The press conference for the Tunisian feature film “Round 13,” directed by Mohamed Ali Nahdi, was held on Monday, December 1, at Honar Shahr Aftab Cineplex in Shiraz as part of the 43rd Fajr International Film Festival. Helmi Dridi, one of the film’s leading actors, also attended the session. The film is screening in the Future Frame section, dedicated to first and second feature films.
“Round 13” follows Kamel, a former boxing champion who leaves the ring to devote himself to his wife Samia and their young son Sabri. When Sabri is diagnosed with cancer, Kamel faces the most difficult fight of his life, one driven not by competition, but by love, survival, and hope. The film frames this struggle as a deeply human story of resilience that transcends the sport itself.
Speaking at the beginning of the session, Nahdi reflected on his personal and artistic journey. Raised in an artistic family, with a singer mother and actor father, he began acting at a young age before moving to France at nineteen to study cinema. After returning to Tunisia, he continued acting but eventually chose to focus on directing. After directing four short films, Nahdi made his feature debut with “Moez the End of the Tunnel,” followed by his second feature, “Round 13.”
Discussing the origins of the film, Nahdi explained that the core idea had stayed with him for nearly fifteen years. “The idea was always there, but I didn’t know how to approach it,” he said. “About three or four years ago, it became stronger.” A turning point came after witnessing a mother crying in a hospital, desperately fighting for her child’s life. “That moment sparked something in me,” he noted, leading him to shape the story around a boxer struggling to save his son.
Nahdi emphasized that the title carries symbolic weight. “In boxing, there are only twelve rounds,” he explained. “But ‘Round 13’ is the extra round—life itself. It’s the fight outside the ring, the father’s struggle to save his child.”
He also spoke about the casting process, noting that his wife served as casting director. While he initially considered playing the lead role himself, she advised against it. “At first, I didn’t agree,” he admitted. “But when we approached Helmi Dridi, I realized no one else could embody this character the way he did.”
Actor Helmi Dridi, who is French-Tunisian and works across theater, cinema, and television, shared his experience of collaborating with Nahdi. “We met nearly twenty years ago and have worked together on several French productions,” he said. Dridi also expressed his appreciation for Iranian cinema, adding that Abbas Kiarostami was his first point of connection with Iranian film culture and that he was pleased to be present in Shiraz.
Taking place in Shiraz from November 26 to December 3, 2025, the 43rd Fajr International Film Festival offers a dynamic platform for international cinema through screenings, discussions, and cultural exchanges. The festival will culminate in the announcement of the competitive section winners during an awards ceremony on Tuesday evening, December 2, at the festival headquarters.
