988: Wedding in Galilee (Palestine), dir. Michel Khleifi
- 1982: The Wind (Mali), dir. Souleymane Cisse
- 1966: Black Girl (Senegal), dir. Ousmane Sembene
Notable Alumni Films
Several JCC winners went on to wider international recognition:
- Black Girl (1966 Golden Tanit) - Ousmane Sembene's debut, now a landmark of African cinema
- The Silences of the Palace (1994 Golden Tanit) - Moufida Tlatli's debut won the Camera d'Or at Cannes
- Feathers (2021 Golden Tanit) - won the Critics' Week Grand Prize at Cannes before taking the Tanit
- Tug of War (2022 Golden Tanit) - became Tanzania's Academy Award submission
- To a Land Unknown (2024 Silver Tanit) - premiered at Cannes Directors' Fortnight 2024
African and Arab Cinema Context
The JCC was founded in 1966 by Tahar Cheriaa, a Tunisian cultural official, during a period of postcolonial cultural institution-building across Africa and the Arab world. The festival was conceived as a platform for Third Cinema and anti-colonial filmmaking, providing a space where African and Arab filmmakers could screen their work to each other and build a shared film culture.
Tunisia's role in Arab cultural politics gives the JCC a specific character. The 2011 revolution that launched the Arab Spring began in Tunisia, and the festival has operated through the country's political transitions. In 2023, the 34th edition was canceled by the Tunisian Ministry of Culture in solidarity with Palestine during the Gaza conflict, a decision that drew mixed reactions from the festival's artistic community.
The JCC is one of three major African film festivals, alongside FESPACO (Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso) and Zuma Film Festival (Abuja, Nigeria). It is the only one focused specifically on both African and Arab cinema, which gives it a unique position bridging sub-Saharan and North African/Middle Eastern film cultures.
Festival History
The first edition of the JCC was held in 1966. The festival was biennial for most of its history, alternating with the Carthage Theatre Festival. It became an annual event in 2014. The festival has run for 36 editions as of 2025.
The 2024 edition was held under the presidency of Ferid Boughedir, a Tunisian film director and critic. The 2025 edition (36th) was directed by Tarek Ben Chaabane.
What Filmmakers Should Know
The JCC is the most historically significant festival for Arab and African filmmakers. If your film is from an African or Arab country, the JCC is one of the most relevant festivals on the circuit. A Tanit award carries cultural weight that translates into regional recognition and can open doors to distribution in Arab and African markets.
The submission process is free, which is unusual for a festival of this stature. Submissions go through the festival's own portal at inscription.jcctunisie.org, not FilmFreeway. Deadlines are typically in mid-September for a December festival. Films must be completed after January 1 of the festival year to be eligible.
For filmmakers with projects in development or post-production, the Carthage Pro section offers practical support. The Chabaka workshop selects projects in development and provides mentorship, while the Takmil workshop selects films in post-production and provides completion support. Both programs include industry networking opportunities.
The festival does not have an attached film market on the scale of Marche du Film or Durban FilmMart. Industry activity happens through Carthage Pro's workshops and networking events rather than a formal market floor. Consider pairing a JCC screening with a market attendance at Durban FilmMart or Cairo International Film Festival's industry days.
The JCC does not accept films from non-Arab, non-African countries in its official competition. International films may screen in the International Section, but this is a curated, non-competitive program.
Submission Tips Specific to This Festival
- French or Arabic subtitles give you an advantage with juries and local audiences, even though English is accepted
- The Carthage Pro Takmil workshop accepts films in post-production; apply early as slots are limited
- The Cine Promesse competition is restricted to films from African and Arab film schools
- The Tahar Cheriaa Prize is awarded for a first work in the official selection - confirm eligibility if your film is a debut
- Deadlines typically fall in mid-September; the festival sometimes extends deadlines, so monitor the portal
Industry Reputation Notes
The JCC holds a unique position as the only major festival bridging African and Arab cinema. The Tanit award carries weight in regional distribution circuits across North Africa and the Middle East. The Carthage Pro workshops, particularly Takmil, have helped films reach completion and secure premieres at Locarno, Cannes, and Venice. The Pan African Federation of Filmmakers (FEPACI) was established at the JCC in 1970, giving the festival a foundational role in South-South film cooperation.
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See Also
Calculate your total festival submission costs and projected return using the Festival ROI Calculator. Estimate your acceptance probability with the Festival Acceptance Odds Estimator. For African and Arab cinema markets, see International Film Markets. For festival circuit strategy, see Film Festival Strategy. Submit through the JCC submission portal or visit jcctunisie.org.
