About

Known credits:
24
Birthday:
1966-01-01
Place of birth:
Constantine, Algérie
Website:

Malek Bensmaïl

Overview

Malek Bensmaïl (in Arabic: مالك بن اسماعيل), born in 1966 in Constantine, Algeria, is an Algerian director and screenwriter.

In the 1980s, in Algeria, he made essay films in super 8. After studying cinema in Paris followed by an internship in the Lenfilm studios in Saint Petersburg, he devoted his filmography to documentaries, entirely committed to Algeria. Through his films of reality, he draws the contours of a complex humanity: democracy, modernity-tradition, language, identity, society.

In 1996, he released Territoire(s), a documentary essay on archaic violence in the Arab world and post-modern violence in the West, the film won the Loupbar, the prize for best documentary discovery at the Festival du nouveau cinéma in Montreal and the Television prize at Avança/Porto. The same year, for Canal+, he made a short docu-fiction film that tells the story of the self-mockery of viewers towards the unique television: Algerian TV Show, he also made one of the cult programs Culture Pub on Algeria.

In 1998, Malek Bensmaïl released the film Décibled, on the daily life of five Algerian musicians in exile. In 1999, he co-directed a film on Mohammed Boudiaf, the Algerian president who was assassinated, six months after his return from 30 years of exile. In 2000, he made Des Vacances Malgré Tout, which won the Heritage Prize at the Festival du Cinéma du réel. In 2001, he made a short fiction film Dêmokratia broadcast on Arte and the BBC. In 2002, he directed Plaisirs d'Eau, then in 2003, he co-directed with the journalist Thierry Leclere Algérie(s), an investigative documentary film in two parts on the Algerian black decade and the descent into hell of the Algerian people.

In 2004, he paid tribute to his father, one of the founders of Algerian psychiatry, by directing Aliénations, which won the Grand Prix des Bibliothèques at the Festival du Cinéma du Réel in Paris, the Grand Prix du documentaire at the Biennale des Cinémas Arabes in Paris, the Magnolia Award for best documentary at the Shanghai International Festival and received the special jury prize at Fespaco. In 2005, he directed the film Le Grand Jeu, on the Algerian presidential campaign of 2004 which re-elected Abdelaziz Bouteflika with 85%. The film is censored to this day in France and Algeria. In 2008, he released the documentary China Is Still Far Away.

In 2009, he was awarded the Villa Kujoyama Prize in Kyoto and participated in the Cinéfondations at the Cannes Film Festival with his fictional screenplay Odysseys. In 2010, he directed the documentary Guerres Secrètes du FLN en France for France 2. In 2012, he co-directed with M. Colonna a documentary for France 3 and RTBF, 1962, from French Algeria to Algerian Algeria. In 2013, he directed Ulysses, Le Brûleur De Frontières Et La Mer Blanche Du Milieu for the inaugural exhibition Méditerranées/Marseille, Capitale Culturel de l'Europe 2013. In 2014, Malek Bensmail directed the documentary workshop at La FEMIS. In 2015, he directed Contre-Pouvoirs for the cinema, a dive into the editorial staff of the daily El Watan in Algiers, during the last presidential elections that validated Bouteflika's 4th term. World premiere at Locarno Film Festival. In 2017, he released the film The Battle of Algiers, A Film in History.

Since 2020, named Member of the Academy of Oscars.

Known for

Directing

2017 The Battle of Algiers, a Film Within History Directing Director 58
Average
2016 Checks & Balances Directing Director 59
Average
2013 Ulysse, le brûleur de frontières et la mer blanche du milieu Directing Director 59
Average
2010 China Is Still Far Directing Director 58
Average
2005 The Big Game Directing Director N/A
N/A
2004 Aliénations Directing Director N/A
N/A
2002 Algeria's Bloody Years Directing Director 59
Average
2001 Dêmokratia Directing Director N/A
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2001 Toute l'Algérie du monde Directing Director N/A
N/A
2001 Holidays Despite All Directing Director 59
Average
1998 DéciBled Directing Director N/A
N/A
1996 Territoire(s) Directing Director N/A
N/A
Meursault, contre-enquête Directing Director N/A
N/A

Writing

2010 China Is Still Far Writing Writer 58
Average
2004 Aliénations Writing Writer N/A
N/A
2002 Algeria's Bloody Years Writing Writer 59
Average
2001 Dêmokratia Writing Writer N/A
N/A
2001 Toute l'Algérie du monde Writing Writer N/A
N/A
2001 Holidays Despite All Writing Writer 59
Average
Meursault, contre-enquête Writing Screenplay N/A
N/A

Production

2005 The Big Game Production Producer N/A
N/A
2001 Dêmokratia Production Producer N/A
N/A

Camera

2004 Aliénations Camera Director of Photography N/A
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Crew

2005 The Big Game Crew Cinematography N/A
N/A