Tunisia Showbiz Latest News and Updates

Deadline’s Contenders Film: International award-season event launches Saturday beginning at 9 a.m. PT, the latest in our series of showcases that this time turns the focus toward global cinema via discussions with the casts and creatives of 12 movies submitted by their countries for the 2024 Academy Awards’ International Feature race.

Leo Barraclough International Features Editor MAD Solutions has acquired world sales rights to OSN’s first-ever original feature, “Yellow Bus,” which world premiered at the Toronto Film Festival. As well as world sales, MAD Solutions will handle Middle East and North Africa theatrical distribution, while OSN will handle all other MENA rights.

Rafa Sales Ross Guest Contributor The third edition of the Red Sea Souk, the market arm of the Red Sea Film Festival, awarded its top prize of $100,000 to “The Return of the Prodigal Son” by Rani Massalha. Another eight feature projects and two TV series were awarded cash and in-kind prizes as part of the Red Souk Awards.

Leo Barraclough International Features Editor MAD Celebrity — the talent management subsidiary of the pan-Arab film and TV company MAD Solutions — has signed Tunisian actor and writer Majd Mastoura, French Lebanese actor Isabelle Zighondi, and Saudi actor, producer and director Amawri Ezayah to the roster of its MAD Rising Celebrity unit, and visual artist, producer and DOP Mostafa El Kashef, who will be joining MAD Crew Celebrity. Mastoura is best known for his work on Mohamed Ben Attia’s “Hedi” — for which he received a Silver Bear for best actor from the Berlin Film Festival, making him the first-ever Arab actor to receive the award — and Léonor Serraille’s “Mother and Son,” which world premiered in Competition at the Cannes Film Festival.

Moroccan filmmaker Asmae El Moudir has made history at the 20th edition of Morocco’s Marrakech Film Festival as the first local director to win its top prize with her hybrid documentary The Mother Of All Lies.

Leo Barraclough International Features Editor MAD Solutions — the Middle East and North Africa region’s leading sales agent and distributor of Arabic-language films — has acquired the world sales rights for Tunisian director Nada Mezni Hafaiedh’s debut feature “Take My Breath,” which world premiered in the International Competition of the Warsaw Film Festival this fall. Hafaiedh’s film, which has found great success in Tunisian cinemas over the past month, follows the life of a young seamstress named Shams, whose tranquil life unravels when their intersex identity is exposed.

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Film Festival stands as testimony to the kingdom’s unwavering drive to become a film and TV industry powerhouse amid regional conflicts, political turbulence and societal changes. The Israel-Hamas war caused cancellations of several movie celebrations across the Arab world, including the Cairo Film Festival and Tunisia’s Carthage Film Days.

As the voting window for the Oscar shortlists approaches, Academy members are considering Kaouther Ben Hania’s film Four Daughters in not one, but two categories: Best Documentary Film and Best International Feature.

The Red Sea International Film Festival, has unveiled the 26 projects selected as part of its industry-focused Red Sea Souk Market, running from December 2 to 5.

Finnish filmmaker Aki Kaurismäki’s Fallen Leaves and UK director Jonathan Glazer The Zone Of Interest lead the nominations in the main categories of the 36th European Film Awards which will take place in Berlin on December 9.

Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea International Film Festival has unveiled it 2023 line-up and theme as it maintains its third edition against the backdrop of the escalating Israel-Gaza Conflict. (scroll down for full list)

John Hopewell Chief International Correspondent Tunisian Youssef Chebbi’s “Plague,” Moroccan Adnane Baraka’s “We Don’t Forget” and Meryam Joobeur’s “Motherhood” feature among buzz titles at this year’s Marrakech Festival Atlas Workshops, which will have Martin Scorsese as their official patron. Consolidated as a key platform for Moroccan, Arab and African projects and pix in production made by a new generation of filmmakers and created by Marrakech Festival artistic director Remi Bonhomme, the Atlas Workshops unspool Nov. 27-30.

The Marrakech International Film Festival has unveiled the 25 projects selected for the sixth edition of its industry-focused Atlas Workshops, aimed at nurturing emerging Moroccan, Arab and African talent.

Manchester United and Liverpool need no excuse to squabble - but Hannibal Mejbri irking Jurgen Klopp during an early cameo against the Merseysiders proved to be a sign of things to come.

Good afternoon Insiders. We’re back after a busy week in Cannes and Max Goldbart is here helming your weekly dose of news and analysis. Read on and sign up here.

