For the past few months, the Tunisian Cinémathèque has remained without direction. It is the third time in a few years that this institution has seen its director resign.
Despite her dynamism, the quality of her work and her know-how, Leila Ben Achour resigned from her management position at the head of the Tunisian Cinémathèque.
This is the third time that this situation has arisen since the two previous directors have also resigned.
Indeed, both Hichem Ben Ammar and Tarek Ben Chaabane threw in the towel, the first after more than three years and the following after only two years.
However, in their case too, it is not the content of their work that was in question. In fact, since its creation, the Tunisian cinematheque has suffered from a conflict of skills which engages as well the National Center for Cinema and Image (CNCI) as well as the Cinema Department at the Ministry of Cultural Affairs.
These two bodies consider having a right to look or even a guardianship on the Tunisian cinematheque considered to be their extension. This functional duplication has often turned to the quarrel of bell towers leaving the management of the Tunisian cinematheque torn and private of some of its attributions.
It is much to fear that this instability will persist until the administrative vagueness lasts. In the meantime, the Tunisian Cinémathèque has lost three indisputable skills and is found in the fold of civil servants of the Culture Department.
Who will remedy this situation to finally give the momentum that it expects to the Tunisian Cinémathèque?
