ANNABA - Over 55 films from 20 countries will compete in the 6th Mediterranean Film Festival, set to take place in Annaba from April 24 to 30, with Egyptian cinema as guest of honour, festival commissioner Mohamed Allal said on Sunday.

Speaking at a press conference held at the Seybouse International Hotel, Allal noted that the festival will include the premiere screenings of 13 foreign films and 53 Algerian productions.

He said that various schools of Mediterranean cinema will be represented at the annual event, noting that the selection of Egyptian cinema as guest of honour is being made in celebration of the centenary of renowned filmmaker Youssef Chahine (1926–2008).

The program includes official competition screenings of feature films, short films, and documentaries at the Azzedine-Medjoubi Regional Theatre and the Annaba Cinematheque, in addition to out-of-competition screenings, Allal added.

The event will also feature the "Annaba Days for the Film Industry," which have drawn 212 cinematic projects, as well as a special competition for films produced using artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, with participation from eight countries, reflecting the festival’s openness to modern technological developments.