The Honesty of Acting with Afef Ben Mahmoud
In our eighth episode of The Ajyal Show, we journey into the multifaceted world of Afef Ben Mahmoud—a distinguished
actress, director, and mentor. Afef shares her path into the creative arts, beginning with her love for acting as a
child and joining a theatre group at school. She emphasises the crucial role education has played throughout her career.
Afef elaborates on the nuances between acting for the camera and acting on stage, exploring "the art of emotion". She
provides a glimpse into her process of preparing for roles, discussing the guidance she received from directors and
mentors, and how she chooses her acting methods for each project. Afef addresses the possibilities of improvisation on
set and the techniques actors use to embody the right emotions for their characters. She also shares insights from her
most challenging role and underscores the importance of authenticity in acting, noting that the craft teaches the
honesty of emotion.
She contrasts her experiences in directing and writing her recent films with her acting roles, shedding light on the
different creative processes involved. Afef discusses her mentoring roles, highlighting the significance of guiding
emerging artists and the importance of "transmission" in the arts.
Finally, Afef offers her perspective on the richness and complexity of MENA film culture, making this episode a
fascinating, in-depth exploration of the art and soul of filmmaking and acting.
More About Our Guest Afef Ben Mahmoud
After completing her studies in management, Afef Ben Mahmoud earned a diploma in Directing and Scriptwriting, followed
by a Master of Research in Image Design. During her studies, Afef directed three short films and a documentary, while at
the same time devoting herself from an early age to an artistic career as a dancer and actress. She held lead roles
under major Tunisian directors, including Nouri Bouzid's 'Making Of' and 'The Scarecrows', and lately in 'Streams' by
Mehdi Hmili, receiving awards for Best Actress at the Cairo International Film Festival in 2021, then at Vues d'Afrique
and Pluriel.les in 2023.
Recently, Afef set up her own production company, Mésanges Films, and produced Nouri Bouzid's latest film, 'The
Scarecrows'. The film had its world premiere in the official selection of the 2019 Venice Film Festival in the Sconfini
section. Since then, Afef coproduced and codirected with Khalil Benkirane her first feature, 'Backstage', which
premiered in competition in Giornate degli Autori in Venice 2023, winner of the Cinema & Arts Award.