Where the Wind Comes From is a 2025 Tunisian, French and Qatari co-production written and directed by Amel Guellaty. The film is a coming-of-age road movie that explores youth, mobility and artistic ambition. It places contemporary Tunisian cinema within a wider North African and international context. Its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, where it competed in the World Cinema Dramatic Competition, introduced Guellaty’s work to an international audience.

A journey from Tunisia to Djerba

The story follows Alyssa, a rebellious and imaginative 19-year-old woman, and Mehdi, her older, more reserved friend. Together, they travel across Tunisia towards the island of Djerba after discovering an art competition that could offer them a way out of their difficult circumstances. Their journey is both physical and personal. As they move across the country, they confront uncertainty, ambition and questions about their future.

The road movie format allows the film to explore the transition between adolescence and adulthood. Alyssa and Mehdi find themselves caught between their current lives and the possibilities ahead. Their journey also raises questions about belonging and escape, examining the tension between staying connected to one’s home and seeking opportunities elsewhere.

A screenplay grounded in everyday life

Guellaty’s screenplay avoids melodrama and simple political messages. Instead, the film combines humour, tenderness and quiet disappointment. Its dialogue reflects the frustrations of a younger generation without relying on direct political commentary. Rather than portraying heroic rebels or characters consumed by despair, Guellaty focuses on young people facing contradictions, making impulsive decisions and showing unexpected kindness. These everyday experiences make the story feel authentic. As a result, the film reflects a wider trend in contemporary Arab cinema towards intimate stories that explore daily life without imposing a clear moral or ideological message.

Between realism and imagination

Visually, the film combines realism with poetic elements. Cinematographer Frida Marzouk captures Tunisia’s landscapes without presenting them as exotic scenery or symbols of hardship. Instead, urban outskirts, roadside settings and open horizons suggest both possibility and confinement. These locations reflect the protagonists’ uncertain circumstances. While the landscapes offer the promise of escape, they also reveal the limits of their surroundings. Meanwhile, fantasy sequences and playful visual moments provide glimpses into the characters’ inner worlds. These scenes complement the film’s realism and show how imagination can help people cope with difficult circumstances.

Performances shaped by friendship and solidarity

The performances also contribute to the film’s emotional impact. Eya Bellagha and Slim Baccar bring depth to their roles through subtle expressions and restrained acting. Their chemistry gives the story its emotional foundation. Rather than romanticizing the friendship between Alyssa and Mehdi, the film explores their shared vulnerabilities, mutual expectations and occasional misunderstandings. Their relationship develops naturally through their experiences and interactions. As their journey unfolds, their disagreements reveal how difficult it can be to maintain trust when the future remains uncertain. Ultimately, their friendship highlights the importance of solidarity when opportunities are limited.

Critical reception and understated social commentary

International critics have responded positively to the film, particularly its combination of social commentary and lightness of tone. Reviews have also praised Guellaty’s direction and her ability to balance humour, realism and fantasy. Despite these changes in tone, the story maintains its coherence. Moreover, the humour does not diminish the seriousness of the issues explored. On the contrary, it allows the characters’ frustrations to emerge without turning the film into an explicit political statement. Together, these qualities contribute to the film’s emotional sensitivity and distinctive approach to contemporary social realities.

The film’s presence at international festivals, alongside recognition at Mediterranean and Arab cinema events, has also introduced its story to audiences beyond Tunisia. Through these screenings, Where the Wind Comes From has reached wider audiences interested in contemporary cinema from the region. Its circulation across European and Middle Eastern cultural spaces reflects the film’s dual identity. On the one hand, the story remains rooted in Tunisian experiences. On the other, it explores youth, freedom and ambition in ways that resonate across borders. Consequently, international audiences can connect with the protagonists’ struggles while discovering a perspective on Tunisia that extends beyond familiar political narratives and stereotypes. More broadly, the film illustrates how international co-productions and festival networks can bring locally rooted stories to wider audiences without losing their cultural identity.

Hakka Distribution and the film’s national release

The national tour and distribution of Where the Wind Comes From have been led by Hakka Distribution, an independent distributor operating within Tunisia’s film industry. Beyond its initial theatrical release, the company’s work on the film extends its reach to wider audiences through a broader distribution and screening strategy.

In Tunisia, films can reach audiences through several channels. Alongside cinemas, festivals and cultural venues provide additional spaces for screenings and audience engagement. As a result, these platforms can help bring films to viewers across different regions and cultural settings.

Through Hakka Distribution’s involvement, Where the Wind Comes From has the opportunity to reach audiences beyond the festival circuit. Moreover, its distribution places the film within Tunisia’s wider cinematic conversation, giving viewers further opportunities to discover Amel Guellaty’s perspective on youth, friendship and the search for a different future.

Where the Wind Comes From: Film details

General information

Title: Where the Wind Comes From
Original title: Tunis–Djerba / Wayn Yakhizna al Riyh
Year: 2025
Countries: Tunisia, France and Qatar
Language: Arabic (Tunisian dialect)
Runtime: 99 minutes
Genres: Drama, comedy, road movie

Direction and writing

Director: Amel Guellaty
Screenplay: Amel Guellaty

Production

Producers:

Asma Chiboub
Karim Aitouna

Co-producer: Chadi Abo

Production companies:

Atlas Vision Productions
Haut les Mains Productions

Technical crew

Director of photography: Frida Marzouk

Editing:

Amel Guellaty
Ghalya Lacroix
Malek Kammoun

Music: Omar Aloulou
Sound: Aymen Labidi
Production design and art direction: Khalil Khoudja

Cast

Eya Bellagha as Alyssa
Slim Baccar as Mehdi
Sondos Belhassen
Lobna Noomene
Lobna Mlika
Lassaad Jamoussi
Fatma Felhi
Fatma Sfar
Oumaima Bahri

Synopsis

Alyssa, a rebellious 19-year-old, and Mehdi, her introverted, artistic friend, feel trapped in their small Tunisian town. When Alyssa discovers an art competition in Djerba that could offer them a way out, the two set off on a road trip across Tunisia.

As they travel, their friendship is tested. Their hopes for freedom, self-expression and a different future meet the realities of the world around them.

Festivals and screenings

World premiere: Sundance Film Festival, World Cinema Dramatic Competition
International Film Festival Rotterdam
Istanbul International Film Festival
Arab world premiere: El Gouna Film Festival
Toronto Arab Film Festival
Mediterranean Film Festival

Awards

Gouna Star: Best Arab Narrative Film, El Gouna Film Festival

Golden Bee: Best Feature Film, Mediterranean Film Festival

Best Narrative Feature: Toronto Arab Film Festival

Tunisian Movie