Habib Trabelsi, coordinator of the “5/5” project screenings, announced on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, that this initiative is part of an experimental effort to assess how interested the Tunisian public is in watching short films in traditional cinema settings.
In an interview with Tunisie Numérique, Trabelsi explained that Tunisia’s film scene had previously seen similar initiatives, such as the popular short film series “Qsir w Yhayyer”. However, this type of programming came to a halt during the Covid-19 pandemic and has not resumed until now.
Trabelsi emphasized that “5/5” is not a festival or a cultural event, but rather a series of cinematic screenings, set to begin on Saturday, May 24, 2025, in collaboration with four movie theaters across Tunisia. The program will feature five short films, with a total runtime of approximately 90 minutes—equivalent to that of a standard feature film.
The project showcases five unique stories, each directed by a different Tunisian filmmaker. According to Trabelsi, this initiative is part of a broader study on how Tunisian audiences engage with this particular film format, which is often underrepresented despite its creative potential.
He also stressed the importance of giving the wider public access to short films, which often exhibit high artistic quality. Trabelsi called for these works not to be limited to film festivals, cultural centers, or cinema clubs, but to be embraced as part of mainstream cinematic offerings.
With “5/5”, Tunisia takes a step toward rebuilding a deeper connection between filmmakers and audiences through short cinema — concise, creative, and ready to reclaim its place on the big screen.
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