Hen Mazzig For decades, movie and television stars have held a unique monopoly on cultural and social influence. With their lavish lifestyles, exquisite fashion and high status, these celebrity icons persuade public perceptions, both on and off-screen. While this undoubtedly remains true today, access to the internet and digital platforms have introduced us to the intricate tapestry of human identities.

La Catrina, looking down on me. Her name’s Lily, as her dress is patterned in black-and-white lilies. She’s reminding me not only that her special holiday approaches, but to take a moment to appreciate National Hispanic Heritage Month.

easyJet Holidays is giving customers a chance to snap up a £99 package holiday as part of its latest offer. As part of its new £99 collection, the travel firm has launched a limited number of deals to popular destinations, including Greece, Spain, Cyprus and Tunisia.

Here are your Manchester United evening headlines for Wednesday, October 4.

Academy Award-nominee Kaouther Ben Hania’s Cannes prize-winning documentary “Four Daughters” won the Golden Eye for Best Documentary at the Cannes Film Festival. Now, Kino Lorber is releasing it this fall in limited release. “Four Daughters” made its World Premiere as the sole Arab film in Competition at the Cannes Film Festival and its North American premiere in the Special Presentations section at the Toronto International Film Festival, and has been submitted as the official Tunisian entry for Best International Feature at the 96th Academy Awards.

There's no doubt about it - Alison Hammond is one of the UK’s most in demand TV personalities and in the coming weeks she's set to liven up our screens on The Great British Bake Off. Pairing up with Noel Fielding, the 48-year-old is sure win the hearts of Bake Off fans across the country, thanks to her humour, warmth and talent. But it hasn’t always been easy for the lovable lady.

Erik ten Hag's decision to start Hannibal Mejbri at Burnley on Saturday evening came as a surprise to many but the 20-year-old's energy was crucial in helping secure a 1-0 win.

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag lauded Hannibal Mejbri's energy in their 1-0 win at Burnley.

Manchester United have a difficult first test to begin their Champions League campaign as they travel to Bayern Munich this evening.

Egypt has selected comedy Voy! Voy! Voy! as its candidate for Best International Feature Film at the 96th Academy Awards.

Morocco has submitted Asmae El Moudir’s The Mother Of All Lies as its candidate for Best International Film at the 96th Academy Awards.

Christian Eriksen said Hannibal Mejbri deserved his moment in the spotlight after scoring his first Manchester United goal in Saturday's 3-1 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion at Old Trafford.

Manchester United’s midfield has been a hot topic in the early weeks of the season.

Players chosen to represent their country at Africa Cup of Nations 2024 could miss up to nine Manchester United games.

Palestinian-French actress Hiam Abbass and her filmmaker daughter Lina Soualem touch down at the Toronto International Film Festival on Monday with documentary Bye Bye Tiberias.

Marta Balaga Move over, Richard Donner. In “Behind the Mountains,” premiering in Venice’s Horizons section, Mohamed Ben Attia makes sure “you’ll believe a man can fly” once again. Although it might not be as graceful.

Alissa Simon Film Critic As you read this, new titles from filmmakers of Tunisian, Moroccan and Franco-Palestinian-Algerian heritage are making their mark at the Venice Film Festival, while Toronto Film Festival will premiere a trio of first features from Saudi Arabia, along with discoveries from the UAE and Palestine, plus a handful of Arab titles screened at Cannes and Venice. Those in the know say that the annual number of Arab films produced has increased along with the emergence of new filmmakers, and that fall festivals such as El Gouna, Marrakech, Cairo and Red Sea will be chockablock with fresh regional titles.

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent Whoopi Goldberg and Jeremy Irvine are set to star in Italian comedy “Leopardi & Co.,” directed by Federica Biondi and produced by Franco-Tunisian film and TV entrepreneur Tarak Ben Ammar’s Eagle Pictures. Shooting on the film is currently underway in the town of Recanati, which is known to many Italians as the birthplace of one the country’s greatest poets, Giacomo Leopardi. Goldberg plays the agent of a U.S.

Tunisia has picked Kaouther Ben Hania’s Four Daughters, which debuted in competition at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, as its entry for the Best International Feature Film category at the 2024 Oscars. 

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent Tunisian auteur Mohamed Ben Attia’s new work “Behind the Mountains,” which will soon launch from the Venice Film Festival’s Horizons section, sees the director add a supernatural element to the social dramas for which he is known. Attia’s third feature reunites the director with Majd Mastoura, star of his breakout drama “Hedi” — about a repressed young man ignited by a free-spirited woman — which won best debut and actor honors at the 2016 Berlin Film Festival.