Chedly Arfaoui

CAREER

Arfaoui is a long-standing figure in Tunisian theatre, film, and television, known for both acting and directing. Theatre and festival work He is president of the Journées Abdelwaheb Jamli du théâtre libre (Abdelwaheb Jamli Days of Free Theater), created after the 2011 Tunisian revolution in homage to actor and theatre figure Abdelwaheb Jamli, who died that year. As a director and writer he has staged works including Made In Tunis (2010), Borg Al Waseef (2015), and Don Quixote Kama Narah (2019). Earlier theatre credits include adaptations and original pieces such as Désir (an adaptation of Tennessee Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire, 2010) and collaborative work with Wajiha Jendoubi. Film Notable cinema roles include: Bastardo (2013) – as Larnouba Affreux, cupides et stupides / Hezz Ya Wezz (Ibrahim Letaïef, 2013) Éclipses / Khousouf (Fadhel Jaziri, 2016) Beauty and the Dogs (La Belle et la Meute / Aala Kaf Ifrit, Kaouther Ben Hania, 2017) – as Mounir; the film premiered in Un Certain Regard at Cannes Day of the Falcon / Black Gold (Jean-Jacques Annaud, 2011) – supporting role (Barbier) Arab Blues (2019) The Island of Forgiveness / Jazirat Al-Ghufran (2021/2022) Bolice (feature film, 2024) Additional shorts and features including Ghasra, Stranded, Ça roule / On the road, and more recent titles such as Startup (2025) Television He is especially known for the popular series Bolice (multiple seasons, including 2015–2017 and later iterations), in which he played Rjeb. Other series credits include Nouba and Nouba 2 (2019–2020), Awlad El Ghoul (2021), Ragouj (2024), Jbal Lahmer / Al Gabal Al Ahmar (2023), Tej El-Hadhra (2018), Naouret El Hawa, Ken Ya Makanech, Hab Mlouk, Salla Salla (2025), and earlier work such as Mnamet Aroussia (2000), Café Jalloul (2005), Choufli Hal, and Chez Azaïez. He has also contributed as a writer (including on Bent Walad / Bibiche & Bibicha) and casting director.

Chedly Arfaoui is regarded as a versatile and enduring presence in Tunisian performing arts, moving fluidly between theatre direction, popular television comedy/drama, and more auteur-driven cinema. His long association with the Bolice franchise and his leadership of the Abdelwaheb Jamli free-theatre festival underscore both his commercial visibility and his commitment to the Tunisian stage. He continues to appear regularly in Tunisian film and series into the mid-2020s.