My role at the helm of this festival’s artistic direction is far from a mere logistical task or institutional duty. It is, above all, a clear and heartfelt return to the source of my first passion — to that deep conviction that cinema is not just a visual art, but a horizon for thought, a refuge for dreams, a language powerful enough to build bridges between people, across all distances and borders.
From Algiers to Nouakchott, through a journey shaped by academic and professional experiences in teaching, journalism, cultural policy, criticism, programming, and management, my path has intersected with cinema for over thirty years. I have embraced it as a subject of research, a space for critique, a tool for education and cultural advocacy, a platform for social transformation. And I’ve never stopped asking the fundamental question: how do we restore cinema to its rightful place as a vital force in building critical consciousness and a vibrant society?
From this starting point, we strive to ensure that the Algiers International Film Festival remains true to its original soul — deeply rooted in its city and its context, carrying both beauty and meaning. We envision it as a living space that celebrates stories and visions, a gathering place for filmmakers, critics, audiences, and dreamers — from Algeria and around the world — in a rhythm of questioning, joy, and discovery.
We invite you, from December 4 to 10, 2025, to join us for this twelfth edition: a living encounter, a shared journey, a celebration of what cinema offers at its highest — its power to connect people, places, and imaginations through a thread of love… in a renewed Algeria, wide open to the future.
Nabila Rezaïg
Artistic Director
Algiers International Film Festival