A creative documentary by Fakhreddine AMRI
 

Produced by Orphalese Films (Tunisia)
 

Estimated length: 90 minutes | Language: Tunisian Arabic | Status: In development

At the heart of this intimate and political documentary lies a simple class photo, rediscovered by chance. Taken in the early 1990s at a primary school in Tunisia during Ben Ali’s dictatorship, this frozen image becomes the starting point of a personal investigation. What happened to those children, raised under the slogans of merit, order, and progress?

Blending personal storytelling, historical archives, and contemporary perspectives, For the Glory of Time explores collective memory, transmission, and the invisible wounds left by education systems in authoritarian regimes.

Feature Film – In Post-production

Written & Directed by: Adel BAKRI

Estimated runtime: 110 minutes

Production: AT MADERA Productions – Tunisia

Synopsis

In present-day Italy, Aicha, nearly fifty, is facing a void after a painful separation. Born in Tunisia but exiled with her parents in the 1970s, she now lives alone, trying to piece together the fragments of her memory. One day, she crosses paths with a young Tunisian man who has just arrived illegally. Their encounter reignites something deep within her, a forgotten promise, a suspended dream.

Guided by the memory of her late parents and an old land deed they left behind, Aicha decides to return to Tunisia forty years after fleeing it. Her journey takes her to Haidra, a remote border village, guardian of ancient ruins and silent witness to countless departures.

This unexpected return becomes an act of rebirth. Like a butterfly emerging from its chrysalis, Aicha slowly rediscovers the meaning of her story and perhaps a new sense of freedom.

Short film – In development

Written & Directed by: Fakhreddine AMRI

Estimated runtime: 20 minutes

Language: Classical Arabic (with French & English subtitles)

Production: Phi Films – Tunisia

Logline

In a barren valley haunted by bones and fog, a wandering poet is called by a monstrous voice buried in the ground. By dawn, he will no longer be a poet—but a gravedigger.

Project Overview

The Gravedigger is a metaphysical short film inspired by Gibran Khalil Gibran’s story The Grave-Digger. It blends philosophical storytelling, mystical imagery, and handcrafted visual effects to explore inner transformation through death, silence, and spiritual rebirth.

The film draws on baroque and symbolist aesthetics, evoking Caravaggio, ancient myths, and sacred texts. A minimalist dialogue, an eerie soundscape, and a physical creature costume create a haunting, immersive experience.