The day after the closing ceremony of the 36th edition of the Carthage Cinematographic Days, which the juries did not attend, director Ibrahim Letaief made public an open letter addressed to the President of the Republic. In this text, written in a respectful and institutional tone, he reviews the circumstances of this incident and warns of its symbolic and cultural implications for a historic festival, a pillar of Tunisia’s cultural influence.
Below is the letter:
Open letter to His Excellency the President of the Republic
Subject: Preservation of the cultural image of Tunisia and the institutional framework of the Carthage Cinematographic Days – 2025 Edition
His Excellency
President of the Tunisian Republic
Please accept, Mr. President of the Republic, the expression of my highest consideration.
I would like to address Your Excellency in my capacity as a Tunisian director, member of one of the juries of the Carthage Film Days 2025, and as a citizen deeply attached to the place occupied by culture in the image and influence of Tunisia, both regionally and internationally.
The Carthage Cinematographic Days, with more than sixty years of existence, are not a simple artistic event. They represent one of the pillars of Tunisian cultural diplomacy, a historic symbol of the dialogue between Arab, African and international cinematographies, as well as a testimony to the continuity of the State in its support for cultural action.
I would like, as a preamble, to salute with the greatest consideration the artistic work accomplished by the director of the festival, as well as the significant efforts made by the entire organizing team. This edition stood out, in its general progress, by a demanding program, an attentive welcome from filmmakers and a sustained relationship with the public, commensurate with the history and prestige of this festival.
However, the facts that occurred during the closing ceremony call, with all due respect to the institutions, for institutional clarification.
It was noted that the official juries, of which I was a part, were not able to go on stage or publicly assume their role when the results were announced, in a context marked by organizational and protocol decisions taken outside the usually established framework.
Furthermore, the course of the closing ceremony was modified, and a prize not included in the official festival regulations was introduced, thus placing the juries in a situation that no longer allows them to exercise their artistic responsibilities in accordance with the rules in force.
Faced with this situation, the juries chose, in a collective, calm and responsible manner, to withdraw themselves from the proceedings of the ceremony. This decision came neither from a personal dispute nor from a desire for escalation, but from a concern for institutional coherence and respect for the independent role entrusted to the juries.
Mr President of the Republic,
These facts, although circumstantial, have aroused great incomprehension within cinematographic circles, both in Tunisia and abroad. The Carthage Film Days are the subject of sustained attention from artists, professionals and international cultural institutions, for whom the clarity of the rules, the independence of the juries and the stability of the institutional framework constitute essential criteria of credibility.
When the organizational framework of a festival of this scale appears weakened, or when artistic bodies find themselves marginalized at the very moment when they should be at the heart of the scene, the image of Tunisia as a country respectful of culture, law and freedom of creation may be affected.
This approach is in no way intended to implicate individuals in particular, but to underline, with all due respect, the need to preserve a clear separation between artistic decision-making and administrative authority, an essential condition for the sustainability of this historic festival and the safeguarding of its international reputation.
The protection of the Carthage Cinematographic Days, respect for their internal regulations and the preservation of their institutional balances are not a sectoral issue. They fully participate in preserving the image of Tunisia and its cultural place in the world.
Please accept, Mr. President of the Republic, the expression of my highest consideration.
Signature :
Ibrahim Letaief
Director
