Oran Arab Film Festival: Official Feature Film, Documentary Competition Kicks Off
The official competition for feature films and documentaries was launched Friday evening in Oran, the capital of western Algeria, as part of the 13th edition of the Oran International Arab Film Festival, in the presence of numerous cinema enthusiasts.
As part of the event, the audience was able to view four cinematic works: “El Kantara” and “Al Moustaamara” in the feature film category, and “Madaniaaao” and “La couleur du phosphate” in the feature documentary category, under the supervision of two separate juries composed of prominent Arab cinema figures.
The feature film competition opened with the screening of “El Kantara” by Tunisian director Walid Mattar, an international co-production. The film tells the story of young director Fouad, who, accompanied by two young women, shoots a music video, but events take an unexpected turn that completely disrupts their lives.
The second film, “Al Moustaamara” (The Colony), by Egyptian director and producer Mohamed Rachad, also a co-production, narrates the story of two brothers who, after their father’s death in a work accident, are offered compensation by the factory management in exchange for abandoning any legal claims. As they continue working, they begin to doubt the accidental nature of their father’s death.
In the feature documentary category, screened at the cinematheque, the competition opened with Madaniaaao by Sudanese director Mohamed Sobhi. The documentary traces the journey of three young Sudanese against the backdrop of the upheavals affecting their country.
The second documentary, La couleur du phosphate, by Tunisian director Ridha Tlili, highlights the difficult daily life of a mining worker who endures the harshness of existence.
A total of 34 films are competing in the official selection out of approximately 63 films being screened as part of the 13th edition of the Oran International Arab Film Festival, which continues until November 5. The event is organized by the festival’s secretariat under the patronage of the Ministry of Culture and Arts, with the support of the Oran Wilaya and contributions from several partners.
