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Chakib Taleb Bendiab’s ALGIERS to have Its Arab world premiere at El Gouna Film Festival
17 October 2024
Following its triumph at the Flickers’ Rhode Island Film Festival, where it won the prestigious Best Film award, Chakib Taleb Bendiab’s investigative thriller ALGIERS — Algeria’s official submission to the 97th Academy Awards — is set to make its Arab World premiere at the seventh edition of El Gouna Film Festival, running from October 24th to November 1st.
In the presence of actors Nabil Asli and Chahrazad Kracheni, producer Khaled Chikhi, and director Chakib Taleb Bendiab, this gripping narrative is set for two screenings throughout the festival’s runtime, one at 9:30 pm on October 29th at the Festival Plaza and another at 9:15 pm on October 31st at Sea Cinema 1.
ALGIERS, which world premiered at the Flickers’ Rhode Island Film Festival to enthusiastic audience responses, delves into the gripping narrative of a little girl's kidnapping, which ignites a whirlwind of tension and suspicion within the city. The film follows the dogged efforts of Dounia, a brilliant psychiatrist, and Sami, a dedicated police inspector, as they uncover the demons of Algeria’s past and solve a perplexing mystery.
The film presents a societal awakening with a few shocking revelations and brilliantly engages in indirect criticism of Algerian society, which the director blames for the current situation. The film also doesn’t neglect the emotional and psychological arc, keeping the audience engaged while shedding light on a pressing social issue that demands urgent attention and a transformative societal response.
A joint production between the Algerian Center for Cinema Development and Temple Production and supported by the Ministry of Culture and Arts, the film earned accolades not only for its gripping narrative but also for its artistic merit, with praise coming from various quarters, including the Algerian Minister of Culture and Arts, Dr. Soraya Mouloudji, who commended the film as a significant achievement for Algerian cinema, emphasizing its role in the revival of this vital sector.
Written and directed by Bendiab, ALGIERS features a star-studded ensemble cast including Meriem Medjkane, known for her appearances in Cannes entry ABOU LEILA and Venice hit THE LAST QUEEN, and Nabil Asli, acclaimed for his work in titles such as the short film KINDIL EL BAHR and the award-winning EL TAAIB, which earned the Europa Cinemas Label at the prestigious 2012 Cannes Film Festival.
Rounding out the cast are Chahrazad Kracheni, Hichem Mesbah, Slimane Benouari, and Ali Namous.
ALGIERS is produced by Khaled Chikhi and Yasmine Dhoukar, executive produced by Canadian award-winning filmmaker Patricia Chica (MONTRÉAL GIRLS), lensed by Ikbal Arafat — the award-winning DOP who earned the Best Cinematography Award for his work on BLACK SPIRIT in 2018 at the Satisfied Eye International Film Festival — edited by Bendiab and Fouad Benhammou, with international sales handled by MAD World and distribution in Arabic-speaking territories by MAD Distribution.
Chakib Taleb-Bendiab's filmography includes several compelling short films. Among them are the award-winning short flick BLACK SPIRIT, which circulated several prestigious festivals across the globe and received the Programmers Delight Award at the 2018 Sapporo International Short Film Festival and Market in Japan, and SANG FROID, which won the Jury Award for Best Screenplay at the 2013 Sapporo International Short Film Festival and Market.
In the presence of actors Nabil Asli and Chahrazad Kracheni, producer Khaled Chikhi, and director Chakib Taleb Bendiab, this gripping narrative is set for two screenings throughout the festival’s runtime, one at 9:30 pm on October 29th at the Festival Plaza and another at 9:15 pm on October 31st at Sea Cinema 1.
ALGIERS, which world premiered at the Flickers’ Rhode Island Film Festival to enthusiastic audience responses, delves into the gripping narrative of a little girl's kidnapping, which ignites a whirlwind of tension and suspicion within the city. The film follows the dogged efforts of Dounia, a brilliant psychiatrist, and Sami, a dedicated police inspector, as they uncover the demons of Algeria’s past and solve a perplexing mystery.
The film presents a societal awakening with a few shocking revelations and brilliantly engages in indirect criticism of Algerian society, which the director blames for the current situation. The film also doesn’t neglect the emotional and psychological arc, keeping the audience engaged while shedding light on a pressing social issue that demands urgent attention and a transformative societal response.
A joint production between the Algerian Center for Cinema Development and Temple Production and supported by the Ministry of Culture and Arts, the film earned accolades not only for its gripping narrative but also for its artistic merit, with praise coming from various quarters, including the Algerian Minister of Culture and Arts, Dr. Soraya Mouloudji, who commended the film as a significant achievement for Algerian cinema, emphasizing its role in the revival of this vital sector.
Written and directed by Bendiab, ALGIERS features a star-studded ensemble cast including Meriem Medjkane, known for her appearances in Cannes entry ABOU LEILA and Venice hit THE LAST QUEEN, and Nabil Asli, acclaimed for his work in titles such as the short film KINDIL EL BAHR and the award-winning EL TAAIB, which earned the Europa Cinemas Label at the prestigious 2012 Cannes Film Festival.
Rounding out the cast are Chahrazad Kracheni, Hichem Mesbah, Slimane Benouari, and Ali Namous.
ALGIERS is produced by Khaled Chikhi and Yasmine Dhoukar, executive produced by Canadian award-winning filmmaker Patricia Chica (MONTRÉAL GIRLS), lensed by Ikbal Arafat — the award-winning DOP who earned the Best Cinematography Award for his work on BLACK SPIRIT in 2018 at the Satisfied Eye International Film Festival — edited by Bendiab and Fouad Benhammou, with international sales handled by MAD World and distribution in Arabic-speaking territories by MAD Distribution.
Chakib Taleb-Bendiab's filmography includes several compelling short films. Among them are the award-winning short flick BLACK SPIRIT, which circulated several prestigious festivals across the globe and received the Programmers Delight Award at the 2018 Sapporo International Short Film Festival and Market in Japan, and SANG FROID, which won the Jury Award for Best Screenplay at the 2013 Sapporo International Short Film Festival and Market.
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