Malek Bensmaïl was born in Constantine, Algeria in 1966. He soon devoted his time to make challenging documentaries about his country in which he focused on themes such as belonging and Identity. He has always sought to confront Algeria with its "other side' by conveying the complexities of Algeria. Issues he deals with are: democracy, modernity, language, society-all the aspects of contemporary society facing his country.
Early in his youth, he shot films in super 8. Since completing his film studies in Paris and training at Lenfilm studios in Saint Petersburg, he has devoted his filmmaking efforts to the documentary genre. All of his films relate to the history of his country. His signature cinematography depicts the complex, sensitive contours of humanity. His aim is to use film as a medium for cultural reflection and comparison. His films have received critical acclaim and have won awards at a number of festivals worldwide.
Malek Bensmaïl develops projects essentially about the relationships "Oriente and occidente", being author and director of more a dozen documentaries exhibited in the France and international Broacast TV and festivals. In the last years it has been developing a technique of use of images of file in an innovative and creative way.

FILMOGRAPHY:
Roumanie, l'après Ceaucescu (1990)
Barcelone (1992)
Territoire(s) (1996)
Visions of Bali (1997)
Culture Pub spécial Algérie (1997)
Decibed (1998)
Boudiaf, un espoir assissiné (1999)
DêmoKratia (2000/2001)
Plaisirs d'eau (2001)
Algérie(s) (2003)
Aliénations (2004)
Le Grand Jeu (2005)
La Chine est encore loin (2010)
Guerres secrètes du FLN en France (2012).
Ulysse, le brûleur de frontières et la mer blanche du milieu (2013)
Contre-Pouvoirs / Checks & Balances (2015)

Source: Viennale 2015, Vienna
www.viennale.at/en/gast/malek-bensmail
www.viennale.at/en/film/contre-pouvoirs

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Regisseur

Geboren 1966 in Constantine, Algerien. Er begann in seinen Jugendjahren Kurzfilme in Super 8 zu drehen. Er studierte Film in Paris und lernte in den Lenfilm Studion in Sankt Petersburg. Alle seine Filme beziehen sich auf die Geschichte seines Landes. Er verwendet seine Filme als Medium für kulturelle Reflexion. Seine Filme haben viele Preise auf der ganzen Welt gewonnen.
Dreht seit 1990 Dokumentarfilme, die bei zahlreichen Filmfestivals ausgezeichnet werden. Auswahl: DES VACANCES, MALGRÉ TOUT (2001), ALIÉNATIONS (2004, Viennale 04), WA LAOU FIL SIN/LA CHINE EST ENCORE LOIN (Viennale 09)

Filmauswahl:
2015 CONTRE-POUVOIRS
2013 ULYSSE (Movie & Installation)
2012 SECRET WAR OF THE FLN
2003 ALGERI'AS BLOODY YEARS
2001 HOLYDAYS DESPIT ILL
2000 DÊMOKRATIA
1999 BOUDIAF, A HOPE ASSASSINATED
1998 DECIBLED
1996 TERRITORIES

Source:
www.viennale.at/de/gast/malek-bensmail
www.viennale.at/de/film/contre-pouvoirs