Algerian Radio
The first National Short Film Days, "Ayam Short Film," scheduled from July 25 to 29, opened on Saturday in Algiers in the presence of several actors and professional directors, as well as many aspiring young filmmakers.
Hosted at the Algiers Cinematheque, these days dedicated to short films were organized under the patronage of the Minister of Culture and Arts, Mrs. Malika Bendouda, by the Algerian Cinematography Center (CAC), in collaboration with the Algerian Center for Cinema Development (CADC) and the "Seventh Art Club" group.
Open to fiction, documentary, and animated short films, the event will feature the screening of "about thirty films, selected by the screening committee from over a hundred submissions," according to the director of the Algiers Cinematheque, Adel Mekhalfia.
Mr. Mekhalfia was joined by Said Mehdaoui and Badra Hafiane, among other directors and organizers of the event, as well as promising young filmmakers, who noted that the young talents whose works were selected for this first edition "were trained two years ago at the Algiers Cinematheque."
Reiterating the need to periodically offer these young people the "opportunity to present their work," the organizers highlighted the "importance of these gatherings" which, they said, "foster connections" with professionals of the 7th Art and allow for the "emergence of new synergies."
Following the official opening of the "Ayam Short Film" event, which was also attended by the director of the CADC, Mr. Zineddine Arkab, the short films "Boualem Has Heard It All" by Aziz Boukrouni and Khaled Bounab, "Between" by Illias Boukhemoucha, "Yaqin" by Abderrahim Safir, "Unaddressed Letter" by Nabil Lahmar, "Zahra" by Brahim Dendane, and "Damu-Ki" by Youcef Benghanem opened the screening cycle of this first edition.
Invited to this event, the public will be able to enjoy an average of six short films per day from several regions of Algeria. Alongside the screenings, attendees can also participate in discussions led by academics and practitioners of the seventh art during lectures addressing various themes related to the short film universe.
Among the topics to be discussed during these lectures are "film criticism," "archive digitization," "the role of cine-clubs," and "the impact of artificial intelligence on the poster design profession."
Tributes to the late filmmakers Anis Djaad and Arezki Larbi are also on the program of this first edition, which is characterized by "direct exchange and interaction among lovers of the 7th Art," filmmaker Said Mehdaoui remarked.
Earlier, a minute of silence was observed by all those present in tribute to the late great director Lamine Merbah, who passed away on Friday at the age of 80.
The organizers then reiterated the need to "give more visibility to short films," highlighting their "importance in the cinematographic and cultural landscape."
