Where the Wind Comes From – Tunisia’s Official Entry for the 16th Malmö Arab Film Festival
Where the Wind Comes From, the debut feature by Tunisian director Amel Guellaty, will represent Tunisia in the official competition for narrative feature films at the 16th edition of the Malmö Arab Film Festival (MAFF), taking place from 10–16 April in the Swedish city of Malmö.
The program for this edition, unveiled on Monday, also includes:
- Documentary: To Dream Perhaps by Nidhal Guiga (Tunisia/France) – competing in the documentary section.
- Short film: Salopette by Feryel Ben Boubaker (Tunisia) – competing in the short‑film section.
Together, these titles complete Tunisia’s presence across the three competition categories (feature, documentary, short).
International Co‑Production & Festival Run
Where the Wind Comes From is a co‑production between Tunisia, France, and Qatar. Its international debut began in 2025 with a world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, followed by a European premiere at the International Film Festival Rotterdam, and a national premiere at the Carthage Film Days (Journées cinématographiques de Carthage).
The 99‑minute narrative follows Alyssa and Mehdi, two young friends on a road‑trip from Tunis to Djerba. Their journey explores the hopes and challenges of a generation confronting social fragility and a yearning for emancipation.
At the Carthage Film Days, the film won:
- Audience Award
- Best Screenplay Award
- Critics’ Award (in the parallel competition)
It was released in Tunisian cinemas on 14 January 2026.
Festival Overview
- Total selections: 39 films (22 features, 17 shorts) from 14 Arab countries.
- Co‑productions: Involving 14 Western countries.
- Official competition: 10 narrative features, 7 documentaries, 11 short films.
- Parallel sections: “Arab Nights,” school screenings, “Voices of Sweden,” and a family program.
Founded in 2011, the Malmö Arab Film Festival is regarded as the leading platform for Arab cinema in Europe and a hub for dialogue between Arab and Nordic film‑industry professionals.
Related Reading
Read also: The Trilogy of Nacer Khemir at the Cinémathèque – The Desert Troubadour
Keywords: Where the Wind Comes From, Amel Guellaty, Tunisian cinema, Malmö Arab Film Festival, MAFF 2026, Sundance premiere, Rotterdam Film Festival, Carthage Film Days, Arab film festivals, co‑production Tunisia France Qatar.
