Where the Wind Comes From Wins Best Experimental Film at the Septimius Awards 2025

The Tuschinski Theater in Amsterdam, a monument to cinematic history, was the vibrant host for the 2025 Septimius Awards ceremony on the evening of September 4th. Amidst a glittering international audience, the Tunisian-French-Qatari production, Where the Wind Comes From, secured one of the evening’s most prestigious honours, winning the award for Best Experimental Film. This victory not only marks a significant milestone for the film's creative team but also shines a spotlight on the rich and innovative storytelling emerging from North Africa.

The Septimius Awards, which champions global diversity and recognizes excellence across film, television, and music, has established itself as a truly international platform. The 2025 edition, spanning two days of industry discussions and culminating in the grand ceremony, showcased talent from Europe, the Americas, Asia, Oceania, and Africa. Where the Wind Comes From, directed and written by Amel Guellaty, distinguished itself from a strong field of nominees in the Experimental Film category, a testament to its unique vision and boundary-pushing narrative style.

The film, which premiered earlier in the year at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival as part of the World Cinema Dramatic Competition, has been lauded for its compelling blend of comedy, drama, and surreal visual flourishes. It chronicles the journey of two lifelong friends in Tunisia, the rebellious 19-year-old Alyssa and the quieter, artistic 23-year-old Mehdi, as they embark on a tumultuous road trip to Djerba. Their destination is an art contest that represents a possible escape and a new life in Europe, but the journey itself becomes a profound test of their friendship and a confrontation with the uncertain realities facing Tunisian youth.

The experimental nature of the film, which imbues everyday moments with a distinctive, often dream-like quality, captured the imagination of the Septimius Awards jury. It’s a work that leverages artistic freedom to explore complex themes of aspiration, resilience, and the desire to break free from societal and economic constraints. The film’s success in this category highlights the growing appetite within the international film community for innovative forms that move beyond traditional genre confines, proving that a heartfelt, politically resonant story can be delivered through a non-traditional lens.

The Tunisian film’s presence extended beyond its win for Best Experimental Film, with its leading cast members, Eya Bellagha and Slim Baccar, also receiving significant international recognition. Both were nominated in the highly competitive regional categories: Bellagha for Best African Actress and Baccar for Best African Actor. Their nominations were a powerful acknowledgement of their compelling performances as the two protagonists, Alyssa and Mehdi, whose undeniable chemistry and organic portrayal of friendship form the emotional core of the narrative.

Eya Bellagha’s portrayal of Alyssa, the street-smart hustler with an unwavering drive, resonated deeply, placing her alongside a formidable group of African acting talent. Likewise, Slim Baccar's nuanced performance as the introverted Mehdi, a dreamer with artistic ambitions, earned him a spot among the continent's finest actors. While the awards for Best African Actress and Best African Actor ultimately went to Nisrin Erradi for Everybody Loves Touda and Idir Benaibouche for Front Row respectively, the nominations for Bellagha and Baccar represent a major victory in exposure and validation for their work. Their recognition is a testament to the rising profile of North African cinema and its performers on the global stage.

The Septimius Awards 2025 served as a celebratory nexus for international cinema, and the triumph of Where the Wind Comes From stood out as a beacon of artistic risk-taking and cultural authenticity. The win for Best Experimental Film—a category that prizes originality and boundary-pushing—signals that the world is ready for the distinctive, urgent, and creative narratives that Amel Guellaty and her cast and crew have brought forth. The entire production team, hailing from Tunisia, France, and Qatar, can now celebrate this significant honour, confirming the film’s place as a memorable and vital piece of 2025 international cinema. The film's critical success at the Septimius Awards in the majestic setting of the Tuschinski Theater is poised to inspire a new wave of experimental filmmaking across the African continent and beyond.