Where the Wind Comes From

Alyssa and Mehdi are young, smart and restless. Like so many others of their generation, they dream of something bigger than the life that seems set for them. When Alyssa discovers an art competition on the island of Djerba, she persuades her best friend to go on a spontaneous journey through Tunisia. It will be the beginning of a road movie filled with quirky encounters, unexpected detours and new realizations.

In her feature film debut, Amel Guellaty captures a Tunisia seen through a generation that has grown up in the wake of the Arab Spring. Beneath the light and humorous surface hides an accurate portrait of young people navigating between financial constraints, social expectations and the dream of freedom.

With a vivid visual expression, sharp dialogue and great love for his characters, Guellaty unites coming-of-age narrative, roadmovie and community portraiture. The result is a charming and melancholy film about friendship, identity and the desire to find one's own way in a world that does not always give way to dreams.

The film won the award for Best Arabic Feature Film at the El Gouna Film Festival and the Golden Bee Award for Best Film at the Mediterrane Film Festival.

Director: Amel Guellaty
Starring: Eya Bellagha, Slim Baccar, Lobna Noomene
Country/year: Tunisia, Qatar, France, 2025
Running time: 100 min.
Formato: DCP
Language: English subtitles
Age limit: Allowed for children over 15

Part of a series: Arab votes 2026
This year's program emphasizes voices that challenge accustomed notions. From Tunisia to Sudan, from Palestine to Syria, we meet filmmakers who insist on telling their own stories and creating new images of the region.