30th October, Tunisia– India showcased its diplomatic and cinematic excellence on the global stage by participating as the ‘Guest of Honour’ at the 12th edition of the Djerba International Festival of Women and Youth Cinema in Tunisia. Held over four days, from 24 to 27 October, the prestigious festival marked a special occasion for India, with its short film ‘Toyaj ’ bringing international recognition to the country.
Directed by Abhijeet Srivastava, the Indian short film ‘Toyaj’ was not only screened at the international festival but also secured the Third Prize in the highly competitive short-film category, marking a significant achievement. The film’s storyline and technical excellence deeply impressed international audiences as well as members of the jury.
The Embassy of India in Tunisia wrote on the social media platform ‘X’, “VICTORY! White Lotus takes home 3rd Prize in the Official Short Film Competition at the 12th Djerba International Film Festival for Women & Youth Cinema! Big congrats to director Abhijit Srivastava and the team! ”
Dedicated to women and young filmmakers, this international cinematic extravaganza brought together artistic works from countries across the world. In addition to India, the festival screened 68 outstanding films from 38 countries, including Algeria, Morocco, Lebanon, Egypt, Syria, Bahrain, Qatar, Croatia, the United States, France and Palestine.
India’s special recognition as the ‘Guest of Honour’ at the festival, coupled with the remarkable success of ‘Toyaj’, has further strengthened the position of Indian cinema on the global stage. The achievement highlights the important role of cinema in deepening cultural exchanges and encouraging artistic collaboration between India and Tunisia. Diplomatic circles believe that the event could pave the way for new avenues of cooperation between filmmakers from the two countries.
