Algerian Film Days starts on Monday with a screening of ‘Let Them Come’

AMMAN — The fifth edition of the Algerian Film Days opens in Amman on Monday, with a screening of the award-winning narrative feature “Let Them Come” (Maintenant Ils Peuvent Venir), according to the Royal Film Commission (RFC).

Directed by Salem Brahimi, the 95-minute drama takes place in Algeria in the 1980s, when 200,000 were killed in the Algerian civil war.

The film, which will be screened at 7pm, has won the Silver Tanit Award for best debut feature narrative at Carthage Film Festival, the Muhr Special Jury Prize at Dubai International Film Festival in 2015, the Jury Award at Cyprus Film Days and the New Directors Award at Kosmorama Trondheim International Film Festival, according to the RFC.

It also won the best actor award for Amazigh Kateb at the Mediterranean Film Festival of Annaba as well as the Golden Annab Award.

The screening will be followed by a discussion with Brahimi.

On Tuesday, “The Vanishing Point” (Le Point de Fuite) will be screened at 7pm, with a discussion with director Mehdi Labidi also scheduled after the film.

The 26-minute short follows Rafiq, an impoverished painter who is mistakenly reported dead and sees the value of his artworks substantially rise.

Instead of refuting the death report, the painter seeks to arrange for the sale of his work to make more money, but the decision “leads to unintended consequences” for himself and his wife, according to the RFC.

At 7:30pm on Tuesday, the 52-minute documentary “We Are Out” (Hna Berra) will be screened.

The film discusses the hijab (headscarf) through the testimonies of five women, who decide to wear the hijab in order to be able to complete their university education. 

Each of the women in the film explains the pressures exerted on her and her view on the hijab and its societal impact.

Director Bahia Bencheikh El Fegoun will be present for a discussion after the screening.

“We Are Out” has won the Jury Special Mention at the Festival du Film Engagé in Algiers and the Jury Special Prize at the Cinema Days in Algiers, according to the RFC.

The film days conclude with a screening of “The Proof” (La Preuve) on Wednesday at 7pm.

The 84-minute drama, directed by Amor Hakkar, tells the story of Ali, a young taxi driver who has been married for a year but is yet to have children.

When Ali travels to another city for a fertility test, a pregnant woman accuses him of being the father of her unborn child. 

The film has won Best Actor Award at Maghreb Film Festival and Best Actor at Ourense Film Festival (Spain). 

Hakkar will be present to discuss the feature after the screening.

All films, with English subtitles, will be screened at the Rainbow Theatre in Jabal Amman. Entry is free.