Distrib Films has acquired U.S. rights to Mounia Meddour’s debut feature “Papicha” which world premiered at Cannes in Un Certain Regard last year. Following Cannes, the politically-minded film went on to win a flurry of international awards and became the most successful African film directed by a woman at the French box office.
Set in Algiers in the 1990s, “Papicha” follows daring young women who refuse to bow down to fundamentalism and reject the new bans imposed by the radical Islamists as the women plan to put on a fashion show.
Although its commercial release was cancelled in Algeria for political reasons, the film represented Algeria in the Oscar’s international feature film race. “Papicha” wasn’t shortlisted but it scored a Humanitarian Award from the International Press Academy last month; an exceptional deed for a French/African film. Previous honorees include Spike Lee, Stephen Chbosky and Benh Zeitlin.
Set in Algiers in the 1990s, “Papicha” follows daring young women who refuse to bow down to fundamentalism and reject the new bans imposed by the radical Islamists as the women plan to put on a fashion show.
Although its commercial release was cancelled in Algeria for political reasons, the film represented Algeria in the Oscar’s international feature film race. “Papicha” wasn’t shortlisted but it scored a Humanitarian Award from the International Press Academy last month; an exceptional deed for a French/African film. Previous honorees include Spike Lee, Stephen Chbosky and Benh Zeitlin.
- 1/13/2020
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
With the international feature film race heating up, Algeria’s official entry “Papicha” has already beaten the odds of becoming the most successful African film directed by a woman at the French box office.
Mounia Meddour’s debut feature, “Papicha” has grossed an estimated 1.6 million euros from about 250,000 tickets since its Oct. 9 release in France and it’s still playing in 60 screens. In comparison with Mati Diop’s “Atlantique,” which represents Senegal in this year’s Oscar race, “Papicha” grossed almost four times more. Another African film directed by a woman, Wanuri Kahiu’s “Rafiki” which bowed at Cannes in 2018, sold just 40,000 tickets in France.
Since world premiering in Un Certain Regard at the Cannes Film Festival, “Papicha” has also won 24 prizes, including best Arab film at El Gouna festival; and it recently received two Revelations nominations from the Cesar Awards (France’s equivalent to the Oscars) for its leading...
Mounia Meddour’s debut feature, “Papicha” has grossed an estimated 1.6 million euros from about 250,000 tickets since its Oct. 9 release in France and it’s still playing in 60 screens. In comparison with Mati Diop’s “Atlantique,” which represents Senegal in this year’s Oscar race, “Papicha” grossed almost four times more. Another African film directed by a woman, Wanuri Kahiu’s “Rafiki” which bowed at Cannes in 2018, sold just 40,000 tickets in France.
Since world premiering in Un Certain Regard at the Cannes Film Festival, “Papicha” has also won 24 prizes, including best Arab film at El Gouna festival; and it recently received two Revelations nominations from the Cesar Awards (France’s equivalent to the Oscars) for its leading...
- 11/26/2019
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
After world premiering at Cannes in Un Certain Regard to warm reviews, Mounia Meddour’s debut feature, “Papicha,” was the first film to be submitted for the International Feature Film category at the Oscars in July. But its inclusion in the race was threatened when local authorities in Algeria pulled the plug on the movie’s limited theatrical release the week of Sept. 21 — making it impossible for “Papicha” to screen in Algeria before the Sept. 30 deadline required to qualify for inclusion in this category.
Although the film was shot in Algeria, partly financed there and granted a screening visa, the release of “Papicha” was canceled by authorities without any explanation. The movie was meant to be released by Centre algérien du développement du cinéma (Algerian Center of Cinema Development).
Producers Xavier Gens and Gregoire Gensollen at Paris-based The Ink Connection and co-producer Belkacem Hadjadj at Algiers-based Tayda Film fought unsuccessfully...
Although the film was shot in Algeria, partly financed there and granted a screening visa, the release of “Papicha” was canceled by authorities without any explanation. The movie was meant to be released by Centre algérien du développement du cinéma (Algerian Center of Cinema Development).
Producers Xavier Gens and Gregoire Gensollen at Paris-based The Ink Connection and co-producer Belkacem Hadjadj at Algiers-based Tayda Film fought unsuccessfully...
- 10/11/2019
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Producers fight to screen film locally in time to hit Sept 30 deadline.
The producers of Algeria’s 2020 Oscar submission, Mounia Meddour’s youthful rebellion drama Papicha, are battling to screen the film in the country after local authorities pulled the plug on a planned theatrical release this week.
The feature, which premiered to warm reviews in Un Certain Regard in May, was due to make its theatrical debut in Algeria in a gala screening in the capital of Algiers on Sept 22, ahead of a wider release.
Producers Xavier Gens and Gregoire Gensollen at Paris-based The Ink Connection and co-producer Belkacem Hadjadj...
The producers of Algeria’s 2020 Oscar submission, Mounia Meddour’s youthful rebellion drama Papicha, are battling to screen the film in the country after local authorities pulled the plug on a planned theatrical release this week.
The feature, which premiered to warm reviews in Un Certain Regard in May, was due to make its theatrical debut in Algeria in a gala screening in the capital of Algiers on Sept 22, ahead of a wider release.
Producers Xavier Gens and Gregoire Gensollen at Paris-based The Ink Connection and co-producer Belkacem Hadjadj...
- 9/26/2019
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- ScreenDaily
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