"ABOU LEILA" (2019)

Directed by Amin Sidi-Boumediène

​

Thala Films (Algeria) / In Vivo Films (France)

140 minutes / Psychological thriller

​

Casting: Lyes Salem, Slimane Benouari...

​

International sales: Films Boutique

French distributor: UFO Distribution

​

With the support of:

CNC - Cinémas du monde

Région Nouvelle-Aquitaine

Departement Charente-Maritime

Doha Film Institute

CADC

FDATIC

Institut français d'Alger

Michel Merkt

• Logline: 

 

Algeria, 1994. Terrorism is raging since two years,  in the North of the country, everyday bringing dead and horrors. 

S. and Lotfi, two friends from childhood, travel through the desert looking for Abou Leila, a dangerous terrorist on the run. Their search seems absurd, given that the Sahara has not been affected by the wave of murders and bomb attacks that have been sweeping through the rest of the country. Lofti has only one priority : to keep S. as far from the capital as possible, knowing his friend is too fragile to face more bloodshed

 

​

• About Amin Sidi-Boumedine: 

 

Amin Sidi-Boumédiène studied chemistry before enrolling in film school. He obtained a degree in film directing in 2005 from Conservatoire Libre du Cinéma Français in Paris, then moved on to work in various projects as assistant director. His first short movie produced in Algeria, « Tomorrow, Algiers ? », have been selected in many festivals all around the world. « Al Djazira », his second algerian short, was shot in July 2012 in Algiers and won the best arab film award at the Abu Dhabi film Festival 2012.

​

​

• Festival prizes:

​

Melies d’Argent – Neuchatel International Film Festival

Prix de la Critique – Festival Cinemed

Best Actor Award – Lyes Salem - JCC

Best film prize - Nuevas Olas section - Festival de Cine de Sevilla

Best debut feature film - IFFI Goa

Critic’s Award – D’A Film Festival Barcelona

​

​

• Festival selections:

​

Semaine de la Critique, Cannes 2019

Neuchatel International Fantastic Film Festival 

Metropolis – Beirut

New Horizons Film Festival

Sarajevo Film Festival

Arabian Nights Film Festival

Morelia International Film Festival in Mexico

Festival du Monde Arabe de Montréal

Carthage Film Festival

Cairo International Film Festival

Torino Film Festival

Marrakech International Film Festival

Calgary International Film Festival

Melbourne International Film Festival

Morelia International film festival

SANFIC

Hamburg FilmFest

Fantastic Fest

Reykjavik film festival

Französische Filmtage Tübingen

Denver Film Festival

Thessaloniki International Film Festival

Taipei Golden Horse International Film Festival

Cork Film Festival

International Film Festival of India Goa

Brussels Mediterranean Film Festival

Tbilisi International Film Festival

Maskoon Fantastic Film Festival