Recently, biopolymer based wound dressing films were studied due to their biocompatibility and biodegradability. In this study, a film was prepared with alginate (Alg) and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) by crosslinking with Ce3+ ion to evaluate the antibacterial properties of the film. The film exhibits antibacterial activity against Gram positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram negative (Escherichia coli) bacteria. Physical and chemical characterizations of the film were assessed through FT-IR spectrometry, SEM, swelling, water vapor transmission (WVT), and ultraviolet-visible light transmittance tests. The chemical and physical attributes of the film prove to be potentially advantageous for wound dressings due to its UV-protective, vapor permeable, swellable and antimicrobial properties.