The curtain fell on the 17th Algiers International Comics Festival (FIBDA) on Sunday, October 5, with a festive closing ceremony held on the esplanade of Riadh El Feth. Dedicated this year to « The Children’s Edition », the event highlighted the creativity and energy of young artists through competitions, workshops, and performances.
One of the festival’s highlights was the Cosplay competition, which drew enthusiastic participation from young Algerians. Over two lively sessions held on Friday and Saturday, participants brought their favorite characters to life on stage. The jury awarded Marwa Idri for Best Performance, Zaatri Farah for Best Costume, and Lamamra Rachid and Ghanai Meriem for Best Duo, while Hamza Mokdad took home the Best Solo Cosplay prize.
Workshops organized by TECHNO and Ghomaïda provided a platform for children and teenagers to explore the art of comics. Ten participants aged 6 to 12 received gifts and certificates, including Bendjilali Soumia, Sassi Douaa, Sonia Nouioua, Ben Hmada Sarra, Asma Boufaidane, Sara Souilane, Sara Azzi, Meriem Ait Si Ahmed, Israa Ouacheche, and Khedraoui Abderrahmane Islem. Another ten winners in the over-12 category were also honored for their creativity.
Students from the National School of Fine Arts of Algiers (ESBA) were recognized for their outstanding work in sculpture and 3D modeling. Under the guidance of Ayadi Nacereddine and Yacine Chaâbani, students including Hiba Ahlem Naas, Melissa Meriam Belouniche, Hadef Ibrahim, Taferghoust Katia, Fellah Maylis, and Okacha Oussama Sidali received awards. The ESBA students who installed the festival’s seventeen exhibitions under the supervision of artistic director Djaoudet Gassouma were also celebrated for their contribution.
The second edition of the Algeria–Japan Manga Competition, organized by the Embassy of Japan, was another key moment of the ceremony. Held under the theme of “family,” the competition drew strong participation from young Algerian mangaka. In the presence of Japan’s ambassador to Algeria, Mr. Suzuki Kotaro, the jury awarded the top prize to Addadahine Asma, who won a trip to Japan. Salmi Zohir and Ziad Adlane Abdelrahim received the second and third prizes respectively, while the Public’s Special Prize went to Zendaoui Mohamed Zin Eddine
Jury representative and Japanese academic Aoyagi Itsuko praised the participants’ storytelling abilities and artistic skills. « We saw a variety of narratives that highlight the Algerians’ talent for crafting stories and scenarios. The level of drawing, page composition, and perspective was impressively high, showing the richness of Algeria’s comics scene, » she said. She also thanked visitors who voted at the Japan booth, emphasizing the importance of audience engagement in fostering creativity.
Japan’s ambassador congratulated the winners and highlighted the universal appeal of manga. « Manga is deeply rooted in Japanese culture, but its themes are shared globally. Like other comic genres, it is both a means of expression and a powerful tool, » he noted. The evening concluded on a high note with a fiery concert by the Slovenian metal band HellCats. The all-female group energized the crowd before being joined on stage by two members of the Algerian band Jugulator for a rousing rendition of the rock classic « Highway to Hell. »