INTERVIEW
You are in residency at the Cité internationale des arts with the support of the Institut français of Algeria, can you tell us a few words about your residency project?
The film, Le passé simple, evokes a dark period in our history, the 90s. It takes the form of four chronicles, each of which deals with the fate of four people at that time. It is a desire to tell the History through the prism of the 'personal' and the intimate. This film project is a way of working on my own view of this period, I hope that at the end of the project, I will be able to take a more 'accurate' and more 'calm' view of this period"
What changes and evolutions are to be noted in your work thanks to the residency at the Cité internationale des arts?
"This residency at the Cité internationale des arts helps me on two essential levels for the film:
First, for concrete considerations of time and means. The majority of filmmakers have to work (apart from making films) in order to make a living, the fact of freeing up time and means for several months to devote solely to documentary research and writing is almost decisive, because this time we can't always afford to take. The conditions in which we work at the Cité are optimal for the success of this development work with complete peace of mind.
My film project has evolved enormously, even if the essence of what I want to tell has remained the same, the device I have chosen has been reviewed.
It also allows me to meet other resident artists, with whom a future collaboration is taking shape. People I might not have been able to approach 'in normal circumstances'."
You presented Sarah Nacer's work on March 6th in our Auditorium. Any feedback on that evening?
"The Cité internationale des arts encourages us to organize or participate in events during our residency here. For my part, I proposed the screening of the film Qu'ils partent tous by Sarah Nacer, who lives in Montreal and was visiting Paris.
It was a French premiere, and the event – in my opinion – was a success, inasmuch as the theatre was full, the debate between the audience and the director was very rich. La Cité did everything possible to ensure that this was the case; the technical, communication and logistical team was at the service of the event. A snack was even offered to those present, which allowed the discussion about the film to continue outside the theatre as well".
BIOGRAPHY
After a postgraduate degree at EM Strasbourg Business School, and a stint at FEMIS, Laila Aoudj joined the Bejaia International Film Festival where she became artistic director and programmer for five years. She also co-founded Dima Cinéma, a structure that aims to set up an alternative film distribution network in Algeria.