From December 15 through 19, Unifrance hosted the first edition of a French Film Festival held in Algiers (December 15-17) and Tunis (December 17-19).
From the outset, these two festivals were designed to serve as launching pads for the films selected for presentation. All films showcased at the events have effectively been acquired recently by local distributors in Algeria Sora Productions, MD Cine, Tassili Films, Kinomax, Cirta Films) and Tunisia (Appolo Distribution et Cinétéléfilm).
In Algiers, the delegation of French artists was led by Costa Gavras, and included Michèle Ray-Gavras, Bourlem Guerdjou, Anne Cochard (CNC), Rafik Ben Mebarek, Gérard Bitton, Michel Munz, and Béatrice Mérimée. These actors and directors presented, respectively, the following films: "Le Couperet" ("The Ax"), "Camping à la ferme," "Zaïna cavalière de l’atlas" ("Zaïna, Rider of the Atlas"), "Le Cactus" ("The Cactus"), and "Kirikou et les bêtes sauvages" ("Kirikou and the Wild Beasts").
In Tunis, Régis Wargnier headed the French delegation, and also opened the festival with a screening of "Man to Man." The delegation was composed of the following directors and actors: Ziad Doueiri, Mohammed Khouas and Vahina Giocante presented "Lila dit ça" ("Lila Says"); Xavier Durringer, Dida Diafat, and Lakshan presented "Chok-Dee;" and Jérôme Salle and Eric Jehelmann presented "Anthony Zimmer." The Tunisian selection was topped off by "Iznogoud" by Patrick Braoudé.
Despite revealing a desperate lack of movie theaters in Algeria and Tunisia, these events attracted enthusiastic audiences in both capital cities.
